In most countries, vulnerable communities, including low-income families, and small-scale farmers, are burdened by unsustainable levels of debt. This debt exacerbates poverty, limits access to basic services, and hinders economic growth. During the Jubilee Year, advocacy efforts can focus on campaigning for debt cancellation or restructuring programs to alleviate this burden and restore dignity and opportunity to local communities.
“Pastoral Cycle Methodology and Systemic Transformation” was the theme of the third day of our training session. Lev 19:33-34, Luke 24:18-35, Pope Francis’ message on
New wine, new wineskins! Here we are on the second day of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) training workshop. This new day focused on the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church and systemic transformation.
JPIC MISSION: PILGRIMS OF HOPE FOR SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL CREATION On 10 February 2025, the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of
Follow-Up Working Session on Safeguarding of Minors for Confreres in the PAC Province, Bujumbura, Burundi (February 15–26, 2025) The General Council of the Society of
15 years ago, I asked a confrere this question: Would you like a piece of chocolate? The reply from my confrere was negative. But why? – I asked. With a smile and a deep, profound conviction, he replied: because the price of cocoa on the world market is too low. I’ll eat chocolate when the price is just and the farmers have enough income to compensate for their work.
that is not the case with the rule that Jesus Christ teaches us: the rule of love. On the contrary, he tells us to look out for the little ones: “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them, for theirs is the kingdom of God” (Mk 10:14); “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3); he tells us to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters (Jn 15, 13) and, in particular, those in need.
Conflicts are an integral part of life in society. Social life is marked by different types of conflicts. They can be verbal but also non-verbal. They could also be armed as well as aggressive attitudes and behaviours which are signs of the difficulties of living together in harmony. I have not only experienced conflicts but also been involved and implicated in several situations of conflicts. I have lived and worked in conflict zones, rebellious contexts as well as in war zones. Some of these situations were well beyond our control. However, what counts is not the existence of conflicts but how we handle them.
The surprising thing is that we still rarely ask ourselves: “Why” does this tragedy continue to happen today, even with greater cruelty, without trying to heal the root causes of this humanitarian catastrophe? Why are we content with “patches”, hospital care, food banks and material aid, while letting bodies continue to go down the river, and people cross the seas at great risks, fall on the battlefield or die oppressed and marginalized?
An African proverb says: a finger cannot kill a louse. It is a good thing to come together at least to exchange ideas on how to bring more justice and peace to our Nigerian society. JPI’s work is like a drop of water in the ocean, but we need that drop of water to fill our pastoral vase. Being a member of JPI is an attitude to be encouraged and recognized. As a Missionary of Africa, I learned a lot from others and above all I now know how to evaluate our contribution in the field of JPIC-ED and especially regarding safeguarding.
Raising awareness of social injustice would require us to adopt the prophetic attitude of announcing, denouncing and renouncing. In other words, we need to be able to announce the Good News of Salvation which boils down to love of God and love of neighbour; denounce vehemently all forms of social injustice and renounce all practices and ideologies that we also have that are incongruent with the gospel values and teachings of the Church. How could this be done in practical terms?
Sexual violence continues to be used as a weapon of war. With more than 100 conflicts active worldwide, sexual violence is bound to happen on a large scale. The most affected by this inhuman act are girls, women and children.
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