WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

The theme of this year’s World Environment Day, June 5, is Melting Ice – A Hot Topic.  Each year, World Environment Day begins twelve months dedicated to an environmental crisis.  This year’s crisis is the Polar Ice.

The JPIC Committee invited the sisters and associates to celebrate the day by educating themselves on the crisis of global warming and its effect on the earth’s two ice caps in changing the natural habitat of polar bears, and also affecting the environment of the northernmost peoples.  After educating themselves on this topic, the sisters and associates were asked to reflect on what they could change in their personal lives to work against global warming and to discuss this topic and what they learned with at least one other person.

ASSOCIATE DAY OF REFLECTION

The JPIC Committee conducted a day of reflection for our associates on April 28, 2007.  The theme for the day, taken from the World Social Forum was Another World Is Possible.  The committee members presented both environmental and social issues which were constructed around the work done by the International JPIC Committee, from their discussion after participating in the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.  The associates were introduced to the commitment of the IBVM to the United Nations’ Millennium Goals, social justice and care of the environment.  Special emphasis was placed on Millennium Goal 3, “Promote gender equality and empower women.”  The associates had time to discuss the concepts being presented and apply them to their own lives.  They felt energized by the day, and committed themselves to the work with the IBVM on these issues.

At the end of the day, all the associates who were present blessed the new JPIC flag which states the IBVM charism of Integrity, Justice and Peace, and also acts as the visible symbol of our commitment to justice.  The flag now flies outside the provincial offices in Wheaton, IL.

MEDITATION GARDEN

A new associate member, Eileen Kimbrough, approached Arlene Ashack, our JPIC Coordinator, with the idea of creating meditation garden to be located across from the Loretto Center labyrinth.  Arlene suggested the garden be tied in with the Earth Charter and become a “teaching moment” for all who come.  Work is now underway to create the garden which will incorporate the principles of the Earth Charter and help create and expand the awareness that “we are all on human family and one Earth community with a common destiny.”  (Earth Charter Preamble).

WALK FOR JUSTICE

Three IBVMs and a new associate joined the Walk for Justice entitled “RISE UP! RESIST!”  The walk is organized each year (and held on Good Friday) by the 8th Day Center and co-sponsored by 79 religious and justice groups, including the IBVM.  Representing the IBVMs, Arlene Ashack, Cindy Langlois, Frances McCarron (all IBVMs) and Chris Teichler (IBVM Associate) joined with the hundreds of other marchers gathered.  Together we embodied the belief that “the justice-making efforts of organizing, educating, advocating and faithful resistance are the very transforming energies that encourage hope.  Such actions … are small resurrections in the struggle for true justice.”  RISE UP! RESIST! booklet.