Proceedings of the 2004 General Chapter  Document on Mission (2)

OPTION FOR THE POOR

In Vita Consecrata, Pope John Paul II called religious to the conversion required to live the option for the poor in fidelity to the Gospel: "All of Christ's disciples are held to the option, but those who wish to follow the Lord more closely, imitating His attitudes cannot but feel involved in a special way" (VC82).  In Christ we see that the option for the poor is a privileged and essential way of proclaiming the Good News of God's reign, and it is a test of our fidelity to his mission.

A privileged expression of this option will always be direct commitment and ministry to the poor.  Other expressions include advocacy with the poor, sharing Catholic social teaching and educating others about the needs of the poor.  Each ministry in Holy Cross must be touched by the plight of the poor allowing it to inform and shape our every effort in faith.

A concern about the welfare of our home, the earth, has been growing.  These concerns for the integrity of creation have become part of our justice mentality.  The Chapter urges every province, district and individual religious to become more aware of these issues and to continue exploring creative ways by which we might announce good news to the poor and freedom to those held captive.

In this Chapter we have reflected on our practice of living out the option for the poor and in educating and witnessing for justice these last six years.  We celebrate blessings:

• the witness and work, some of it extraordinary for structural change and in direct service to the poor by many of our members and lay collaborators;

• and the congregational animation that has increased our social justice consciousness.

At the same time the Chapter exhorts all of us into a deeper awareness of justic, peace and environmental issues and a more effective standing with the poor by:

• encouraging a still more dynamic animation of our Holy Cross religious and lay collaborators;

• increasing the awareness in our local communities of the especially challenging context in which many of our confreres live, e.g. where Christian are a small minority; where religious fundamentalism is a threat, and where violence and terrorism are frequent events;

• developing a more pedagogy of justice for all levels of the socio-economic spectrum we serve in our ministries.

The General Chapter of 2004 recommits Holy Cross to the preferential option for the poor.  This is a biblical imperative, a call of the which and our Constitutions.  We make the following recommendations in order to help us continue to work with people of good will to build up the reign of justice, peace and love.

Recommendation 9: Office of Justice and Peace

The Chapter recommends that the Superior General continue to foster the commitment of the Congregation to the preferential option for the poor by establishing a permanent and adequately funded congregational Office of Justice and Peace.  Some goals of this Office are to;

1. gather and communicate information about projects throughout the Congregation that are implementing this priority;

2. engage in research and encourage and facilitate research on pedagogical approaches about justice issues throughout the Congregation;

3. be a resource for regional, provincial and district gatherings of religious involved in justice and peace activities;

4. develop tools for evaluating the effectiveness of the Congregation's implementation of its preferential option for the poor;

5. organize congregational gatherings and of province and district justice and peace coordinators to reflect on justice and peace activities throughout the whole Congregation;

6. serve as a liaison with other international development, justice and peace and Integrity of Creation organizations;

7. participate in the Holy Cross International Justice Office.

Recommendation 10: Coordinator of Justice and Peace.  

The Chapter recommends that each provincial and district superior appoint a Coordinator of Justice and Peace.  A coordinator may serve more than one province or district.

Recommendation 11: Option for the Poor

The Chapter recommends that the Superior General continue to foster an ongoing reflection on the option for the poor within the Congregation by writing a letter on this priority.  This letter should be written after receiving input from all sectors of the Congregation.

Recommendation 12: Holy Cross Solidarity Day

The Chapter recommends that the Superior General continue the tradition of declaring the 13th of September as an annual day of fasting, prayer, almsgiving and education for justice and peace in the Congregation.  Regions may choose an alternate date and invite participation from those with whom we serve.  To insure a commonality through the Congregation themes for this day, educational resources and prayer services are to be developed by the province, district or ministry highlighted.  Alms offered on this day, either through funds saved or through personal donations, will be forwarded to the General Administration for use by the designated ministry.

                                    For more information, write: John Korcsmar, CSC