What’s there to say?
The 34th General Chapter (2023) invites us to deepen our commitment to Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC):
“The Church’s recent Magisterium(Laudato si’, Querida Amazonia, Fratelli tutti) invites us to continue our efforts for justice, peace and the integrity of creation (JPIC), showing us how interconnected these issues are. These texts by Pope Francis awaken our sleeping, indifferent or resigned consciences to the situation of our world, and provoke our committed and prophetic response. The Spirit makes us hear his cry in “the cry of the earth and of the poor”” (GC n°53).
“The intercultural character of our Provinces, adopted by our communities,bears witness to the fact that fraternity is possible between people of different origins. Dialogue and peaceful coexistence are our commitment to peace.
All over the world, the Congregation is involved with migrants, refugees and displaced persons: in Kivu (DRC), in El Paso (USA-Mexico border), in Conflans-Sainte Honorine, in Athens, in Korea, in “Mi Hogar” in Bogota (Colombia), in Campanhas da Fraternidade in Brazil, accompanying groups of young people of different faiths in Nairobi (YOUNIB) and in West Africa, where the Réseau de Jeunes pour l’Intégration Africaine (RJIA) organizes, under the responsibility of Assumptionists, the Voyages d’Intégration Africaine (VIA). ” (CG n° 56-57)
“Despite the difficulties, the Chapter encourages us to keep moving forward. The JPIC secretariat of the Assumption family provides us with elements of formation, offers us concrete experiences and testimonies, and proposes that we celebrate God’s action in our mission. It invites us to give priority to three areas of attention:
- Migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons;
- The defense of peace, education for peace and commitment to a culture of peace;
- The protection of creation, through our commitment to the Laudato si‘ platform” (GC n°62).
” In all our apostolic works, especially our parishes and educational institutions, concern for justice, peace and the integrity of creation must have its place through ad hoc commitees: by offering the necessary formation and spiritual and pastoral animation, they will lead to concrete actions and commitments.” (GC n°67)
A few actions…
Assumptionist presence in North Kivu and schooling for underprivileged children.
In North Kivu, the Assumptionists are in solidarity with the populations suffering from an endless war (for more than thirty years) and are particularly involved in education (primary, secondary, technical, university):
Caring for orphans and poor children in Vietnam
Founded in 2000 by Madame Maria Bui Kim Hue, the Assumptionists have been running the Hoa-Hue orphanage in Hô-Chi-Minh-Ville (Saigon) since 2006 . Since 2021, on a new site, the orphanage has been able to expand to serve 30 to 50 children, depending on the year…
This project is the occasion for many solidarity commitments : volunteering, faithful support, one-off actions… For example, below, with a group of French scouts (on the old site)
AMIKA, Center for orphans and disadvantaged children in Madagascar
Amika is located in Tuléar, a region in south-west Madagascar, which has been affected by global warming phenomena such as droughts, floods and cyclones. The region is extremely poor, and access to education is very difficult.
The Amika association comes to the aid ofpoor and orphaned children, and helps with their schooling. The Amika center also functions as the Saint-Nicolas school. Some 500 children are currently cared for, half of whom attend the Saint-Nicolas school.
