- EAC Conference meeting: The meeting took place in Queson
City, Philippines, 9-13 of June. All the entities of the Conference
were represented: Korea, Japan (2), Hong Kong, Vietnam and the
Philippines. Due to passport difficulties an additional brother from
Korea was unable to attend. It was the first meeting of the
Commission for over ten years. The Conference President, Bro. Oscar
Ante, in his opening address, recognized JPIC as a constitutive part
of the Franciscan mission. He explained the decision why Provincials
assumed responsibility for the animation of JPIC at a Conference
level. Due to the unworkable nature of the arrangement and the need
for "grass roots" representation, they revised this
decision in July 1999 meeting. He encouraged the delegates to assume
their role of animation of the Order’s priorities; and to
respond to the challenges of globalisation through greater
solidarity, networking and coordination. The atmosphere was fraternal
and good preparatory work ensured the meeting’s smooth running.
There were presentations on Globalisation and the spirituality of
JPIC. Each entity then presented a report on JPIC activities in the
context of their national and regional reality There are five
solemnly professed and five student friars on the Korean Commission.
With the steady transition in the Vietnamese situation there is a
serious proposal to train brothers for social ministries, appoint a
coordinator for these ministries and ensure contact with the poor
for friars in initial formation. The Philippines Province has make
considerable progress in the integration of JPIC values in the life
and ministry of the brothers. In Japan much of the JPIC work is done
at a diocesan level. There is strong support for Franciscans
International and they have worked hard on the debt issue. Many
organizations in Hong Kong are working on socil justice issues with
which the brothers could easily connect.
After drawing up a set of statutes for approval by the Provincials
the brothers agreed on the following priorities: To examine the
refugees situation in each entity and share the relevant information;
support local debt relief campaigns; coordinate work with brothers in
initial formation by enriching existing programmes; translate the
Resource Book into Korean, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Japanese as well
as organize seminars and courses on it’s contents; and
encourage the formation of Inter-Franciscan JPIC
commissions.
- Guatemala and Franciscan March for Ecology:
To commemorate the International Environmental day, June 5th, the JPIC Commission of the Franciscan Family of Guatemala organized a Mar
ch to highlight the importance of environmental protection. They
encouraged the use of bicycles on that day. The Commission also
presented a document to the Legislative Assembly on the environmental
situation of country and made specific requests concerning the
protection of endangered areas, as well as denunciations of an
International Petroleum company. They called for an increased
emphasis on ecological education in the schools as well as at the
University level.
- John Felice, Provincial of the Holy Name province of New York,
clarifies the horizons of social justice:
'Fears can't deter nor determine our future'. He believes firmly
that we witness most clearly to our Franciscan vocation when we seek
to serve the dignity and the value of the human person in all its
glory and all its frailty. This is the central issue of social
justice. He has tried to make justice a characteristic of every
ministry of the Province. Leading the friars in the area of direct
service to the poor is, in a way, the easy part. The horizons of
justice for the future is the ability to see how the Franciscan
participates in the possible oppression of people, both at home and
abroad, and then having the courage to advocate for change. John
believes the poor of the Third World cannot save us but they can help
keep us grounded and real. The reclamation of ourselves and our place
in history lies in our willingness to grow in this area. He also
believes that any ministry successfully advocating justice in a
province should be protected, and any ministry that does not allow
the brotherhood to expand it’s services in the area of justice
should be abandoned. Without the active involvement of the laity
there can be no way forward in justice or any other area of ministry.
Healthy and generous fraternities are needed to sustain the
challenges of justice. He concludes that not all friars are capable
or willing to expand their horizons in the area of justice. He admits
not being able to change that fact. He can only hope that time and
experience will lower the fear around these issues. But he cannot
allow this fear to deter or determine the future of the
brotherhood.
- European meeting on refugees and Asylum
seekers:
Representatives of friars working on refugee issues
from four European Conferences ( Spain/Portugal, Central Europe,
Italy and France) as well as from Ireland met in Barcelona June
30-July 2. Each Conference had previously organized a meeting in
their respective conference. Both the host Provincial as well as the
Provincial of Granada, representing UFME, were present for part of
the meeting. Papers were presented: "Refugees and the Social
Teaching of the Church", "St Francis and the
marginalized" and "the legal situation in Western Europe
for refugees". The meeting took place in the shadow of the
discovery of bodies bodies of 58 Chinese refugees in Dover, England,
as well as unknown numbers lost at sea between Morocco and Spain and
along the Italian Adriatic coast. The laws, in Europe prompted by
increased xenophobia and racism on the continent, are making it
increasingly more difficult for refugees to stay. Few brothers work
on refugees issues. Those who do are mostly working alone and without
full and decisive Provincial backing. Participants were conscious of
the General Chapter’s mandate to work towards setting up
networks of people and resources to respond to the growing refugee
and displacement crisis in Europe and in the world. After pooling
experiences and ideas the delegates drew up a plan based on four
specific objectives: to inform, form, communicate and motivate the
brotherhood to become more involved. Information will be made
available through provincial publications as well as making personal
visits to the local fraternities. Those brothers working on refugee
issues will encourage the inclusion of themes on refugees in initial
and ongoing formation programmes. They will also coordinate work
with JPIC commissions, as well as with local church and
non-governmental organizations. Finally, they will share practical
ideas on how local fraternities might welcome refugees and help them.
The delegates hope to receive support for their work from the JPIC
office as well as from UFME.
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