What is JPIC

(The Passionist office for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation is a new initiative of the International and regional passionist family. For that reason I are dedicating this blog and the next one on the theme of what is JPIC and what is the mission of the North American Office for JPIC.)

In 2006 the Passionists held their 45^th General Chapter. A General Chapter is a worldwide gathering of the Catholic Religious Community to set direction and elect its own international government. In the Catholic Church many international religious communities have organized themselves in this way from the moment that they are founded in order to develop a governing structure for the spiritual mission of these communities.

Like other Catholic religious communities, the Passionists take the opportunity during these gatherings to reflect on the state of their mission and spirituality in light of our ever changing world. This has been especially true after Vatican II when the document on religious life requested that religious communities reflect on the spirit of their founder or foundation in light of the contemporary reality. During this recent gathering the Community offered a single decree that proposes a reconfiguration of the international community on the basis of globalization and the social and spiritual issues of our time. Along with this decree, 10 recommendations were listed as priorities for this new reconfiguration. The fifth priority included the following statement:

Another priority is that of commitment to justice, peace and the integrity of creation.  This commitment is profoundly rooted in our charism.  Our Constitutions express our desire “to share in the distress of all, especially those who are poor and neglected…” (Const.#3).  We believe that the power of the Cross offers us the strength to discern and to alleviate the burden of suffering experienced by the poor and the marginalized of our world.  The preferential option for the poor has a central role in the process of Restructuring, guiding us to channel and utilize our resources. Furthermore, the ecological crisis of the world in which we live invites us to be concerned about the safeguarding and the protection of creation.

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) is identified by the Passionist and by a number of other Christian religious communities and organizations as the lens through which many Christian communities are re-interpreting the social mission of the Gospel. There is a holistic and spiritual quality to this acronym that goes beyond the more secular term of social justice. Justice and peace are identifiable values within our Sacred Scripture and Christian tradition. The Integrity of Creation places us in relationship to a larger sacred reality: The reality of God’s natural revelation which we identify as Creation. Integrity of Creation also reminds us that the values of justice and peace can only be realized when we affirm a deep relationship with God and all of creation. It reminds us of the dignity that all creation shares including both humanity and the environment.

During the General Chapter the Passionist reflected on JPIC from their unique spirituality. Passionist spirituality is based on the memory of Christ’s Passion. Our devotion to this sacred historical moment reminds us of the redemptive power of suffering. We recall that Jesus suffered a truly unjust death at the hands of the social powers of his day. We also recall also how God redeemed the world through Jesus. In the Resurrection our early Christian forbearers witnessed two things: the reality of who Jesus was as the incarnation of God and humanity, and the redemption of our humanity from the power of sin. Passionists are attentive to the power of sin that continues to cause social suffering, similar to that which Jesus suffered. This spirituality is described under article 65 of the Passionist Constitutions:

His Passion and death are no mere historical events. They are ever-present realities to people in the world of today, “crucified” as they are by injustice, by the lack of a deep respect for human life, and by a hungry yearning for peace, truth, and the fullness of human existence.

One Response to “What is JPIC”

1. Keith Nisbet says:

   December 5, 2010 at 7:57 pm

   I came to this site when searching for what “JPIC” meant while I was on the Consolata Missionairies site in Canada. Your message in Article 65 was interestingly worded as we do see in so many part of the world injustice, lack of care for the planet, and seemingly zero respect for life. I am looking for ways to take action within my limited means to help turn the tide. Thank you.
   K.