Allison Mahoney, CSC, assistant to the general coordinator of Justice and Peace for the Congregation, called and chaired the three day meeting.  The following provinces were represented: (CP-3), (CF-2), (ECP-2), (MW-1), (IP.-1), (EB..2). The Eastern and Southern* priests and Southwest brothers provinces and the district of Acadia did not participate.

In the first working group we suggested some of the most urgent Justice and Peace problems in our world and continental context that confront us as religious called to accompany our people and especially the poor who suffer most in these situations. How do we work toward the eradication of causes rather than just dealing with the effects? This work does not eliminate the need for concomitant attention to the immediate emergencies that come our way any more than such works of mercy justify a preponderant investment of time and resources working only in the solution of these.

The group wrote a letter recommending that justice and peace concerns receive sufficient time and attention at the upcoming meeting of the Council of the Congregation in November. The coordinators believe that sufficient personnel and resources have to be given to meet the Justice and Peace crisis in the world.  Additionally, each Justice and Peace coordinator reported on what is being done in his province regarding the Congregations' 1998 general chapter recommendations pertaining to justice and peace. Since the 1998 chapter, crucial Justice and Peace themes have been selected for consideration by the entire Congregation. Last year's theme was on globalization, "free trade", and their effects on the lives of people we work with, especially the poor. This year's theme is on environment, ecology and respect for creation. Next year the Congregation is asked to deal with the question of minorities and their rights.

In a second session, with the help of a pertinent video, we considered the huge threats to the democratic process and to elected governments' power posed by NAFTA, and especially by chapter 11 of that trade agreement which hands over to big corporations powers of decision that nobody authorized them to exercise. Media manipulation surrounding these dispositions and of other news should put us on alert with regard to both governments? decisions and the media, especially when dealing with commercial agreements. The implications of these threats for Central and South America if this agreement is extended to them are ominous.

On Friday, we considered this year's common theme for our Holy Cross family: Ecology, the environment and our stewardship of creation. We evaluated our publications and what changes we'd suggest so as to improve their effectiveness in the education process both inside and outside our congregations.

The video "Keeping the Earth" helped us pinpoint some major issues to be dealt with and lead us to interesting suggestions as to how we might initiate our own mini Kyoto.

Some suggestions for this: Communal decisions to not use our cars at least one day per week; how we could cut down on excessive use of water and other resources; alternatives for use of plastics; bags, plates, cups, utensils;  choosing bio-friendly detergents; reserving a part of land for ecological reserves, for co-op, organic gardens which could also be part of an educational campaign, etc. Some few report already doing some of these.

On Saturday, the participants worked on how to improve our efforts to implement our Justice and Peace programme and how to better integrate it into all facets of our CSC ministries. We heard how this is already being done by a few provinces.

The last part of our meeting was dedicated to planning for our Fall 2003 Justice and Peace International meeting of the men's congregation. Timing, place and dynamics were suggested. Unless the international scene dictates otherwise, the group expressed a preference for its being held in a poorer country vg. Bangladesh, in agreement with the decision of the other 3 (Asian, African and Latin American) continental meetings--- and thought this would be preferable to holding it in Europe which we also discussed.

Fr. Tom McNally, CSC
(Indiana Province)