This month's issue of the JPIC newsletter highlights the tragedy of global human trafficking. Sr Claire Griffin talks about the work of Catholic Religious involved in alleviating suffering and rescuing victims. There's also a video on our JPIC page about the Zimbabwean Carmelite Sisters Agape Leona project helping Human Trafficking survivors in Africa, and the February Pope Video about human trafficking.

pdf JPIC No 84 March 2019

The Advent Season, moving towards Christmas, calls us to give prayerful attention to baby Jesus and his mother Mary. Peter Thomas, member of the JPIC Team, provides us with a reflection on Mary of Nazareth, the young girl and woman invited by God to fulfil this sacred role.

JPIC No 82 December 2018 | Visit our JPIC page

The vocation to pursue justice is not simply an individual task. It is a call for all of us to work with others to humanize and shape the institutions that touch so many people. Justice in the world can best be carried forward as members of a community called to be the “leaven” of the gospel.

Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, an icon of justice for the poor and oppressed, will be canonised on 14 October.

JPIC No 80 October 2018

Spring is upon us and during this month of September we celebrate the international, multifaith Seasons of Creation.

There are many ways to celebrate: prayer, walking or meditating in nature, joining in discussion about Laudato Si, improving our recycling habits, the list is endless.

JPIC No 79 September 2018 | Visit our JPIC page

This month Pia Pagotto contributes her thoughts to our JPIC Newsletter, based on her own experiences, observing that community attitudes towards our First Nation people are gradually changing. Are we detecting a movement of compassionate understanding and acceptance to recognise their rightful place in our nation's history and its future? What can we do to walk with them?

JPIC No 78 August 2018 | Visit our JPIC page

In every nation’s story there are important moments—events and crossroads—that shape the chapters to come.

For all Australians this ancient land connects the stories of our past, our present and our future.

Peter Thomas, of the JPIC Team, shares his thoughts on JUSTICE ... "Justice is at the cutting edge of the Christian calling, a requirement without which love becomes pure sentimentality."

JPIC No 77 July 2018 | Visit our JPIC page

'The Crocodile and the Kangaroo' is the story of the relationship between Timor-Leste and Australia written by Br Agedo Bento, OCarm. The story is told by the Crocodile (national symbol of Timor-Leste) and the Kangaroo (national symbol of Australia). It focusses on the negotiations between Timor-Leste and Australia over a just share of oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea.

Contemplating our Care for Creation. This month Anglican Priest, Rev. Linda Chapman, shares with us her reflections on Laudato Si'. “The ecological crisis is a spiritual crisis of humanity as we are living in a way that degrades our environment.This reflection explores a possible way of recovering a sense of our human vocation as creatures gifted with life.”

United Nations World Environment Day is on Tuesday 5 June.

JPIC No 76 JUNE 2018 | Visit our JPIC page

We offer you our May newsletter in a slightly different format! 

The symbols of Australia and Timor-Leste are used to illustrate the difficulties encountered by our neighbour Timor-Leste in developing its independence and the struggle for recognition of its sovereignty over maritime borders.

This is a story you can listen to or read.

JPIC No 75 May 2018

This month we are celebrating the gift of the Earthsong Library to the Carmelite Library in Middle Park. "This donation is a great responsibility and a great potential learning experience, enabling the Library to be the best ecospirituality library in Melbourne."

Today, as we take risks for the sake of something greater than our separate, individual lives, we are feeling graced by other beings and by Earth itself.
Joanna Macy

JPIC No 74 April 2018 | Visit our JPIC page

This month Peter Thomas looks at 'Our Forgotten People' and the connection between mental illness and homelessness.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates that 105,000 Australians are homeless on any given night and a high proportion of these people have a mental illness. Some estimates are as high as 75%.

Peter Thomas

JPIC No 73 March 2018 | Visit our JPIC page

With a listening heart and confidence we approach the still small voice of the Spirit of God to respond to today's challenges, commencing this new year with a focus on our search for peace. Peter Clark leads us in reflection on peace using the Carmelite perspective.

To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity!
Pope Francis

JPIC No 72 February 2018 | Visit our JPIC page

How do the people of any nation cope with the aftermath of many years of the brutality of invasion, war, massacre and oppression?

Several countries have worked very hard to bring people to a sense of peace through a community process of healing.

Pat Walsh reflects on the process and spirituality of truth and reconciliation in Timor Leste.

Read this issue | Visit our JPIC page

The call to develop a sustainable economy is coming from many quarters of the globe: Pope Francis and people of faith worldwide; the United Nations; several world leaders and even some economists. 

JPIC Team member Peter Thomas offers a few thoughts on this year's Australian Catholic Bishops Social Justice Statement: Everyone's Business - Developing an Inclusive and Sustainable Economy.

Read this issue | Visit our JPIC page

'Let the poor speak!' Peter Thomas talks about the work of Dom Hélder Câmara, 'bishop of the slums', and Pope Francis in giving the poor a face and a voice in the church and the world.

'Both Hélder Câmara and Pope Francis are advocates of the poor. They both acknowledge charity but seem to witness to a more radical Christ-like position of being with the poor; of learning from the poor, of being in solidarity with the poor and of empowering the poor.'

 Read this issue | Visit our JPIC page

‘We will not remain silently complicit in the destruction of our common home,’ says the message from the International Carmelite JPIC meeting in Fatima. ‘We urge our Carmelite Family to join us in a commitment to study, prayer and the performance of very simple gestures that will contribute to substantive change in our lifestyles. The culture of indifference is one of the key challenges within our communities and societies. Blessed Titus Brandsma, along with many other Carmelite saints, reminds us “We are not called to do great things. We are called to do the ordinary things in grand style.”’

Thirty five representatives of the Carmelite Family gathered in Fatima, Portugal, for the second Carmelite Justice Peace & Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Congress. The theme of the Congress was Carmel Engages with Laudato Si - Hearing both the Cry of the Poor and of the Earth. 

The Congress was opened by the Prior General, Fr Fernando Millan Romeral, facilitated by Fr Conrad Mutizamhepo, Chair of the International JPIC Commission, with the assistance of five JPIC Commissioners from various regions around the world. 

Peter Thomas asks the question, 'Who is my Neighbour?' in the context of the refugee crisis. "Contemplative awareness fosters clarity in conscience where the Gospel as a principle of love embraces the importance and preciousness of all people."

It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need. Pope Francis

  Read this issue | Visit our JPIC page