Q & A with a Sister

by S. Marylou Rodriguez

Early this year, after having brunch with S. Teresa Maya, our previous congregational leader, I picked her brain in some of the most pressing issues that affect the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC).  Here are the highlights of my Q & A with her.

1. What do you think of the current justice and peace situations in our local and international scene?

We need to recommit to the Catholic Social Teachings (especially) in promotion of human dignity. We forget people in vulnerable situations.

2. Considering the issues that the humanity and the world are facing. What can be the JPIC topmost priority?

JPIC can be like a pebble in the shoe that makes one uncomfortable. It can continue to persist in raising issues, connect organizations. JPIC needs to get us out of our bubble, the comfortable bubble.

3. What can we practically do (for justice and peace), considering the decline in vocation and aging?

We need to understand our institutional voice. We still have it in San Antonio. We have a voice. If the archdiocese say something about immigration, we can publish this statement.

Our Sisters, even though they are old, we can be in the Village and invite the homeless and be an  accompaniment. We can care for creation through direct donation.  We are (Congregation) corporate power. The Congregation and ministries will listen if we make a statement.  We have the Ministry Council. We have a person sitting in that for our ministries.

4. We have an event "I Shall Not Hate" with Dr. Abuelaish, a speaker who was a Gaza refugee, now a Canadian citizen.   How can we advance Justice and Peace works through education and in our ministries?

Make sure to engage the interreligious group that there is a rabbi.  (There has to be) an interreligious planning that includes Jewish people.  Plan with representative from different ministries so that they get involve.  Find another congregation to partner with.

5. What can JPIC do with all the issues happening with (the vulnerable)?

Hilton Foundation is our presence in that part of JPIC.  We are better when we connect the two.  The MIRN Panels are amazing.  The project with youth are amazing.  The Intercongregation Initiative including Costa Rica is working.  The networks and relationships have matured and these take time.  The lay people are more engaged, e.g. the people in school talked about it.  This does not happen before.

6. What should we expect from the Congregation Leadership and the Sisters?

In Mexico, they have students from nearby and they figured out connecting Sisters to be involved.  We are responsible with the Chapter.  If we look at the Chapter Acts, everybody has a responsibility.  What did we do to be ahead?  Do I remember the Chapter?  What is the direction?  Do I know about what it says?

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Note: The event "I Shall Not Hate" was a week long event held on February 17-21, engaging various organizations in San Antonio of various faith traditions.  Sub-events engaged different people from various institutions and organizations such as University of Incarnate Word, The Village at Incarnate Word, Alamo College, Pax Christi TX, The Rainbow (Interfaith) Coalition, the Executive Book Club, Catholic TV of San Antonio and San Antonio Express for promotion, etc. The proceeds of the event went to supporting scholarship fund for the Middle Eastern women.