MSC Irish Province Commission for

Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC)

Vision

Inspired by the Gospels and our MSC charism, we are called to safeguard the world as our one home, given by God; a place where all peoples are treated equally as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Mission

At the service of the Province, and seeking a more just and sustainable world, the JPIC Group seeks to inform, animate and resource the members to engage in local, national and international JPIC initiatives.

In connection with the wider Chevalier family, and with national and international networks, the Group seeks to represent the Province, share information and lend its voice to major campaigns.

The JPIC Group is an open, self-selecting group.  All MSC are welcome at any time.

The JPIC Group

The MSC Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Group (JPIC) was born following the European Assembly of 2008 which was held in Issoudun. It came from a shared belief among a number of the members that as an Irish Province we need to take more concerted action regarding issues of justice and peace in our world. This was echoed during our Provincial Assembly in Grace Dieu in Spring 2009 when we identified solidarity with the marginalised and our call to a prophetic living out of Gospel values as central to how we saw ourselves as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Our call to stand with the poor and dispossessed is deeply rooted in our own charism.

We will be attentive, as our Founder was, to those who suffer and are in need. We will seek to identify the causes of their suffering, and to discern what our response will be by following the light of the Gospel and by listening to the world and to the Church.

In the poor and the little ones, in all the victims of injustice and violence, we will discover the face of Christ. He asks us to bring his love into their lives. In answer to his call, we will show compassion towards them by working courageously to guarantee their human rights and to change the hearts of their oppressors.

Constitutions of the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, nos. 21 & 22

Currently, the members of the JPIC Group are: Alan Neville (chair), Brendan Hanley, Joe McGee, Liam O'Brien, Con O'Connell, Pat O'Sullivan, Carl Tranter, Mark Van Beeumen and Ton Zwart.

Current Campaign - World AIDS Day, December 1st  2009

With World AIDS Day coming up on the 1st of December we’ve decided to run with this theme as our first campaign. Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education.

The World AIDS Day theme for 2009 is Universal Access and Human Right'. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35. Around 95% of people with HIV and AIDS live in developing nations.

MSC AIDS Ministry in South Africa

In South Africa, one of the countries worst affected, many of our own MSCs and Daughters of our Lady of the Sacred Heart are directly involved in HIV / AIDS ministry. Through their care of orphans, running of hospices and provision of education they are  playing a crucial part in treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

One good example of the work currently being carried out is in the Tshwaranang Care Centre by Fr Herman Van Dijck, a Belgian MSC working in the South African Region (pictured in these accompanying photos).

This hospice not only cares for those infected by HIV/AIDS, but supports their families and operates a number of community education programmes.

Resource Pack

A resource pack has been distributed to all MSC communities throughout Ireland and England with materials that can be used as part of World AIDS Day 2009.

Some of the resources are made available below as downloadable pdf or PowerPoint files.

If you would like more details or resources, please contact the co-ordinator of the JPIC Group, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You can read more about the work of the MSC in the area of AIDS-HIV care on our special AIDS-HIV page here.

World AIDS Day Campaign Resources

World AIDS Day campaign letter

Theology in a time of AIDS (article by Fr Sean McDonagh)

CAFOD AIDS Prayers

Praying Positively (CAFOD prayer service)

Praying Positively (Customisable PowerPoint presentation)

Ecumenical AIDS Service

MSC AIDS / HIV Pages of this website