Commemoration, Advocacies, and Call to Action in August

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Announcement from us, the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word - San Antonio! We’re thrilled to share that as part of our mission to be a prophetic voice for justice, peace, and care of our common home, we’ve created an online space where you can share your concerns about social issues that matter to you.  Whether it’s standing up for equality, advocating for the most vulnerable, or addressing community needs, your voice matters!

Simply visit our website and click on the Request an Action section at the bottom of the page. 

https://amormeus.org/social-justice/

Let’s work together to create a more just and compassionate world. We’re here to listen, act, and walk with you. Because when we come together, we truly can make a difference!

World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023

We commemorated the courage, resilience and strength of the people who were forced to leave their homes behind. This is not just a day of celebration, but an occasion to reaffirm our commitment to welcoming and integrating asylum-seekers and refugees into our communities.

From the CCVI Migrant, Immigrant and Refugee Network we had the opportunity to accompany from Palenque and Tapachula [Chiapas, Mx] the celebrations and rallies, along with the refugee population in both localities. We acknowledge the will of the municipal authorities to work locally on this global phenomenon; we recognize the work of international organizations, which promote actions and projects that seek to integrate these populations; and we appreciate the dedication of the people who make up and collaborate in civil society organizations and shelters because we know that, at heart, they accompany the asylum seekers and refugees on their way through and during their stay in our communities.

In his message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023, Pope Francis invites us to reflect on the freedom to choose whether to migrate or to stay. When people are deprived of that freedom of choice and must resort to travel between countries to find a safe space, we are called to action: to receive and integrate them, to facilitate a dignified stay and a fraternal embrace. We are called as a Church to work and build with governmental actors, private initiative, media, international and civil society organizations- only then will we be able to address, in a comprehensive way, the challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees when they arrive and settle in a new community.

JPIC efforts & the better goal

According to our Constitution, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, “(we) are called to promote human dignity and to educate for social justice”. So, the International Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Committee encourages us to respond with action, prayer, and education to the "cries of the poor and the earth", as Pope Francis said in the Laudato Si. Indeed, the calling of our Chapter in 2022 is to be “Presence and Communion.”  This calling has strengthened our desire to seek better ways to communicate and feel part of the same body. One of the actions in responding to that call is: "We will opt for the care of our Earth and its resources so that they are treated with the necessary respect; and sustainability is ensured for future generations." - Declaration of the Congregational Direction 2022 

The framework of our JPIC efforts are based in the Scriptures, Catholic Social Teaching, and our CCVI legacy. I invite you to watch The Story of Solutions as an illustration of what means to apply our framework.

CCVIs Participate in Catholic Day of Action for Migrant Children

On Thursday, July 18th, hundreds of Catholics gathered together in Washington D.C. for a Catholic Day of Action to end child detention and stop the inhumane treatment of immigrants and refugees in the United States. The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word were proud to have two representatives in DC for this public witness: Sr. Jean Durel CCVI and Jennifer Reyes Lay, former Assistant Director of the JPIC Office and ongoing JPIC collaborator. As an Incarnate Word family, our charism calls us to respond with open hearts and hands to Christ present in those who are suffering in the world today, and as we have seen and heard throughout the past year there is incredible suffering happening right now throughout our broken immigration system.

Jennifer Reyes Lay and Sr. Jean Durel CCVI

The day began with a gathering on the Capitol lawn where faith leaders spoke out against the inhumane conditions and treatment of migrants and refugees, particularly the separation of children from their parents and the abuse of children in overcrowded detention centers. They reminded those present and those watching from around the world that our Catholic faith calls us to welcome the foreigner, provide food for the hungry, shelter for those without, and comfort the afflicted. When government policy and action is rooted in unjust and inhuman treatment, then these Catholic faith values we hold in common demand that we speak out and amplify the voices of those who are crying out, working to realize God’s peace and justice here on earth. After the speakers there was a moving prayer service that included testimonies of migrant and refugee children and prayers of lament and recognition of our complicity in their suffering.

Sr. Carol Zinn, Executive Director of LCWR speaks to the crowd

At the conclusion of the prayer service, the crowd walked over to the Russell Senate Building where they gathered in the main rotunda and shared more songs and prayers. A group of 70 people who were prepared to risk arrest made a circle in the center and led the group in a rosary of the sorrowful mysteries, weaving in the names and stories of migrant children who have died in U.S. custody over the past two years. Capitol police informed the group that this was an unlawful assembly and that they would need to vacate the premises. All but the 70 who were prepared to risk arrest left the area, and as the rosary, prayers, and songs continued the police proceeded to arrest them one by one, until all that was left behind scattered on the floor were images of the children who had died.

The group who was arrested in prayer

Sr. Jean Durel leads part of the Rosary

Sr. Jean Durel CCVI was one of those 70 arrested by capitol police and charged with “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding” under DC Code 22-1307. She along with the others were handcuffed, escorted to police vans, and transported to the local jail where she was processed, charged, and released later that same day. All 70 who were arrested were released by 5:30pm on Thursday.

Reflecting on her experience Sr. Jean said, “It was a real privilege to be present here in Washington DC and participate in this public witness and action with so many other Catholics. The little inconvenience we experienced being arrested is nothing compared to what the immigrants and refugees are experiencing in detention on a daily basis. Within the group that was arrested, there was a real sense of solidarity and we had the opportunity to share with one another about the work each person is involved in and what motivated them to partake in the action today. There was one sister who was 90 years old and had participated in multiple arrestable actions for justice issues. I am very grateful for this opportunity because it encourages me to not just stand by and think there is nothing I can do. There is something we all can do. I am hopeful that we will continue to participate in future actions like this.

Sr. Jean being arrested

Jennifer welcoming Sr. Jean upon her release

Jennifer Reyes Lay, CCVI JPIC collaborator, was present to support and document the action, as well as offer assistance with jail support and welcome those who had been arrested upon their release. She said, “It was an honor to be present at the Catholic day of action in Washington DC, standing with Catholics living out our faith values, fighting for justice, dignity, and human rights. Together we prayed, sang, and spoke up for the vulnerable among us who are suffering at the hands of our government. It gave me great hope to see so many Catholics coming together and living into what the church as the living body of Christ is all about: love, justice, and peace. Today was a clear call for all Catholics to take action to defend the rights of our immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters. I am grateful for all who joined with us in solidarity from around the country, particularly the CCVI family who gathered in San Antonio on Thursday evening!”

National organizers of the event have said that this is just the first in a series of planned actions to increase pressure on the U.S. Government to change its current immigration policies and practices and encourage more Catholics to take direct action. Eli McCarthy, JPIC Director for the Council of Major Superiors of Men said, “Today’s action was focused on increasing the visibility of Catholics willing to take more risks to significantly improve treatment of children and end child detention. This is only the first phase of a 3-part campaign to end child detention and thus create more political space to challenge family detention and beyond. The second phase will involve a direct action at the border in mid/late-August, and the third phase will include another direct action in DC and at the border in mid-Sept.”

As Sr. Jean said, we hope that the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word will continue to be active supporters and participants in the weeks and months ahead, joining with Catholics around the country to defend the human rights of our immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters and say loud and clear with our words and actions: “Stop the Inhumanity!”

Our Work for Justice

February 20th marks the annual World Day of Social Justice, as established by the General Assembly of the United Nations, and this year our Congregation is also celebrating 150 years of promoting human dignity.  This is definitely a sacred time for us to look back with gratitude, act in the present with passion, and dream of the future with hope. 

Our work for justice is led by our International Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee and Office, better known as JPIC for short.  Sr. Katty Huanuco CCVI is the Director of the JPIC Office and Sr. Martha Ann Kirk CCVI is the Chair of the JPIC Committee. 

The International JPIC Committee includes collaborators and sisters from Mexico, Peru, and the United States, supporting the entire Congregation and our Ministries to understand and get involved in the work for social justice from a global perspective. 

Since 1869 to the present day, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word have responded to the injustices of their times through their various ministries.  Solidarity with the suffering people of God is imperative to our call to make real and tangible the merciful love of the Incarnate Word in the world today.

Through the Incarnation, God is shows solidarity with the most vulnerable and marginalized.  That is why in 1984 during the General Chapter, the Congregation adopted a preferential option for the poor as a response to injustice.  This also created our Pastoral Popular work in Mexico.  Committed to helping realize the Kingdom of God here and now, in 1998 the U.S. province adopted a Corporate Stance against the death penalty, and in 2006 signed on to the Earth Charter.  The Congregation also established the ministry of Headwaters in San Antonio, to live our call to protect and care for God’s creation. 

Our commitment was again strengthened in 2008 when the Congregation formed the International Justice and Peace Committee which, “utilizes all methods possible to educate, inform, and form members of the Congregation in the ways of Justice and Peace, and exercise corporate power and congregational influence to promote systemic change.[1]”

Conscious of the global reality in which we live and trying to radically follow the Incarnate Word, in 2015 the Congregation created the Congregational Office for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) as one of the most concrete ways to respond to our call to: “seriously commit to the poor and vulnerable and collaborate with individuals and organizations that share our same values, taking the risk of a prophetic and corporate stance in favor of justice, peace, and the care of creation.[2]”

In this journey to collaborate for social justice, we have discovered that injustice is rooted in the misuse and abuse of power, resources continue to be concentrated in the hands of a few, and women are still the most vulnerable to different forms of oppression.

Therefore our priorities in our work for peace and justice are the same as those in Catholic Social Teaching.  The four main areas around which we organize our work are: ecology, human rights, poverty, and immigration.  Each year, JPIC chooses particular themes in which to focus for that year.  In 2019 the focus of our creativity, prayer, and collaborative work is to build a culture of peace and nonviolence. 

Our methods of promoting social justice take many forms such as: preparing prayer resources, reflections on the relationship between faith, spirituality, and sustainable living, promoting corporate statements and actions against human trafficking, in support of immigrants and refugees, promoting the care of creation and peacemaking, and actively participating in local, national, and international networks with individuals and groups working for social justice. 

 We strive to ‘defend the right, without any discrimination, to a natural and social environment that promotes human dignity, health, and spiritual well-being with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.[3]’  We want to respond as mystical and prophetic, creative and audacious women, in light of the realities of death that unjust systems generate.[4]

We long to reveal the Good News of the Gospel: sharing the non-violent love of Jesus Christ, advocating for just laws and policies in society, promoting collaboration at all levels, living in a way such that all life can thrive, serving the common good with a preferential option for the poor and radiating joy.[5]

To achieve this vision we invite all people to join our commitment to collaborate ‘with those in networks working for justice, peace and the care for creation, focused on the poor and vulnerable, joining efforts in the daily work to incarnate Jesus in the world.[6]'

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[1] Chapter Acts 2008 

[2] Chapter Acts 2014

[3] Earth Charter

[4] Chapter Acts 2018

[5] Congregational Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation – Vision Statement 

[6] Chapter Acts 2018

Nuestro trabajo por la justicia

Este 20 de febrero conmemoramos el Día Mundial de la Justicia Social, establecido por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, y en este 2019 nuestra Congregación cumple 150 años promoviendo la dignidad humana. Definitivamente es un tiempo sagrado para mirar el pasado con gratitud, actuar en el presente con pasión y soñar el futuro con esperanza.

Nuestro trabajo por la justicia es dirigido por nuestra Comisión Internacional de Justicia, Paz e Integridad de la Creación más conocida como JPIC (por sus iniciales). La  Hermana Katty Huanuco CCVI, es la Coordinadora de la Oficina y la Hermana  Martha Ann Kirk CCVI es la Presidenta de la Comisión.

La Comisión Internacional de JPIC que incluye colaboradores y Hermanas de México, Perú y Estados Unidos; ayuda a toda la Congregación a comprender y abordar las cuestiones de injusticia social desde una perspectiva global.

Desde 1869 hasta el presente, las Hermanas de la Caridad del Verbo Encarnado han respondido a  las injusticias de los tiempos a través de sus ministerios. Pues la solidaridad con el pueblo de Dios sufriente es imperativo a nuestro llamado a ser presencia real y tangible del amor misericordioso del Verbo Encarnado en el  mundo de hoy.

En la Encarnación, Dios está en solidaridad con los más pequeños. Así en 1984 durante el Capítulo General, la Congregación adoptó la opción preferencial por quienes viven en condiciones económicamente más vulnerables como respuesta a la injusticia.  Iniciándose así la Pastoral Popular en México. Comprometidas con el Reino de Dios, aquí y ahora, en 1998 desde Estados Unidos adoptamos una posición corporativa en contra de la pena de muerte y en 2006 endorsamos oficialmente la Iniciativa de la Carta de la Tierra además de establecer Headwaters*, un ministerio por el cuidado de la creación de Dios.

Nuestra respuesta se complementa en 2008 al formar la Comisión Internacional de Justicia y Paz que utiliza todos los medios disponibles para educar, informar y formar a los miembros de la Congregación en materia de Justicia y Paz. Y ejercer el poder corporativo e influencia congregacional para promover cambios sistémicos**.

Conscientes de la realidad del mundo en el que actuamos y tratamos de vivir radicalmente el seguimiento al Verbo Encarnado, en 2015, se crea la Oficina Congregacional de Justicia, Paz e Integridad de la Creación como una de las formas más concretas con las que podemos responder al llamado de: comprometernos seriamente con las personas pobres y vulnerables, y a colaborar con individuos y organizaciones que comparten nuestros valores. Asumiendo el riesgo de una postura corporativa y profética a favor de la justicia, la paz y el cuidado de la creación***.

En  este caminar de colaborar con la justicia social, se ha descubierto que: la injusticia está arraigada en el uso indebido y abuso de poder; los recursos siguen concentrándose en manos de unos pocos; y las mujeres siguen siendo las más vulnerables a las diferentes formas de opresión.

Por ello en el trabajo por la justicia, nuestras prioridades son las mismas que se presentan en la Doctrina Social Católica. Las cuatro áreas como nos organizamos son: ecología, derechos humanos, pobreza y migración. Anualmente JPIC selecciona áreas clave en el que se centrará durante todo el año, así para este 2019 decidimos poner nuestra creatividad, oración y esfuerzo para colaborar con una cultura de paz y no violencia.

Nuestro modo de promover la justicia social toma muchas formas, tales como: proporcionar recursos para la oración, reflexión y estudio sobre la relación entre fe, espiritualidad y estilos de vida sustentable; impulsar posicionamientos y acciones corporativas frente a la Trata de personas, los Inmigrantes, el Cuidado de la Tierra y la Paz; y participar plenamente en las iniciativas propuestas por redes a nivel nacional e internacional con individuos y grupos de personas que trabajan por la justicia social.

Nos esforzamos en defender el derecho, sin discriminación alguna, a un entorno natural y social de apoyo de la dignidad humana, salud corporal y bienestar espiritual, con especial atención a los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y las minorías****. Pues queremos responder como mujeres místicas y proféticas, creativas y audaces, ante las realidades de muerte que genera el sistema injusto*****.

Anhelamos revelar la Buena Nueva del Evangelio: compartiendo el amor no violento de Jesucristo, abogando por leyes y políticas justas en la sociedad, promoviendo la colaboración a todos los niveles, viviendo en una manera que toda la vida pueda prosperar, sirviendo al bien común con una opción preferencial por los pobres e irradiando alegría******.

Para lograr esta visión invitamos a todas las personas unirse  a nuestro compromiso de colaborar con quienes están en redes a favor de la justicia, paz y el cuidado de la creación, desde las personas pobres y vulnerables, uniendo esfuerzos en el trabajo diario para encarnar a Jesús en el mundo*******.

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[1] Headwaters es apreciado como un santuario hermoso, tranquilo e histórico en San Antonio.

[2] Actas Capitulares 2008 

[3] Actas Capitualres 2014

[4] Carta de la Tierra

[5] Actas Capitulares 2018

[6] Oficina Congregacional de Justicia, Paz e Integridad de la Creación – Visión

[7] Actas Capitulares 2018