2. Group work
We divided into two groups, IMC and MC, in order that each could reflect on J&P in the light of their respective Constitutions, Capitular Acts and Regional Conferences.

MC
Justice and Peace - along with other factors such as personal and community testimony, dialogue, announcement and inculturation - is an essential constitutive element of New Evangelisation. Para. 77 of the 1981 Constitution clearly mentions J&P, while the Acts of the 1999 Chapter emphasise the Ad Gentes charism which also includes J&P. The Regional Conferences all stress that we must commit ourselves to formation within our communities; collaborate with parish and diocesan commissions; work with the people (not for the people) involving them in our activities; form J&P Commissions. It was noted that each Conference has a J&P chapter.

IMC
We studied and reflected on para. 76 of the Constitution and on those paragraphs in the Capitular Acts that concern Consolation and Justice and Peace. It was highlighted that Justice and human promotion emanate from evangelisation, and at the same time sustain and accompany evangelisation. Being promoters of Justice means being promoters of humanity, thus J&P is an essential component of our pastoral care. We must ask ourselves if we have evangelised with Justice; if we have 'promoted' ourselves or the people; if justice is explicit when we evangelise. We must overcome the dichotomy that exists in many of us between undertaking human promotion and undertaking pure pastoral care. In reflecting on the Tenth Chapter, we considered that the first task of a J&P promoter is to form missionaries in J&P in such a way as to avoid paternalism and to give greater study to the documents of the Church's Social Doctrine. J&P must become prophetic ministry. We must deepen the concept of the Justice of God, which does not simply mean rewarding good and condemning evil. J&P was not a part of our own formation but must become so, in both basic and permanent formation.
In conclusion, J&P promoters must undertake formation in their own communities and among all people, they must create a network to exchange material, experiences etc. This is because J&P is an essential part of our charism.

3. Reports

Mozambique
Despite continual changes in the members of the J&P Commission, some good work was done in defining three aspects that may help to raise awareness on J&P issues: "Justice and Peace, the path of the Church in the new millennium"; "Citizenship: a right to be earned, a duty to be assumed", and a third on the family, still being prepared.
One positive factor is the collaboration with the "Liga Moçambicana dos Direitos humanos", an NGO that provides information and denounces injustice.
An attempt is being made to collaborate with diocesan commissions, but they themselves are still in the process of being formed.

Tanzania
One thing that has been achieved up to today is the strengthening of the J&P Commission with male and female missionaries. This Commission was able to hold a zone meeting to sensitise all our missionaries to J&P. The meeting, apart from giving information, also analysed the situation in Tanzania in order to identify the J&P challenges that confront us. It produced a booklet: J&P, IMC and MC Tanzania 2001.
On the basis of the challenges identified, a seminar was planned for all those working in the parishes: fathers, sisters and laity. Topic: AIDS.

South Africa
After having briefly presented the progress of the J&P Commission, this year's theme was outlined: AIDS. Each mission is committed to developing a programme to face this issue: organising conferences; destigmatising the problem to create love and understanding; organising special prayer services and visits; helping orphans whose parents have died of AIDS.
Two parishes above all - Piet Retief and Madadeni - have had the best results. The others are still on the way.

Congo
The situation in the country is very difficult because of the war still underway. Movement is difficult if not almost impossible, even for missionaries. The J&P Commission (three fathers) has organised meetings in order to sensitise people to "civil law and traditional law", and invited the president of the Tribunal to attend. The theme is not without importance considering that at present there is no true civil law and traditional law becomes important in such circumstances, being the only system capable of explicating problems and resolving disputes.
An internal bulletin has also been created - in this case, in collaboration with the diocese - giving information and denouncing wrong. It is enjoying some popularity because it makes people clearly see the injustices in society.
It was emphasised that the J&P process starts at home, especially in our interpersonal relations and in dealings with workers. The reaction of the gathering to this matter was strong and united: let us first of all seek to do justice within our own four walls.

Kenya
We were presented with a view of the country and came to understand that Kenya is in an extremely difficult political situation. Reforms are taking place in the economic field but are unaccompanied by political change; the attempt to renew the Constitution needs a new vision with new leaders if there is to be real progress.
The J&P Commission organised a study-group in order to gain a vision of the situation in the country. Its theme was non-violent activity. There emerged from this meeting a strong need to collaborate with other organisations in order to sensitise people to "Civic Education", also with a view to reforming the Constitution.
Signs of hope do exist: a certain measure of freedom of speech and the massive presence of (and consequent collaboration between) many organisations of J&P, human rights etc.

Kenya (MC)
Eighteen sisters participate in the J&P Commission, having volunteered for the task. Their job is to involve their sister missionaries and others in the J&P problem. They have chosen four areas in which to work: (1) informing their sister missionaries; (2) on-going formation; (3) identifying activities in accordance with the zones where they work; (4) participating in the activities of external organisations. They also collaborate with AOSK-J&P Commission, a commission with representatives from all female missionary groups present in Kenya. Their main concern is the problem of general discrimination against women and awareness-raising on human rights. Emphasis was given to the importance of the bishop's pastoral letter which highlights that pastoral care and human promotion go together.

Liberia
There was a presentation of the general situation. The country is still at war and communications of any kind are non-existent. Life goes on with no opportunity to give or receive news.
As for J&P work, there is full collaboration with the local Church. The J&P Commission has launched three initiatives on human rights and fundamental freedom in order to form the consciences of the young. This has been facilitated by a renewed and widespread sensitivity to education. The Catholic radio Veritas, with the front-line involvement of the bishop, is a vital medium for denouncing injustice

Guinea Bissau
This being the first time the country has participated in a continental meeting, the situation there was explained. Our presence is at risk, among other reasons because of great political and economic instability. There is great poverty, even in healthcare and education; 68% of the population is illiterate. The Church is the only voice for this country, especially through interdiocesan caritas. New challenges include the development of caritas in parishes, the start of the "SIDA Service" and the J&P group.

Ethiopia
After a general presentation of the current J&P situation in Ethiopia, the bodies that work towards J&P were identified, though most of them have been suspended by the local Government. Even the Church seems to have gone silent in the face of this problem. The Orthodox Church, until a few years ago the State Church, still seems to be in cahoots with the government. The joint J&P Commission has identified its priorities: HIV/AIDS; harmful traditional practices; Poverty Line and strategies for reducing poverty; salaries and pay. A plan has been drawn up for these priorities.

Somalia
Somalia is a country utterly destroyed by war, without even minimal structures. The only schools are Islamic and offer no education save teaching the Koran. There is some attempt in families to educate their own children by paying teachers. The government was democratically elected but faces strong armed opposition which seeks to create confusion and divisions among the various tribes, giving rise to a situation of widespread terror. Even the Sisters always have an escort. The Church is practically destroyed, the three MC Sisters are the only religious presence in all Somalia. The few Christians are in the sights of Islamic fundamentalists. Thus the presence of the Sisters is simply a testimony of closeness to the people and of solidarity in this situation of complete injustice. They work in managing the only hospital which runs a three-year nursing course, in creating small agricultural co-operatives and in supporting, though not openly, schools.

4. Work-groups

Justice and Peace, the new name for evangelisation
" First group: inspiration - method - means for J&P
Rather than seeking new elements on which to reflect, we must re-evaluate and give serious consideration to what is offered by our Constitutions, that is what must inspire us (no.76 - IMC; no.77 - MC). J&P must begin at home: relations with people; language used; consent in starting projects; unity of intent. Only on this basis can we speak to others of justice. The importance of having a person responsible for J&P in each community has been highlighted, someone who is constantly aware, and constantly makes others aware, of J&P. Encouragement must be given to collaboration with national, diocesan and parish groups.
It was observed that a vade mecum should be drawn up for J&P promoters and together we sought inspiration in the Holy Spirit, the universal and local Magisterium, the Constitution, the Acts and the Regional Conferences. Some inspiring elements may also be found in the words of the Founder: "first saints, then missionaries", and "the name you carry should encourage you to become that which you must be". Discussion on this was deferred to the end of the meeting.
" Second group: conclusions of the Sagana meeting.
Some regions (Kenya, Tanzania) are already well underway, others (especially regions with fewer people) have managed to create a good level of involvement among the whole group. A step forward has been made in involving all confreres and sisters in J&P. As regards collaboration with Episcopal Conferences, the more organised groups have collaborated more. The desire exists but it is accompanied by much fear. The J&P Manual has been briefly presented; we must, first of all, get to know it better. Another step forward has been made in consolidating the commissions, but an awareness-raising process is still necessary. Only a few people have completed the J&P programme.
" Second question: Are we responding?
There is a response to emergencies, yet the roots of the problem of injustice must not be forgotten. Small Circumscriptions are more united, while in the large ones co-ordination is insufficient. We must begin at home. Poverty is on the increase: the poor are ever more excluded from healthcare and education. We must seek priorities common to all our regions (1 or 2).

5. Visit to the General Union Co-operatives

First of all, we met the man who devised and founded these co-operatives, Fr. Prosperino Gallipoli, who explained the project which was begun around twenty years ago. Having recounted his own story, including his suffering at being expelled from Mozambique, he told us that the project started in order to counteract the hunger caused by the civil war.
The project, which takes the form of an industry, has three main branches: (1) a production co-operative which includes agriculture, commerce and chicken farming, with a training centre to meet working needs; (2) a network of schools (from nursery school to university) to support the workers; (3) an attempt is also being made, at a national level, to create a credit bank. All this came into being and was developed, above all, by women, who now also manage the co-operatives. The co-operatives also serve to control prices through competition and to help people to understand the concept of saving. "If God does not build the city, the builders work in vain. As the city exists, God must be with it". This project will certainly survive because now all responsibility and management are in the hands of local people and not of the founder.
We then got into a car and went in person to see some of the structures: the training centre for those who participate in the co-operative; the great incubator where the chicks are born (around 150,000-180,000 a month); the chicken slaughterhouse (around 8000 a day); the nursery for flowers and plants.

6. A parish open to J&P

Fr. Franco Cellana presented the experience that has been started at the parish-Consolata shrine of Westland. With the Jubilee year an attempt was made, as a parish, to approach the poor whose very presence is so evident in the parish itself. They are and must remain part of our evangelisation, because to speak of J&P means to recreate cosmic harmony between man and nature, man and man, man and God. This is particularly important for we Consolata Missionaries because Consolation is so significant an aspect of evangelisation.
A socio-cultural analysis was undertaken, involving research, awareness-raising and planning, with a view to meeting the real needs of the parish of Westland in Nairobi, a city with many contrasts where great wealth and extreme poverty live side by side.
The typical characteristics of the IMC-MC (Eucharistic spirit, Marian devotion, missionary commitment) were suggested as a programme for the parish. Following this, consideration was given to which concrete aspects of the situation most required intervention from Christians: street children, the dramatic situation of hawkers and street vendors, house fires in the slums, public hygiene and healthcare among the poor. Among the requirements necessary in order to intervene in these areas are an ability to abandon our own structures, timetables and working patterns; to be truly close to the people, and to communicate an evangelical spirit of consolation and sharing.
This development process calls for raising the awareness of all parishioners. This alone will bring us to accomplish concrete actions on behalf of the poor. There are also signs of the necessary collaboration with other organisations, Catholic and non-Catholic.
The unity of the pastoral care team and the interest of the parish pastoral care council will enable the work to proceed seriously and decisively, especially if all this (including preaching) becomes part of a programme and is closely monitored.

7. Globalisation

Globalisation, of itself, is neither positive nor negative, it is a neutral phenomenon. It uses, above all, the communications media (TV, radio, press, internet) to inform people as it wishes. The mass media, as information providers, need to support themselves; at a deeper level, in the form of publicity, we find what we call multinationals. It is they who in reality govern the world and form mentalities. Let us consider, for example, what happened at the last G-8 summit at Genoa: a few hundred people prevented hundreds of thousands from making their voice heard. How much do we know of what happened at Genoa? Only the violence shown us by the media who had no interest in the real problems of those who protested against the meeting: foreign debt, medicine for all, economy, immigration etc. In other words, the multinationals, with their publicity, create needs where no needs exist!.
Through the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the body which controls world commerce, multinationals (TNCs) are, in effect, supported by all governments, even without knowing it, and they think only of their own profit. In order to trade, they need propaganda, materials, money and laws and all this is guaranteed by agreements with governments. In reality, these multinationals have created and possess a great deal of money, much more than the value of what there is in the world. In other words, they can buy anything, even countries. In such a situation, money can no longer be the measure for trade!
We missionaries have scant information and even less formation to be able to fully understand these problems. We have no time to read, still less to study! This renders us victims, even without our knowing it, of globalisation and of its products. As the Catholic Church (a large multinational present all over the world) we can and must intervene in this situation, even using globalisation itself (we have a very efficient "network"). We must have the courage to abandon our own structures and give more consideration to content. Even Allamano would be a "man of today", committed to using all means available.
In order to face this situation, missionary institutes (39 are members) have created the AEFJN (Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network), a Brussels-based group which protests and makes proposals to the European Parliament. With the support of the institutes, the AEFJN denounces injustice in African countries and presses for appropriate intervention.
The AEFJN uses ANTENNE, i.e. the missionaries in Africa themselves who pass on information. We must seek to participate with ANTENNE when it exists in our own regions, and create it when it does not. This could become a concrete commitment for we promoters of J&P.
The assembly also reminded us not to overlook injustice at home (workers, use of language etc.). This too is part of J&P in our regions, and it is as well to bear it in mind and recall it when necessary.
These ideas and commitments must be put in the vade mecum of the J&P promoter.

8. Non-violence

Mt 5,38ff. "Serpent that kills or hisses"
Economic field - "Those who do not work, do not eat". How many times have we heard that phrase and made it our own! It entered our minds to the point that we too know that those who do good and commit themselves are "good" and will be rewarded. On the other hand, those who do not commit themselves will be punished. This generates action in us, ever more action, improvement, competition to be the best, to sell.
Psychological aspects - All people have their individual merits, each must succeed in becoming what they wish to be; work and commitment are necessary to attain this end. For this reason, we seek to display an aspect of ourselves that facilitates our acceptance. The self becomes a centre, a point of value.
These aspects with which we were raised can become motives for violence, especially because they bring us to seek dominance over others. It is precisely this that must be identified: are our efforts made to the detriment of others, or are they just an expression of the desire to build our own existence? It is clear that these aspects, taken to the extreme, can result in violence.
* Who is more likely to be violent and provoke violence?
*The poor who are already angered by their situation.
*Those who are afraid because they are unsure and seek to defend themselves.
*When there is no information but only ignorance.
*Lack of respect.
* What is the key to non-violence?
Surely the capacity to LISTEN, which essentially means respect, dialogue and understanding; never assume that what I have, see and do is better that what another has, sees, does.

9. Land: the tip of the iceberg

A talk was given by Prof. Negrâo, who spoke to us of the problem of land in Mozambique.
First of all, there is the redistribution of land. This cannot come about on the basis of a property act, a piece of paper issued without justice, perhaps usurped. "Oral proof" has also been introduced in Mozambique with the validity to reclaim land..
Yet redistributing land is not enough. A family cannot live only on its salary, which in this environment is not a valid term of comparison; it is too small and cannot bring about development. Along with the land, families must also be given capital, so as to give rise to real development. In this way talk of reducing poverty will be avoided and will give way to discussion about producing wealth.
To bring about renewed economic drive, mentalities must change. It is not true that what produced wealth in the West is also a valid paradigm for Africa. To abandon the colonial system it is not enough, for example, to change the boss (whites have now been replaced by blacks). The dualistic vision of land must change. One person works the land and produces the goods, but the profit goes only to a favoured few. The primary producer must also be given a share in the profit.
However, the globalised world does not accept this new vision of the land; and much-acclaimed privatisation is not showing itself to be a means of development, rather a tool for speculation.
A new vision of the market, then, is to put land, workforce, capital and access to markets in the hands of families. This will also help us to change our own mentality and teach it to the people who do not know. We offer them an opportunity, creating the conditions for them to express their desire and capacity to act.
One question remains: How willing is the North to buy the products of the South? Alas, that is not easy for us to control!

10. Visit to the "Casa do Gaiato"

We had an opportunity to visit a structure set up for abandoned children, near the border with Swaziland not far from Maputo. We were able to admire this project, which was created under the auspices of the Portuguese Bishops' Conference.
The complex offers the children a home in which to stay and the opportunity to study, from primary school to university. Annexed to it is a large agricultural company which, apart from offering sustenance, supplies and supports agriculture in the country, producing seed and cuttings, also for zones recently struck by flooding.
Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to sit down with the project leader and discuss the future of these children once they become adults and have to face the "real world". Indeed, the complex offers the children unusual abundance when compared with Mozambican living standards.
We had lunch with the children and celebrated Mass.

11. Evaluation

* Preparation for the meeting: The reports were well prepared and concise, in accordance with the instructions given us in advance. It would be as well to give information beforehand regarding the language of the meeting.
*Welcome, location of meeting and hospitality: 100%
*Overall programme and daily timetable: There were some unforseeable inconveniences (one relator did not arrive) but they proved to be providential. Apart from that, excellent.
*Content, presentations, work in group and assembly: Preparation should have been more thorough and more concrete guidance given in closing. Are globalisation and non-violence really part of this context? The subject was too fragmented, a single theme would have been better. The J&P Manual was forgotten. Group work preceded by greater individual reflection gave better results. Content was both formative and informative.
*The theme proposed for the meeting: The first part, which was more pertinent to us, was well done. The need to begin "at home" was highlighted. Reflecting on the inspiration helped us a lot.
*The atmosphere among participants: There was a palpable family spirit.
*Liturgy: It was well attended and some regions even presented their characteristic symbols. Perhaps a little lacking in indications regarding J&P.
*Activities, visits, the excursion: The visits were not precisely in accordance with the theme, but at the same time they were much appreciated. There was no opportunity to sit down with the leaders and share the principles and inspirational methods of their activities, and their possible future. Excellent celebrations together.

13. Proposals for the next meeting

* Theme: Social analysis.
* Location: Ethiopia.
* Period: 2003 (if possible between October and December).