Seminar About Human Rights

September 18, 2023 Sr. Tarcisia participated in a live seminar with the JPIC Rome coordinators together with Mgr. Noel Londono Antonio Buitrgo C.SS. R. Bishop of the diocese of Jericho Latin America and with some young people from the Amazon, Ghana and Argentina. The seminar talked about Human Rights, the environment and the Church’s cooperation with local communities and governments. The focus was on the Amazon which is the lungs of the world, Colombia which is experiencing flooding problems, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and Olivia where many people have fallen ill especially children due to the difficulty in getting clean water and food. In these discussions and seminars all participants shared their experiences and opinions to help reduce the problem by building and calling on the community how to dialogue with young people and give an understanding or announcement of the importance of preserving and protecting the environment. Trying to establish cooperation with the local government or people who are considered to be able to provide solutions to overcome problems.

Msgr. Noel Londono Antonio Buitrgo C. SS. R. emphasized that the Church, especially the teams involved in the JPIC coordinators of congregations everywhere, should participate in dealing with problems related to environmental pollution and human rights in various forms of concrete action through prayer, cooperation with all parties who can help, and funding. The participants also commented that in looking at a problem, positive things should be included in it, not only negative things, so as to find the middle point of the existing problems.

Laudato Si Week and Season of Creation

Laudato Si Week and Season of Creation is a blessed time for us to reflect and be grateful for how good and beautiful God’s creation is on earth. The earth where we stand and live is our common home. A shared home means that together we take part in maintaining it. Sr. Tarcisia together with JPIC Rome took part in the action held by the JPIC Rome coordinator came together thinking about something that can be done for the maintenance of the surrounding environment, especially in Rome itself which is a country with many visitors. One of the results of the discussion is that JPIC Rome will work directly with the AMA (cleaning company) in Rome so that several delegates are sent to discuss it directly with them. JPIC Rome also requested in one of the Audiences and Angelus on Sundays that Pope Francis once called for the need to maintain peace, justice and the integrity of creation. In addition, Laodato Si must also be called and celebrated in every region and institution. During one session of the meeting, there was also an opportunity to reflect together by watching the movie “The Letter of Pope Francis”. This meeting took place at Casa Generalizia SVD Rome on May 26, 2023. The Generalate community also participated in praying and watching together that short movie.

 Promoting Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Through Inter-religious dialogue

On November 4, 2023 Sr. Tarcisia and the JPIC Rome coordinators attended a seminar on interreligious dialog. The dialogue and seminar talked about the importance of establishing harmonious relationships between religious life. The seminar opened a deeper understanding of the meaning and obstacles that will occur in establishing inter-religious relationships. The Church should be a promoter of justice, peace and the integrity of creation for all people, not just for the Catholic Church. Justice, peace, and the integrity of creation should also be proclaimed to all people through interfaith dialog. Let us make differences a means of Evangelization that brings positive changes to the Church and the world.

Praying for World Peace

Pope Francis continues to call for peace in war-torn countries, especially Palestine and Israel. In Audience Wednesday, October 25, 2023 Pope Francis renewed his appeal to release Israeli hostages and to let humanitarian aid reach Gaza, while inviting the faithful to join him in praying for peace on Friday, October 27. “I encourage the release of hostages, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.” Simultaneously, we as the Congregation and Sr. Tarcisia as the JPIC Coordinator of the Congregation calls for and does the same to answer Pope Francis’ call for world peace. As a tangible manifestation, all of us in the community are encouraged to take part in praying the Rosary. Sr. Tarcisia together with Sr. Klemensia, Sr. Damiana and Sr. Riska took part in the Rosary and Adoration together with Pope Francis in San Peter’s Basilica. This prayer took place in a silent and solemn atmosphere. The entire congregation followed the prayer with great calmness and wisdom. The sisters of the Generalate community who could not able to participate at the basilica of St. Peter’s, they took part in praying the Rosary together in the community.

Other Activities: Collecting Kitchen Waste

The sisters at the Generalate collected nearly all of the fruit peels, and other organic waste in order to make an organic fertilizer (compost). This is one of the various ways that we could do to care for the environment with composted organic fertilizer (kitchen waste). (Sr. M. Tarcisia Lumban Siantar)