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What is Emerging for Justice Contacts 2012-2012

Submitted by Irma Ries

Justice contacts from the Conference of Presentation Sisters met in Dubuque recently and formulated the following statement about what they see emerging as Justice Contacts in North America:

Collaborative action in solidarity with Earth and those made poor

We are becoming aware that we are part of an evolving consciousness that all life is sacred and interconnected and that we are responsible for the care, healing and sustainability of all creation for the common good.

In contemplation, we continue to listen to the Spirit within all life and the urgent call to act in response to the cry of the whole Earth, the marginalized and those made poor.

We are being called to challenge present day systems where Earth is exploited and human dignity is denied, especially for women, children and indigenous peoples.  We are being called to a change of life style so that we might contribute to the sustainability of Earth and be part of a global movement that addresses the present serious imbalance in the distribution of the world’s riches.  We see emerging among us a renewed motivation to live and advocate for sustainable living for all.

Mutual sharing with others through circles of influence

There is a growing sense of our global Presentation identity and the mission we are striving to live.  In addition to working with IPA, we also work to create, collaborate, and share experiences with those in our circles of influence.

Contemplating the universe story and using this lens in collaborative action, and advocacy

As our global and cosmic vision broadens, we continue to grow in our desire to follow the mission of Jesus expressed in Nano’s life, the IPA directives, and in our response to a deepening awareness of the spirituality of the cosmic story.  Our evolving consciousness compels us to address, through advocacy and political action, global injustices and unjust systems that impact Earth and those made poor.

As sister of Nano and member of IPA family

We are growing in our oneness as a global Presentation community and taking more ownership of IPA. 

 We are being called to greater commitment though more active participation at the grass roots level through our Non-Governmental Organization status (NGO) at the UN.

Justice Focus for 2011-2012

The justice contacts for the Conference of Presentation Sisters congregations met in June 2011 to discuss and set direction for the justice efforts in the coming year.

The work of the justice contacts is directed by the two foci from IPA:

1. Exploitation of natural resources by large corporations in a way that damages the Earth, those made poor and local cultures.
2. Exploitation of primary producers leading to global crises.

Congregations are also working on sustainable living. For the coming year, the focus of justice contacts will be on green living. This will specifically call congregations to utilize products from companies that are sensitive to Earth for the entire life cycle of the product.

Specific justice contact tasks for 2011-2012 include:

1. Generate a spiritual resource four times a year (October, Advent, Lent and Sprint)  for distribution within the Conference.
2. Work to pursuade country leaders to attend Rio +20 Conference.
3. Involve congregations in conversations about Rio +20 Conference. 
4. Complete research to determine what in our own countries fits with sustainability.
5. Keep balanced the focus on resource extraction and other IPA mandates with the local efforts.

Justice Work for 2010-2011

In June of 2010, eight Justice Contacts from the U.S. and Canada met in Dubuque, IA, to create a Conference-wide strategy that would continue to engage Sisters, Associates and Partners in ministry in addressing the IPA Assembly Direction Statement originated in India in 2007.

For the coming year, particular emphasis will be on "Sustainable Living," using these recommended resources:
  1) "Sustainable Living Program" from the Union of Presentation Sisters.   

  2) "Caring for God's Creation" from the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ.
        E-mail:  furlanca@rcan.org;  Web-Site:  www.envirojustnj.org