JPIC Updates

Jun 03 2021

To be One Body which loves, practices and gives witness to justice, peace and integrity of creation at all levels of our life and mission.      2016 General Chapter

Dear Friends,

I continue to be inspired by the words of your founders and your governing documents, and strive to live up to the vision in my work with each of you. There are a few important activities I want to call your attention to, especially related to integrity of creation.

Prayer, Reflection, and Formation

The Laudato Si Promoters for the Province will spend time over the summer reflecting on the 7 Laudato Si Goals in light of Sacred Heart charism, mission, and spirituality. This time spent in theological reflection and prayer will be foundational to our process of developing recommendations about Province initiatives related to the climate crisis and integrity of creation. We would like to invite other members of the Sacred Heart community to join us if you are interested. Please register in advance, and plan to attend all of the sessions. 

Catholic Climate Covenant has opened registration for its biennial conference: “Laudato Si’ and the U.S. Catholic Church: A Conference Series on Our Common Home”.  The 2021 conference will open on July 13 with keynote addresses by His Eminence Blase Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, and Maureen Day, PhD, Assistant Professor of Religion and Society at the Franciscan School of Theology. Together, they will assess why the U.S. Catholic response to Laudato Si’ has not been commensurate with the urgency and gravity of the climate crisis.

Other opportunities for prayer and reflection coming up include:

The Oblate School of Theology invites participation in their June 14-16 Summer Institute: Racism as Soul Sickness. This series of lectures and discussions will examine the issue of racism by drawing upon the experience of Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans. Its featured speakers will be Rev. Dr. Bryan Massingale, Dr. Teresa Maya, CCVI, and Dr. KimOanh Nguyen-Lam.

On April 23, 2021, three priests belonging to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) and seven catechists were beatified in Quiche, Guatemala. The ten martyrs were tortured and murdered by security forces and death squads in the early 1980s. Four other martyrs who died around this period were earlier beatified. The JPIC Office of UISG International has published this article for our reflection on these martyrs and Guatemalan history, especially as it relates to the role of the United States, the role of the global Church, and the current moment we are in with regard to migration.

Take Action

The Global Catholic Climate Movement is inviting organizations as well as individuals to sign a petition from the global Catholic community to be delivered to the heads of state of all participating in COP 26, the next global climate summit, scheduled for November. The Petition encourages governments to stick to the Paris agreements, as well as calling on them to protect the rights of the most vulnerable, especially indigenous communities. Individuals can learn more and sign here. 

Church World Service invites those of us from the US to contact our Senators to support immigration legislation which would  welcome children and families and all asylum seekers with compassion and dignity. This proposal would provide case management services and legal representation for asylum seekers and offer humanitarian assistance at community-based border shelters and respite centers. You can contact your Senator at this link. 

JPIC Town Hall Meetings Follow Up

I was thrilled with the participation and comments from our two town hall meetings. I am revising the JPIC workplan accordingly, and the next steps will be to make the new draft available, and to solicit feedback from partner organizations. We should have a final version by the end of the summer, at which time we can begin to actualize it!

As we lead up to the Feast of the Sacred Heart next week, I feel deep gratitude for each of you and your lifetime of love and service. 

In solidarity,

Kim

Kim Lamberty, DMin

Director | Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation |