The
Capuchins in India have decided to take matters of justice, peace and ecology
seriously in their lives and ministry.
They
came to this decision at the end of a week-long national workshop cum training
program organized by the Office of the Commission for Justice, Peace and
Integrity of Creation (JPIC) at Kotagiri Friary, in the Province of Mary Queen
of Peace, Tamil Nadu, India from 2 – 8 May, 2016.
18
friars from 10 circumscriptions and 2 custodies from across India participated
in the program, which was aimed at preparing them, and through them other
members of different circumscriptions, to be effective animators in the
ministry of JPIC in India.
Besides
these friars, Br. Jacob Kani, the JPIC Commission member from India, and Br.
Nithiya, as a resource person, too were present for the first ever such program
in India.
Br.
Benedict Ayodi, the Director of the JPIC Commission, inaugurated the workshop
cum training program. He exhorted the Capuchins in India to actively involve
themselves in the issues of the people, especially the poor and the
marginalized, in ensuring them justice at all levels, in peace building, and in
caring for the environment which is facing serious and manifold threats for its
healthy existence.
Br.
Ben animated various sessions and motivated the participants to follow the
examples of Capuchins and other Franciscans in different parts of the world who
are seriously engaged in JPIC activities. He explained to the participants the
spirituality of JPIC in the SEE, JUDGE, ACT framework, the Franciscan
ecological concerns, the success stories of JPIC around the world, and the
response the friars need to develop in the given socio-economic contexts.
Br.
Jacob Kani, the Indian representative in the JPIC Commission and who organized
the Kotagiri program, made it clear that JPIC is not an optional thing but an
integral part of every Capuchin’s life and ministry, and that the JPIC values
need to be part of the whole formation system of the Capuchins. He explained
the Commission’s work under the framework of ‘INFORM, INSPIRE, and INTEGRATE’.
He
emphatically stressed the need to have a JPIC structure in the conference
(CCMSI) level as well as in the circumscription level. He explained the efforts
he made in this regard but with little success with the CCMSI.
Br.
Nithiya, Fr. James Mascarenhas, SJ and Sr. Mariola, BS conducted the workshop
and enlightened the participants on how to develop a Human Rights-based approach
to the JPIC issues in India. They enabled the participants to distinguish
between the charity-based activities and human rights-based activities. The new
Indian legislations like Right To Information (RT), Right To Education (RTE),
Right To Food etc. provide ample opportunities for the socially-conscious
religious to work for the rights and dignity of the poor people in the country,
they pointed out.
The
team brought awareness to the participants regarding the human rights of the
people of India, and educated them as to how to claim those rights for the poor
and marginalized sections of the society along the lines of various human
rights laws and international conventions.
Br. Nithiya focused on the issue of extreme
poverty and hunger and explained the Right To Food campaign that many
Franciscans and NGOs undertake in the country. He also explained the Process of
Movement Building and how Capuchins can involve themselves in it. He led the
participants into group work and making action plan on certain JPIC
themes.
Br.
Arun Lobo helped the friars in ice breaking, bonding, sharing and reporting the
JPIC activities in each circumscription / custody, and in organizing the
program.
At
the end of the programe, the participants were enthused to engage in JPIC
ministry more seriously and effectively in their respective provinces and
regions, as well as to motivate other members to join th em in this task.
Br.
Jacob Kani proposed setting up a National JPIC Team to coordinate and animate
the JPIC activities in the CCMSI conference level. Accordingly, the
participants elected a 5-member team for this purpose, which is seen as a
pro-active response and positive result of this training program.
The
JPIC Commission intends to recommend this national team to the CCMSI for their
official endorsement and approval for further planning, training, and
activities of JPIC in India.
The
participants welcomed and appreciated the initiative of the JPIC Commission in
organizing such a program for Indian Capuchins, who are mostly engaged in
traditional pastoral and spiritual ministry, school ministry, social works etc.
Some of them are also engaged in media and publications work.
Many
participants are of the view that a paradigm shift is required from the age old
works of religious to address the issues affecting the poor and marginalized
people today, harmoniously combining spiritual life and active ministry,
following the example of Jesus, St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis, so that
the religious remain relevant to the needs of the time.
Before
concluding the program, we gathered the students of philosophy in the friary,
who come from three provinces, and Br. Ben spoke to them about the JPIC while
Br. Arun explained about the PCO VIII and its deliberations.
The
friars took time for exposure, visiting the local tribals - the KOTHAS - who were the original inhabitants of Kotagiri
hills (The name KOTAGIRI means ‘THE HILL OF KOTHAS’). They were surprised to
find a highly civilized, educated, peaceful, friendly and well-mannered
community of Kothas, who today number only a few more than 2000! We pray that these
original owners of the beautiful Kotagiri hills, decked with tea estates and
flowers, surrounded by hills and valleys, and filled with fresh, clean and cool
air, should not go extinct in course of time, but should live long in order to
tell their stories to those who become the new owners of their beautiful hills.
The last day of the program was spent on
outing to the ever beautiful hill station of Ooty, enjoying the cool air,
beautiful flowers, gardens, hills and valleys of this great tourist attraction
in South India.
The
Capuchins in India are spread across the country in 15 provinces/custody.
-
Br.
Jacob Kani
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