DRAFT

Province JPIC Coordinator/Team: Description of Role

The Province JPIC Coordinators/Teams respond to the challenges contained in

(a)  Direction 2  (General Congregation ’98 – Irish Branch)           

We commit our energies and resources to promoting the dignity and liberation of all, particularly of women and children, to challenging unjust systems and structures; to standing with those on the edges of society; to showing reverent care for the earth and all of creation.                                  

(b) Commitment to Action: Justice Network (General Chapter ’99 – North American Branch)

We, the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in North America, commit ourselves to the inter-branch Justice Network statement as our intentional focus for justice issues:

IBVM Interbranch Justice Statement (formulated by members from the three
Branches of the Institute at the JPIC Conference in Toronto/Chicago in 1996)

Women are voiceless, powerless and invisible in the political, cultural, social, economic and religious structures of society.

Therefore:

As IBVM women who see the need continually to make the connection between service/charity and systemic change in the work of justice, we commit ourselves to:

-work with others to challenge structures,

-take specific steps in whatever ways are possible and appropriate, to engage in awareness-raising that leads to action,

-to claim the voice, the power and the visibility of women.

(c)  Various communications from the IBVM/RSCJ NGO Office at the UN (New York) including the recent decision to promote the Millennium Development Goals throughout the Institute.

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education for all

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7. Ensure sustainable development

8. Develop a global partnership for development

(Endorsed at the Meeting for JPIC Coordinators – New York Sept. ’05)

In order to respond to these challenges we will:

A: Work at the Following:

Local:

1.       Inform ourselves about JPIC issues – local, national international – which are highlighted in Direction 2 ‘98, Commitment to Action ‘99, the UN Millennium Development Goals and the NGO Office at the United Nations.

2.       Decide  on some specific issues or topics related to the  Millennium Development Goals which the Province will focus on for the coming year

3.       Provide appropriate resources with good clear simple content for  raising awareness about the issues on which we are focusing   

4.       Ask the NGO Office at the UN for help with acquiring relevant resources and keep them informed about how these materials are used

5.       Provide practical suggestions for action and call IBVMs, collaborators and associates for participation

6.       Prepare suitable reflection materials which link JPIC issues and our Ignatian spirituality.

International:

7.       Keep in touch with NGO Office in order to keep them up to date about our issues of concern

8.       Link with all other IBVM Provinces through the “JPIC Ring of Fire” in order to raise awareness about JPIC issues and action in our country/region.

9.       Contribute three times a year to the “Ring of Fire” on the website

B: Work with the Following Groups:

Local:

1.       IBVM members

2.       Community Leaders/Community contact persons

3.       Provincial and Provincial Council

4.       IBVM Schools’ Network – through the Education Coordinator/Commission.

5.       IBVM sponsored ministries – through the person responsible

6.       IBVM associates and past students

National:

            4. Justice Desk of the Major Religious Superiors

            5. Justice Desk of the Bishops’ Conferences

            6. Some key NGO’s – IBVM is a member of the Africa Europe Faith and Justice

Network (AEFJN – Europe and Africa) and AFJN (USA)

            7. Members of parliament

            8. Any local UN Office or the national UN Information Office (if it exists in your

country)

International

1.       NGO Office at the United Nations

2.       Other Province JPIC Coordinators/Teams

3.       Member of the General Council with responsibility for coordinating JPIC

C: Use the Following Means

1.       Regular meetings of the Province JPIC committee

2.       Regular meetings with communities, school personnel, associates, past students groups as appropriate

3.       Regular evaluation with Provincial Council and periodic communication with the member of the General Council with responsibility for coordinating JPIC

4.       Establish helpful structures to link with IBVM communities/groups, IBVM schools and IBVM sponsored ministries

5.       Province JPIC newsletters, Province web site, justice alerts, presentations etc.

6.       Contribute to the “Ring of Fire” on the IBVM international web site as a means of raising awareness about justice, peace and environmental issues and activities in different provinces.

RING OF FIRE

IBVM International Web Site

In order to make it easier to contribute to the “The Ring of Fire” the following is proposed as a result of the discussion held in  New York:

·         The “Ring of Fire” will eventually have a separate section on the public side of the IBVM international web site. Until this is set up the  “Ring of Fire” will  be published as current news on the opening page.

·         Each JPIC coordinator/team will be asked to send material for the “The Ring of Fire” three times per year, as outlined on the table below.

·         The material should be emailed to both  

UNA COOGAN This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (note _ between una and coogan)

and PAT MURRAY This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

·         The material can be submitted in English, Spanish and French

·         At other times whenever you have any other material that you think might be of interest to other provinces or might be used by other province please submit it for inclusion on the web site or send by mail.