From
the Desk of the
Justice and Peace Coordinator
3
Peter Pan Glen
St
Clair 2759
Ph 0407 420 041
E: pmo87330@bigpond.net.au
Greetings to all the Brothers,
I am aware as I share these thoughts, that we are already deeply immersed in the business of a new year. I trust you will find the enclosed reflections of assistance in your mission.
While on holidays, and in between driving to Queensland, the week of Youth Festival and zipping down to Kyabram to support Dave and Joe in their second handover. I spent time rereading some of the material, Art Purcaro has sent to us. I was intrigued by his reflections of 23 September 2005, (vol 11. No 23) in which he poses the question what is the difference between Charity and Justice a perceptive question with surprising challenges and distinctions, one that moved me to choose this pathway for the year ahead.
Setting
the Agenda:
Art begins with a definition of Charity from the
Catechism 1827, which reads as follows. “Charity
is a theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake,
and our neighbour as ourselves for the love of God”
He follows this up with a second quote from the Catechism
1822, which reads… “The practice of all the virtues
is animated and inspired by charity, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony”
Art is issuing a challenge to
our way of being “Socially Just”. Remember he challenged us in the
following words “we frequently we use the word “charity” to refer to
assistance or direct aid to the needy. (Actually this)... is the practical
and immediate application of this virtue.
(Hammering home the point, he adds). In fact, most of the
magnificent activities which we Augustinians sponsor in response to the needs
of those surrounding us are examples of charity: feeding the hungry, providing
a roof for orphans, contributing to urgent needs like the tsunami.
Without a doubt, when members of the circumscription think of the task of the Justice and Peace Promoter they are thinking of works of charity”.
A kind of vision:
In light of Art’s admonition, I invite Augustinians of the Australian Province and through you, those to whom we minister to become Creators of A Just Society.
Terms of reference and a rationale:
I have chosen to adopt Art’s terms of reference in setting the agenda for this year. In my defence, I offer the following:
§ I am aware just how powerful the action of informed people can be in lobbying politicians and the like. This becomes particularly effective when their knowledge is applied to letter writing and or in speaking from an informed space at public forums. This formation tends to give the speaker both confidence and conviction thereby adding power to their sharing.
§ The social justice forum in Rome, together with reading, pondering and the lectures and talks I have attended since stepping into this role have convinced me of the absolute importance of providing people with accurate information. I believe the millennium Goals are a case in point. It is indisputable that world leaders at this point in time have the resources and it is within their power to eradicate poverty and hunger right now. Nevertheless, they choose not act.
§ Fortuitously, because of computer difficulties I have been delayed in sending out this material. Last Sunday we chose to use the Project Compassion Video in Mass. A number of people commented on the impact it had on them. Actually, it had a double impact.
i. The first was to an understanding of how their contributions were actually helping people and
ii. Secondly, it powerfully demonstrated what is possible when a community’s difficulties are addressed at their roots. Their lives are dramatically changed for the better. Importantly people are able to see first hand how they can be Partners / Co-Creators Of A Just Society
The agenda for 2006:
Our task then for 2006, in light of Art’s challenge - should you choose to accept it, - is the following:
1. To become more aware of the circumstances, which not only allow but even oblige people to go hungry (eg. unjust salaries, inequitable distribution of resources and goods,).
2. To share this awareness / this knowledge with those in your ministries with a view to guiding their awareness and assisting them to become informed actors and co-creators of a Just Society.
3. This process of raising awareness is done in order to support activities that will promote the transformation of our society into one that is more just, or as Art Purcaro put it in a focusing question and a statement, after quoting Augustine.
a. What activities are we fostering so that there would not be a need to provide food for the hungry (JUSTICE)?
b. That activity is not the same as feeding the hungry (CHARITY).
Reinforcing
the call to work towards creating a Just Society.
As the
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church states:
“It is undoubtedly an act of love, the work of mercy by which one
responds here and now to a real and impelling need of one’s neighbour. It is an equally indispensable act of love to
strive to organize and structure society so that one’s neighbour will not find
himself in poverty, above all, when this becomes a situation within which an
immense number of people and entire populations must struggle. And when it
takes on the proportions of a true worldwide social issue” (208).
In this perspective love takes on the
characteristic style of social and political charity;
Social Charity:
Makes us love the common good,
It makes it effectively seek the good of all people, considered not only as individuals or private persons but also in the social dimension that unites them.
Social justice, (a requirement related to the social
question which today is worldwide in scope,)
Concerns the social, political and
economic aspects and,
Above all, the structural dimension
of problems and their respective solutions.
Justice is the
moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to
God and neighbour.
Justice toward God…is called the
"virtue of religion."
Justice toward men & women… disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good. (Catechism1807)
I look forward to hearing the great things
that are happening in our Ministries. I would like to publish these activities
for the province – even on our website. Please send me what works and we can share
it.
To the
brothers no longer in active ministry I request that you join us and support us
in your ministry of prayer. I am very aware you have already walked the hard
yards and will therefore very easily be able to focus your prayers on our
behalf. I / we would value your assent to this request.
Yours in
Augustine
Brian D
Fitzpatrick. OSA
Justice and
Peace Coordinator
Inclusions:
- APAC. J & P Notes
- Social Justice Links
- What I have been up to –apart from the Parish.
A. APAC Justice and Peace Commission
Notes for the minutes of APAC Meeting in Manilla
(Philippines) 4th .11.05
The meeting agenda was driven by Acts of the APAC
Convention held in Inchon July 2005 and discussed at the APAC Executive meeting
the previous day.
1. Immersion Experience:
a.
Clarified the term “Immersion experience” to ensure
a clear understanding of the event across all culture involved.
i.
Emersion involves a 7 –10 day program. (To
clearly distinguish it from the 1 –2 day experience called “Exposure”, some have
experienced)
ii.
The experience assists participants to gain insight
into the life of the poor. Ideally, by sharing life in a family context. This
may need to be communal for some participants.
b. The program will include
Long distance briefing for international Participants and local briefings for
host families.
c. Debriefing will be given to
host Community and International visitors to assist all to come to terms with
the experience.
B.
Social Justice
Links. Place cursor over item press Ctrl+click. This will
automatically take you to the site.
|
Social Justice Links: |
|
|
1 |
Augustinians
International www.osanet.org/justiceandpeace |
|
2 |
Caritas www.caritas.org.au Ozspirit [ozspirit@ozspirit.com] |
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
7 |
Catholic Social
Teaching (Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis Office of Social
Justice) |
|
8 |
Center of Concern (Washington USA) |
|
9 |
Centre of Philanthropy and
Nonprofit Studies (QUT, Brisbane) |
|
10 |
|
|
11 |
National Centre for
Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM, University of Canberra) |
|
12 |
NETWORK (USA) |
|
13 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
16 |
www.sao.clriq.org.au
/ Social Action Office Brisbane |
|
17 |
www.uq.net.au/cjpc/church.htm Catholic Justice and Peace Commission. The Church and Justice Links Page |
|
18 |
www.ccjpoz.org/ Catholics in
Coalition for Justice and Peace |
|
19 |
www.polmin.com.au/ Polmin The Australian
Political Ministry Network Ltd |
C.
A quick overview of activities to date. Update on
activities
Ø
Order in Australia.
§
Social
Justice Commission setup at the last Chapter set an agenda to be addressed. (No
doubt all this will be reported in detail at the Chapter) The commission has
addressed this agenda and has recently sent proposals to the Council.
i. One outcome will be an assistant to
accompany this position and
ii. a support group meeting three times a year to
review/ support/ help set direction.
Ø
Social Justice Activities Locally.
§
Diocesan
Social Justice Group I am a member we meet about three to four times a year
§
Attended a couple of workshops on workplace
relations Legislation at Diocesan request.
§
Every third
Sunday, members of our social Justice group attend CCJP, www.ccjpoz.org/
Catholics In Coalition For Justice And Peace. It provides excellent
speakers and support plus valuable networks.
§ Parish: We have a justice and Peace group that meets monthly. We have material on the bulletin each week.