Introduction
On March 10-12, 2014, the newly formed General Commission on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation began its work to create a strategic plan for the rest of the current sexennium. The commission took note of its new purpose in being a working commission, and spent a significant portion of the time in getting oriented to the various structures of the order on the general level; the ways in which the commission is being asked to work with other departments of the order, particularly with Solidarity and Formation; the structures outside of the order, such as Franciscans International and the Damietta Peace Initiative, with which JPIC needs to work; and the structures that our brothers in the Leonine Union have utilized to promote the themes and work of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation throughout their order and how their experience could help us in our work.
Strategic planning
The commission began its strategic planning with a SWOT analysis, which can be found in the appendix to this report. This was followed up by summarizing our goals for the sexennium in three key verbs: Inform, Integrate, Inspire.
Inform
Thus, the first goal is to inform the brothers at all the levels of the order as well as collaborators (employees, volunteers, benefactors, people whom we serve) in our mission about our JPIC involvement throughout the order and of models for JPIC work in general. Our first objective in this work is to create a database of the social outreach projects sponsored by the circumscriptions of the order by September 1, 2014. The survey will be implemented using a secure version of SurveyMonkey, so as to be able to have multiple versions in the different languages of the order and to export the data into an Excel spreadsheet that can then be brought together as a single database of the various justice and peace activities of the order. The first draft of the survey tool is to be completed by April 1, 2014 by Benedict and Jim. It will then be sent by electronic mail to all the members of the JPIC commission for their comments and recommendations for changes, which are
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due by April 8, 2014. The revisions based on the comments are to be completed by Benedict and Jim by April 15, 2014, with the final version ready by April 30, 2014. The survey is to be completed by the directors of the social projects throughout the world no later than July 1, 2014. A letter from the general minister to the provincial ministers and custodes throughout the order advising the importance of this survey will be of great necessity, and the draft for this letter will be written by John Celichowski by April 15, 2014, sent electronically to the General Curia for translation and approval. The commission will then need assistance to translate the data into English (in the case of non-English responses), which will need to be completed by August 1, 2014. Final compilation of the data will be carried out by all members of the commission by September 1, 2014, dividing the work by region. The budget for this work is $0, as all work will be carried out electronically from our current locations.
The second inform objective is to identify model projects based on this database by October 15, 2014. Commission members will do follow-up with the projects that appear to be model projects based on the descriptions that are received in the survey by September 22, 2014. Each commission member will then compile a report on the model projects and send that report electronically to all commission members by October 15, 2014. The budget for this work is $0, as all work will be carried out electronically from our current locations.
The third inform objective is to compile the information about the model projects for publication by way of electronic and print media from November 1, 2014 through December 31, 2015. The specific tasks for this objects are still to be determined after all have received all the reports.
The final inform objective is to publish stories about what the members of the JPIC commission are currently doing in social outreach work. Each commission member will write a story about his work in JPIC and the work done by other brothers and send it to Benedict by June 30, 2014. The commission members will also be required to send regular reports to the conferences in their respective regions. The budget for this work is $0, as all work will be carried out electronically from our current locations.
Integrate
The second goal is to integrate our JPIC involvement throughout the order among ourselves and with the work of other Franciscan organizations, such as Franciscans International, the Damietta Peace Initiative, the Conference of the Franciscan Family, the Roman VI, etc., as well as with the Pontifical JPIC council, JPIC working groups, and other NGO’s, Catholic Church organizations, and ecumenical organizations. Our first objective in this area is to integrate the values of the Damietta Peace Initiative (DPI) within the order. This will involve building the relationship between the Capuchin circumscriptions of Africa and the General Commission of JPIC with the Damietta Peace Initiative by October 31, 2014. A key resource in this objective is the DPI Peace Gathering, to be held in Pretoria, South Africa October 23-25. The first task is for each of the provincials and custodes of EACC and CONCAO to identify a brother from his jurisdiction to participate in the event. The members of the JPIC commission would also attend, and, if possible, the presence of the General
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In the time in which we had to meet, it was not possible to create a plan for funding this event. The brothers on the commission took note of the high cost, particularly with respect to airfare, and the wide differences in the cost of airfare that exist depending on the place of residence for each friar. Particularly for the friars who live in countries where the cost of airfare would be especially high, it was noted that the cost could be prohibitive. It was also noted that we do not yet know the cost per participant at the DPI conference itself, a piece of data for which the commission is waiting for the DPI International Office to provide. But the total budget will be higher based on that inscription fee.
Taking into account the high cost of the event, the commission requests feedback from the general minister and council with regard to what would be a just way of requesting that the circumscriptions pay for the cost of travel and the event of itself. We also request that the office and commission of JPIC be authorized to solicit funds from potential underwriters to help defray the costs of the event. A report on the progress of requesting and obtaining such funds would be provided for the next General Council meeting in June. The commission also asks if the general curia could underwrite a portion of the overall expenses, and if so, up to how much.
The second objective is to carry out continental meetings of JPIC themes and JPIC initiatives throughout the sexennium, in order to create an strengthen a structure of JPIC animators and promoters in each conference and circumscription. A first task toward this work is to take advantage of an event that has already been planned by the OFM’s and the Franciscan Family in
Colombia September 19-23 on the topic of mining. All circumscriptions of Latin America will be asked to send a representative to the conference, with airfare at their own expense. Airfare for Benedict Ayodi and the two JPIC members on the American continent who do not live in Colombia would be covered by this budget, estimated at $2,100. That would be the major expense for this event, as we contemplate asking all participants to pay their own airfare plus a nominal amount for food and lodging. Darwin shall be responsible for planning this event in conjunction with Franciscans International and the Franciscan Family and will report all developments in the planning of the conference as the details become available.
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The third task in this area is to develop a Continental encounter for Europe for 2015. Henryk with Benedict will work together to evaluate the feasibility of such a conference by October 15, 2014. Planning of such a conference will be determined at the next JPIC commission meeting.
The final integrate objective is to strengthen the relationship between JPIC and solidarity over the course of the sexennium. In this objective, we propose the creation of a new fund for social and JPIC projects throughout the world to be promoted by the Solidarity Office. The target for this fund would include outsourcing funds from foundations, funding agencies (MZF, Missio, Trocaire, etc) and charitable organizations. We also propose that a member of the JPIC commission be named as a liaison to the General Solidarity Commission and that a member of the General Solidarity Commission be named as a liaison to the JPIC Commission.
Inspire
The final goal is to inspire the brothers to greater conscientization and involvement in JPIC work and values in all aspects of our lives. The first inspire objective is to collaborate with the General Formation Secretariat and Commission to develop a plan for integrating JPIC into the Ratio Formationis by December 31, 2015. This will involve the task of personal study of the Ratio
Formationis of the OFM’s and other orders and congregations in order to see how JPIC has been integrated in their documents, as well as personal study of Pilgrims and Strangers in this World and the “Guidelines” by the OFM’s by all the commission members between the present moment and
October 15, 2014. A second task in this area will be to coordinate a joint meeting between the JPIC commission and the General Formation Council, for a date that will be mutually convenient for both curial departments.
The second inspire objective is to suggest to the CPO VIII planning commission at least three ways to encourage friars to embrace the grace of working in social projects and other JPIC-related activities beyond traditional pastoral or parochial work by March 1, 2015. This will involve the task of dialoguing with the members of the CPO planning commission to see what sort of input would be useful in the planning of the CPO with respect to JPIC. This conversation will be carried out by Benedict with Moses and John Celichowski with Mark Joseph Costello between the present moment
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and April 30, 2014 by electronic mail when necessary, and further tasks around this will be determined at the next JPIC commission meeting.
Finally, the JPIC commission proposes that a member of the JPIC Commission serve as liaison to the General Formation Council and that a member of the General Formation Council serve as liaison to the JPIC Commission, so as to strengthen the relationship and work between those two entities.
JPIC office Report and plan
In its work of, coordination, networking and animation of the order in matters pertaining to Justice, peace and Integrity of creation, the office will endeavour to work with the commission and brothers in the grassroots to implement the set goals and objective. This work will involve among other things, constant communication, workshops, advocacy, publications and networking. The foreseen budget for the above mentioned activities is estimated at $ 12,000.
Franciscans International
This year, the Franciscans international (FI) is celebrating 25th anniversary since being recognised as an NGO in 1989. On March 18-21, 2014, FI organised several events in Geneva to mark the anniversary. Br. Benedict represented the order and the FI board of directors. Other events are planned to take place in May 2014 during the FI’s board meeting in New York. The ongoing restructuring process of FI is already bearing fruit. The latest FI’s consolidated financial report of income and expenditures for the period 1 January to 31 December 2013 indicate (for the first time in its history) that FI ended the year “in the black”. This indicates a positive financial position. Although now much smaller, FI is healthy and is making a significant deference in the lives of many. The JPIC commission and office will take advantage of this to encourage brothers to network and use the structures of FI to address human rights and others relevant issues.
Roman VI
This year is the 35th anniversary of the naming of Saint Francis as Patron of Ecology. Romans VI (the group of JPIC animators for the Franciscan Family) has considered how best to celebrate this event, especially in the context of the worldwide environmental crisis. We have prepared a series of resources to help our brothers and sisters throughout the world commemorate this celebration.
We are very happy to announce the creation of a website containing these resources. The address for the website is www.francis35.org . It was launched on March 22nd, World Water Day. The launch date reminds us that our commitment to work for the Integrity of Creation must be concrete and practical. Resources are available in various languages, and include a reflection on the celebration, the Pope’s declaration naming Francis the patron of ecology, a Eucharistic celebration, an ecumenical prayer, norms for an interreligious celebration, a Mayan Cross Prayer, Prayers of the Faithful and an article on Franciscan Spirituality. The official date for the commemoration of Francis as Patron of Ecology is November 29. The office of JPIC invites all brothers around the world to prepare events/prayers/gatherings to commemorate this anniversary at times which are convenient for them and their partners.
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Conclusion
In closing, this strategic plan is a plan to rebuild and build up our work in the area of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. As a long-term vision, the commission looks toward organizing the collaboration of JPIC animators and promoters at the conference, circumscription, and local fraternity levels, so as always to have justice, peace, and the integrity of creation as a central element of our life at all levels of our Capuchin life. The strategic plan that we have created, however, primary only looks at the years 2014 and 2015. As this is a rebuilding time, we envision having to evaluate, revise, and amplify the strategic plan for the rest of the sexennium at each point in which we meet. The next meeting for the JPIC Commission has been scheduled for October 28-30 in Pretoria, immediately following the DPI Conference. At this meeting, the commission will look more closely at the results of the database project and prepare for the next stages of informing, integrating, and inspiring our brothers in JPIC work. Since we will already be there for the DPI conference, the cost for the meeting will only be for food and lodging for the three days, at a total of around $1000.
As our work as a commission goes forward and as we continue to evaluate, revise, and amplify our strategic plan, we see the necessity of including regular reports to the conferences, both by way of the JPIC promoters and animators and by way of the Conference structures. This will likely in the future involve having the JPIC commission members attend the conference meetings of the region in which each one lives in order to explain the activities of the JPIC commission to the various provincial minsiters and custodes. This future activity will be examined by the JPIC commission upon the completion of the database, at the October meeting. May all our activities be inspired by our loving and just God for the benefit of the our most poor and marginalized brothers and sisters.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Commitment based on faith and rich
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Pope Francis’ new approach on social and
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Franciscan values
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JPIC issues
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Documents, constitutions, PCO’s, circular
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PCO call for “The Grace of Working”
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letters
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Networking: FI, DPI, pontifical JPIC, Roman
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Strong backup by the General Minister
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VI, grassroots organizations
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and the Council
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Signs of the times and needs of society
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Organizational structure of the order:
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Access to benefactors
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conferences, circumscriptions,
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Work with Pax Christi, Mesa Ecumenica
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communities, etc.
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Many collaborators (volunteers,
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That there are many examples of good
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benefactors) connected with our values
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projects in which the friars work that are
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Interaction with Formation Commission
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carrying out JPIC values.
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and Secretariat
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We do have resources
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Greater means of communications
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Franciscan and Catholic NGO’s
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technologies
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There is a great witness by brothers in
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their daily life and work
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Lack of organizational structures and
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Political and economic situation (danger
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budget planning for JPIC
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of armed intervention)
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Lack of adequate support and
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International economic situation/donor
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encouragement from administration and
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fatigue/lack of funds
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brothers
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Prejudice, apathy, defeatism,
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Prejudiced ideological perceptions of JPIC
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hopelessness
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by some brothers
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Persecution, opposition, harassment
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Lack of professional friars in the area of
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Lack of sustainability of activities
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JPIC
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Cowardice, careerism, competition
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Inadequate funds
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Individualism and self-fulfillment
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Discontinuity in management and policy
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In some countries the Church is a minority
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implementation
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and is persecuted and our work could put
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Lack of information about those projects
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the order or the friars at risk
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and how they relate to JPIC
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La cosa nostra in ecclesia
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- Provincialism throughout the order
- Lack of sensitivity to these issues on the part of many friars
- Diverse concept of what it means to be a friar, including in JPIC issues
- Individualism and self-fulfillment
- Lack of formation in JPIC
- Lack of personnel in various circumscriptions
- Intercultural/intertribal conflict within the order
- Different concept of JPIC in different cultures/lack of consensus
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