Dear Sisters and Associates,

Peace and all good!

As announced by Sister Tiziana Merletti in her April letter, we, the members of the Congregational Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee, composed of Sisters Maria Helena Carvalho (Brazil Area), Bernadette Sullivan and Karen Furr (U.S. Area), Marie Augustine N’Dione (Senegal Area) and Sr. Tiziana Longhitano (Italy Area) held a meeting at the Congregational Office from March 8-11, 2006. 

Among the issues we discussed are some that need to be considered and acted upon by all of us.  These are the Franciscan Earth Charter, the JPIC page on the Congregational website, a new initiative called Sister Water: for a Conscientious and Responsible Use of the Most Precious Resource of the Third Millennium and the Canticle of the Creatures.

1. The Franciscan Earth Charter

At our 2004 General Chapter we decided “to continue deepening our commitment to promote the Declaration for Peace by integrating elements from the UN Earth Charter in order to create our Franciscan Earth Charter.”

Regarding this issue, we have decided to collect the opinions of the Sisters in the Areas.  This work will be coordinated by the Congregational Committee members from the Areas together with the respective CCA. We hope this material will be ready for discussion by the committee before the end of January 2007.

2. The JPIC Page on the Congregational Website

As you have probably seen, the JPIC page on our Congregational website is in the process of being updated, fruit of our Committee’s work.

3. Sister Water: for a Conscientious and Responsible Use of the Most Precious Resource of the Third Millennium <click here> (includes the Decalogue - Ten Ways of Saving Water)

As the Committee we propose that, as our first action at the Congregational level, our Sisters and Associates take on and proclaim the project “Sister Water: for a Conscientious and Responsible Use of the Most Precious Resource of the Third Millennium” (Ten Ways for Saving Water). This is a national campaign initiated by the Secular Franciscan Order of Italy (World Sector of the Missionary Center SFO). The JPIC Committee has decided to use this campaign since water is a basic need for the survival of all creatures, now and in the future.

At the beginning of June, the details of this Secular Franciscan campaign and the Ten Ways for Saving Water (also called the Decalogue for Saving Water) will be published on the Congregational JPIC web site so that all may view it for your information and greater awareness. We hope that this will also create opportunities to spread the message further, outside the Congregation. This work will also be coordinated in the Areas by the Congregational Committee members.

4.  The Canticle of the Creatures <click here>

As a means to further greater connection and integration among ourselves, we will also be publishing St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures on the JPIC page.

Our Committee also intends to use the JPIC page to post news of relevant events taking place around the world in a dynamic way.

United in St. Francis and Mother Frances,

Sister Maria Helena Carvalho, SFP
Congregational Councilor
for JPIC