OMI ZAMBIA SETS UP A JPIC OFFICE

The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Zambia Delegation Council resolved to set up a Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) desk at the Administration office in Lusaka . This was during the council meeting of March, 2007. The goal of the office will be to coordinate activities of JPIC in all Oblate Units. Currently, there is a structure in place that deals with issues of Justice and Peace in all Oblate parishes in the Western Province.

This is under the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC)’s Catholic Commission for Justice Development and Peace (CCJDP), which coordinates such activities in Zambia . Though there is a difference in terminology, JPIC and CCJDP have the same objectives therefore Oblates will collaborate and work together with the vision of the CCJDP in Zambia .

Oblates have been vigorous in setting up and strengthening the activities of the CCJDP in all their Units.JPIC will carry the OMI mandate from the Acts of the 34th General Chapter of the Missionary Oblates of 2004, which states: “Oblate Units develop a program of community life, formation, and ministry that will promote Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.”

The Oblate Chapter further mentions that, “Oblates will live values of JPIC in our own personal lives, integrating all our various daily activities towards making an important contribution to the construction of a more just society.” The Chapter also challenges Oblates to help form people towards making an impact in the areas of politics, public policy, and decision-making. We hope that through this newsletter, we will be able to share the activities of the Oblates in the areas of Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation.

We felt that JPIC other than CCJDP terminology will be more appropriate in our parishes because the United States Oblate Province , to whom we belong, has a similar department. This will help us coordinate our activities better with the Province. However, activities and people involved in this grouping have not changed.