standup.comboniyouth.org.uk

It is the Passover

The Madrid meeting gave us the chance to come together and also to create a network among the provinces. In Europe it is not a matter of working but of how we work. For example the "carovana della pace" so successful in Italy has to become a European event. We have to expose the causes of injustice and slavery, to know why the poor suffer. We have a tradition of working with the poor, but their number keeps increasing: that means that the system is wrong. We have to work on the causes. Alongside the catechesis, the bible study, working for J.&P. constitutes a true service of evangelization. When in the first issue, I was asking what do you understand of what has become 'mission' in today's world, I was not expecting an angel to answer me. We need our own experience of liberation, a "pass over": from missionary animation (vocation and fund raising) to missionary action, being directly involved in social issues. In this sense the next general chapter can become a landmark.

The basis is already laid down in the guidelines to the implementation of the General Chapter of 1997:

• the secretariat of evangelization is to animate in this field of J.&P. to organize meetings at continental level (there were three in Europe, none in America, none in Africa) is there a danger that the others do not feel this is relevant?
• a continental coordinator for Justice and Peace
• a committee for emergency situations.
• the six year plan of the provinces has to take into account the work of J.&P.
• a Call on Sussidi from the general council (it has produced a letter plus the manual of promoter of Justice and Peace).
• to Program specialisation in social sciences (only 1 since 1997 from Brasil, only 2 have attended courses; Islam has 7 masters and 2 doctorates)
• Insert education to J.&P. in the 'iter' of formation of our candidates.

Here in Glasgow, The missionary Forum promoted a meeting on listening to asylum seekers. From our own community, myself, Fr. Chemello and Sr. Aurora went to take part. We learned that the numbers of refugee in Glasgow are on the increase, some eight thousand at the moment. The Passionists have some three thousand of them in their parish of St. Mungo and a Congolese Mass in French is celebrated once a month. We may consider linking with them when the scholastics come this summer.
On the presence of immigrants, three questions have been put forward by the theological commission who is to advise the European provincials:

In your country...

• What does the law say about the rights of migrant workers ?
• Are there any official documents from the Bishops conferences?
• what is the position of the civil society?

You can send me any piece of information you may gather before the end of this month.
Meanwhile, I want to give you an update on the campaigns that the Comboni missionaries are backing this year regarding the commerce of small arms and the right to clean water. This is done together with other 41 Institutes through the Africa Europe Justice and Peace Network. I can forward the texts to you by e-mail on request.