Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well. (Gaudium et Spes, 1.)
As members of St Patrick’s Missionary Society, we see ourselves as people who through contemplative listening to the Holy Spirit
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bear witness to the risen Christ in today’s broken world;
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hear the cries of the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalised and respond to those cries;
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proclaim the dignity of every human being;
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protect and promote life from the womb to the tomb;
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have a deep concern for this beautiful earth, its inhabitants and ecology;
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actively promote peace in our parishes and portray a heart for justice in our daily pastoral activities;
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work not in isolation but in effective collaboration with other justice-driven bodies and individuals;
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pay special attention to justice activities such as the empowerment of women with regard to HIV/Aids and gender issues, protection of children, street children and human trafficking, drug abuse, age issues and health, care for the earth, ecology and use of land.
A Prayer for our Earth
Pope Francis
All-powerful God,
you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your
tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the
power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace,
that we may live
as brothers and sisters,
harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned
and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the
world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty,
not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those
who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover
the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that
we are profoundly united
with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for
being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
Pope Francis Laudato Si’
