We had a significant conversation on the blessings we share because of the work of older confreres-- and some younger ones-- and their commitment to social justice. We are encouraged by the ongoing experiments by our brothers and priests involved in alternate education with the poor as well a their efforts for peace, toleration and understanding among different ethnic and religious groups. We acknowledged the blessing that our inter-congregational office, the Holy Cross International Office for Justice has been in providing us with a great variety of valuable resources and opportunities to participate in international campaigns and together with the work of ‘yours truly’ in our Justice and Peace Office in Toronto have over the past 3 years helped spark greater interest in social justice issues and helped stimulate us to action and animate us in areas with which some may not be totally familiar. We also found encouragement in the serious initiatives in social justice of the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

We were urged to draw much closer to the poor—the 84% of human beings who today have to scramble to survive with access to only 16% of the goods of creation---. This is a must if we’re to be able to feel greater compassion for them, one that will hopefully move us to act in solidarity with them in finding their way to freedom from the desperate plight that is the lot of a such a vast majority.

Some asked what percentage of our men are living and working with the poor in comparison with the percentage working in traditional ministries with the better off or middle class. In this regard, the Religious Conference of the state of Karnataka, South India, gave us an example last year when they realized that such an imbalance must be corrected even in India. They therefore asked each religious to agree to spend at least six months living with the poor over the next three years as a preparation for a shift in focus. We acknowledge that for many of us that would be a tall order but it must become part of a new thrust especially in early formation.

While acknowledging the value of our traditional education apostolates, we were questioned by the experiments in informal education that we saw at places like Notre Dame College in Dhaka, St. Joseph’s Training Centre for the poor--- and others we were told about on other places--- such as work with dalits in South India where existing infrastructures and facilities are shared for service to the poor and we believe that this model could become more generalized for the training and informal education of the poor.

Since many of us still have significant difficulty drawing a clear line between ‘charity’ and more strictly justice work in which we challenge the systems that create the poverty and suffering we believe that formation programmes must address this issue. The acts of compassion present little challenge to us but many of us are still reluctant, for a variety of reasons, to get involved in the second. It’s not a question of either or, but of both and, if we’re to take our congregational recommendations seriously.

Another major challenge that we face, especially in North America and Europe, is the problem of personnel young enough to become more involved. We asked all to consider how we can better invite our lay collaborators to accompany us and confide to them much more ample space to collaborate with us in our justice work. Some of this is already happening but we feel that it needs to become more widespread.

It was recognized that all of these proposals require that an updated approach to and a new more ample space must be given especially in early stages of formation to the whole issue of social justice. Those in charge of formation will necessarily then have to have adequate preparation in the field and be able to call on others, lay and religious, who are interested and formed in this domain to help them.

On the last day we made some very concrete proposals to our upcoming General Chapter delegates and to the leadership of the Congregation. We hope that these will be helpful in orienting their discussions and decisions for our own good and for love of the poor and disadvantaged  at next year’s General Chapter.

We noted that the co-ordination in each province/district is of utmost importance and that leadership needs to give greater priority to Justice and Peace in both word and action.

In order to help assure that the proposals accepted by the General Chapter be implemented we unanimously proposed that a permanent office for Justice and Peace be established. It should have a clear mandate, an accountability structure and the necessary personnel and material resources to maintain it.

We’d see the following as the responsibilities of such an office:

• To build on the last four year’s experience.

•  To continue to liaison with the Holy Cross International (inter-congregational) Justice Office.

• To animate, communicate and co-ordinate efforts of the men’s Congregation.

• To do research and provide necessary resources.

• To network with other organizations.

• To serve as a consultative body for the General Administration on Justice and Peace questions.

• To support the work of the coordinators in each province/district.

• Make statements on behalf of our Congregation on urgent issues.

• To help those in Formation ministry see to it that younger members receive the necessary preparation in matters of Justice and Peace.