For us to live justice
is a call to truth, dialogue and mercy.
- (Acts of the General Chapter of Avila, p 9)
Justice and Peace
THE OPTION FOR THE POOR, JUSTICE AND PEACEThis option is an integral part of evangelization; it is an essential dimension of the service of the Word.
Confirming the choice we made at Pensier, we wish to adopt as our own the word of Bartolomé de las Casas, "Del más chiquito y del más olvidado tiene Dios la memoria muy reciete y muy viva" (god keeps a lively memory of the smallest and most forgotten person").
In the measure of our means, we are each involved in translating our evangelical poverty
- into stances that denounce the "structures of sin" (Sollicitudo rei socialis, # 36-37), the result of a perversion in the economic system in which we are compromised;
- into actions of solidarity and justice towards those excluded, marginalized, exploited and forgotten.This sokidarity extends to the whole of creation. Responsibility for the future of generations to come on earth urges our commitment to a lifestyle that favors the environment (water, earth and air), the modification of certain habits of daily life and consumption, and a contribution towards the sensitizing of society in general to ecological issues.
Every day, wherever we are, we carry the whole of these problems in prayer.
PRACTICAL MEANS
- To promote an international reflection on the part of the congregation, each province shall study the specific traits of Dominican evangelization. The results of this study will furnish the agenda for an extended general council, to which shall be invited a representative from each province and from Benin.- The general government shall establish an office to coordinate youth ministry, as well as other areas of apostolic life. It will institute a justice and peace commission, composed of a councilor, who will be promoter together with other sisters.
- Collaboration with the Dominican family is essential.
- The chapter encourages reflection by the provinces on the situation of women in the Church and in society.
The chapter asks each sister to discern the level at which it is possible for her to commit herself to the fostering of more justice and peace: the personal level, joining together with others in organizations, the level of political action, to change structures. (Acts of the General Chapter of Mortefontaine, 1993, English translation, p 9)
The internationality of the congregation allows us to have a plural outlook on reality and to establish among ourselves a network of sisters capable of providing useful information on justice and peace; respect, support for, and defense of, human rights; the struggle against all forms of racism; North-South tensions; the foreign debt (Acts of the General Chapter of Avila, 1999, English translation, p 9)
ASIA-PACIFIC REGION:
JUSTICE, PEACE AND CARE FOR CREATION CONFERENCE IN PHILIPPINES
From Sunday, November 24 to Friday, November 29, the Sixth Dominican Asia-Pacific Region Conference on Justice, Peace and Care for Creation was held at the Calaruega Retreat House in the Philippines. Thirteen different countries participated, namely: Australia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The theme of the conference was "Speaking the Truth in Our Action with the Poor." Among the talks given were:
· "Involvement of the Dominicans at the United Nations in Geneva". Philippe LeBlanc OP gave the history of the Dominican presence there. and explained a concrete case from Pakistan and how it was successfully resolved by the Human Rights Commission. He gave the criteria necessary to bring a complaint before the H. R. Commission. In group work, the countries were to determine what their needs would be.
· Margaret Ormond, Co-Promoter of Dominican Family International and Coordinator of Dominican Sisters International, gave the genesis of DSI and how it is giving support to the OP sisters in the troubled areas of the world. She presented Veronica Rafferty, the Dominican Volunteer International Promoter, who explained the requirements to become a DVI volunteer and asked what missions desired volunteers. Zenaida Nacpil, who is the DSI contact person for Asia-Pacific, was also introduced.
· The Promoter for Peace & Justice of the Order, Joao Zerri continued the theme and spoke of how history was not very honest in its treatment of the poor. He cited biblical texts as well as his own experience in the missions of South America. We heard the names of our Dominican Brothers who worked for Peace and Justice repeatedly: Montesinos, Las Casas, Francisco de Vitoria Salamanca and Lebret. Albert Nolan was cited for his work in South Africa.
There were generally two sessions in the morning while the afternoon, after a siesta, consisted of reports from the different countries. The Eucharist was celebrated in the evening.
The schedule was revised because Gustavo Gutierrez was unable to be present from the beginning of the conference. He gave three sessions on the third day. His theme was Preferential Option for the Poor qualified as God's love for all especially the least.
- Session one encompassed Poor and Poverty
- Session two defined Preference
- Session three explained the word Option
A few questions were asked and answered by Gustavo concerning the content of his lectures as well as his writings.
Besides the Dominican participants, guests from the University of San Tomas, Letran-Calamba, Letran-Manila and the OP Novices from the Philippine Province attended the all day session. There were also teachers from St. Scholastica College-Manila and representatives from different religious congregations. The number of listeners more than doubled in size. During the country reports, it was evident that most of the participating nations were under religious persecution of some kind. Many sisters cannot wear their religious habit for fear of violence. But they continue courageously to teach the Word and love of the other regardless of religion.
On Thursday five busses left at 6:00 a.m. for different locations to visit "the exposure sites". One group went to a fisher-folk area in Navotas, another to a Youth Center, where urban poor youth receive both technical and human formation in Quezon City, a third to a leprosarium, another to Bethany Orphanage and a last group to a hospital for the poor.
Friday, the Eucharist was celebrated at 9:00 a.m. and the meetings were of a business nature. The participants left after lunch full of enthusiasm and determination to continue their work for Peace, Justice and Care for Creation knowing the worldwide support and solidarity of our Dominican Brothers and Sisters.
Personally, I was very much touched by the openness and love demonstrated by all. In response to his introduction, Gustavo spoke of his journey to becoming a Dominican and his pride in the Dominican family stating:" and now my own family".
- Sister Claire Descoteaux, OP