Seeds

Sister Miriam, Dony, and Sister Marylou offer us a glimpse of how, through the JPIC ministry, we have walked alongside communities, nurturing justice, peace, and the care for our common home during the first quarter of the year, and what’s in store for the upcoming months.

JPIC Mexico | By Sister Miriam Bannon, CCVI

From January to April, we’ve been present in search efforts, public demonstrations, and calls for justice, standing alongside families of missing persons who are crying out for the truth. In the parish of the Coronation of Mary, led by Sister Luly and RAHAMIN, we’ve created spaces for education and dialogue, fostering a culture of care, dignity, and resistance against human trafficking. A community reflection on Fratelli Tutti, aimed at Sisters and associates, is ready to strengthen our commitment to a transformative friendship. In the coming days, we’ll join the march in Mexico City, walking together with the families of the disappeared in an act of memory, justice, and hope.

JPIC Peru | By Dony Avalos

During the first quarter, the communities of associates in Chimbote and Lima came together to strengthen bonds and listen to local voices, reaffirming our commitment to justice and peace. In Chimbote, we held a public awareness campaign against human trafficking in collaboration with Sister Sofía and the Red Kawsay Peru, standing in solidarity with those who suffer most. We also hosted a virtual panel titled “Associates CCVI: Life Stories and Mission,” where transformative experiences around the charism and the role of women were shared. For the second quarter, we’re preparing for a community reflection on the care of the sea and its biodiversity, promoting ecological spirituality, in alignment with the San Pedro festivities in Chimbote.

JPIC United States | By Sister Marylou Rodriguez CCVI

From January to April, JPIC focused on promoting justice, peace, and care for our common home through various collaborative initiatives. One of them, the event “Hatred as a Contagious Disease,” invited us to reflect on the power of love and solidarity in the face of hatred. Our collaboration with students from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) led to a digital art book on nature and an active role in local sustainability actions, addressing the climate crisis. We supported the establishment of the Silent Garden, a space where vulnerable individuals can experience reflection immersed in the beauty of nature. We’ve also provided financial support to several integral ecology initiatives and continue accompanying projects focused on caring for our common home with the schools of the Brainpower Connection (a Catholic educational network united by values of academic excellence, service, social justice, civic engagement, and leadership rooted in faith) from UIW. We are currently collaborating with the Climate Reality Project in San Antonio to share the stories of these schools and their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint. In the coming months, we are preparing for the UIW Brainpower Schools Conference and will continue supporting initiatives that respond to the cries of our planet and of our neighbors most impacted by poverty.