Continental Meeting on Justice and Peace
Maputo, 24-29 September 2001 Part II
INSPIRATION
1. The charism of consolation
"The name you carry must encourage you to become that which you must be" (VS p.688). La Consolata, i.e. Consolation, the name we bear, inspires us and itself becomes the spirituality of Justice and Peace. We are consoled and we receive consolation "so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles" (2 Cor. 1,4; cf. Mt. 5,3; Lk. 4,18-19).
Sources of inspiration: IMC Const. no. 76; MC Const. no. 77, the Acts of General Chapters and Regional Conferences. 2. Attention to and analysis of reality
We are inspired by own particular charism and by Holy Scripture. Nonetheless attention to and analysis of the situations in which we actually work - especially situations of injustice that are the cause of trouble and affliction for so many people - must be and are factors that inspire all actions for Justice and Peace.
Following Mary's example in listening to the Word of God.
Prayer and openness to the Word of God as the context for such "listening".
Attention to the Magisterium, the Church's Social Doctrine at both universal and local level. 3. The courage of New Evangelisation
Inspired by our own name, we become new evangelisers; men and women who are capable of giving consolation; missionaries who courageously become prophets and who go out to meet all those who "have all kinds of troubles".
Allamano's intuition was prophetic in its style and teaching, it is an invitation to us to read the signs of the times.
Our particular characteristic - combining Human promotion and Evangelisation - calls for special attention to HUMAN DIGNITY as a value we also share with non-Christians (anthropological itinerary).
MEANS
1. To animate our communities
(a) Personally live the dimension of Justice and Peace in our own persons.
(b) Keep the themes of Justice and Peace present in personal and community prayer.
(c) Consider a questionnaire for discernment in our pastoral care, in order that it be more attentive to the themes of Justice and Peace.
(d) Take more advantage of the experiences of our confreres and sisters in the field of Justice and Peace, human promotion, human rights, status of women etc.
(e) Find the ways and means to present the Justice and Peace Manual to our confreres and sisters in a methodological fashion.
(f) Share the results of the Justice and Peace meeting, Maputo 2001.
(g) Organise visits to our communities with proposals for activities in the area of Justice and Peace, and later evaluate those activities.
(h) Use the regional report in order to supply information and formation concerning Justice and Peace.
(i) Participate in regional and zone meetings.
(j) In accordance with the Regional Curia, ensure that the themes of Justice and Peace are part of the programme of permanent formation.
(k) Animate our communities in such a way that the element of Justice and Peace is always present in the Community Projects for Life as well as in pastoral projects.
(l) Ensure that all our communities or zones have an individual responsible for maintaining contact with the Justice and Peace Commissions. 2. To animate generally
(a) Use all available teaching aids, e.g., LUMKO materials, the One World series, videos, Justice and Peace Manual, local teaching aids.
(b) Participate in Justice and Peace Commissions at the national, diocesan and parish levels as well as among religious etc.
(c) Make use of the Networks, especially the "antennae", groups linked to AEFJN (Africa/Europe Faith and Justice Network), the missionary institutes' own network based in Brussels.
(d) Organise pressure campaigns against injustice, seeking to collaborate with other institutes present in the same territory.
(e) Make use of the social communications media as an instrument for spreading information, for denouncing injustice and for formation in matters concerning Justice and Peace.
(f) Communicate with the Secretariat for Missions in order to obtain and distribute informative and formative materials.
(g) Always keep lines of communication open with others who work for Justice and Peace, especially in the continent of Africa, so as to exchange teaching aids and other forms of assistance with them.
METHODS AND APPROACHES(a) Listen to the people among whom and with whom we work (confreres, workers, collaborators etc.).
(b) Walk alongside others in such a way that our steps harmonise with the real needs of the people among whom we work.
(c) Organise liturgical celebrations that focus prayer and reflection upon the themes of Justice and Peace.
(d) Re-examine our own structures to see if they truly open and welcoming, typical characteristics of we Consolata Missionaries and Missionary Sisters.
(e) Make use of Social Analysis: see - judge - act. (Cf. Justice and Peace Manual: Italian, pp.143-152; English, pp.100-107; Portuguese, pp.145-154).
(f) Empowerment: raise people's consciousness, make them responsible, give them authority etc.
(g) Undertake formational activities in the groups in which we work in order to create a consciousness that Justice and Peace is an intrinsic part of being Christian.
(h) Use inductive methods: i.e., on the basis of local experience seek to be more effective in our operational choices.
(i) Also take account of Allamano's methods which ensued from the Murang'a Conferences: 1. Harmony. Unity of intent. 2. Perseverance. 3. Illumination (discernment).
(j) Adopt the principles of active non-violence. (Cf. Justice and Peace Manual: Italian, pp. 230-235; English, pp. 161-165; Portuguese, pp. 237-244).
(k) "Antenna" (AEFJN): where it does not exist, create it; where it does, collaborate with it.
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