Collaborative Efforts

The Peace and Justice Office coordinates the communal voice of the congregation and gives expression to that voice through our presence and participation in national and statewide justice and peace groups. Through regular communication with the congregation, members and associates are informed about issues and concerns and are encouraged to actively participate in those efforts.

Some of the organizations and collaborative efforts we are currently involved with are:

PAX CHRISTI - The congregation hosts a local chapter of Pax Christi on our campus, which meets monthly. CSJs and Associates are also active in other local chapters and on the state board, living and promoting active non violence. Further information about Pax Christi is available at: http://www.paxchristiusa.org

FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL - In 1998 the congregation took a corporate stand opposing the death penalty. As a follow-up action we became involved in the FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL project in 2000. FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL is a project which serves as a way to call attention to the all too frequent use of the death penalty in the United States. The goal of the campaign is to have all religious congregations and churches toll their bells for 2 minutes on the day of any scheduled execution.

Further information about the FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLL project can be found at: http://www.curenational.org/~bells. Information about the death penalty can also be found at: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org.

ICCR/CCRIM - The INTERFAITH CENTER ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY (ICCR) is a national organization dedicated to socially responsible investing. The COALITION ON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIANA AND MICHIGAN (CCRIM) is a regional coalition of ICCR. These organizations work on issues related to Militarism, Environment and Energy, Global Finance, Global Corporate Accountability and International Health and Tobacco. The purpose of the organizations is to research corporations and their activities in those areas and then engage in shareholder activity (shareholder resolutions and dialogue) with the corporations. As a congregation we support and participate in the work of these organizations through filing, co-filing shareholder resolutions and engaging in dialogue with corporations when possible. Further information is available at: http://www.iccr.org

NETWORK - NETWORK is a Catholic legislative lobby group based in Washington D.C. It researches current legislative issues and communicates with its membership those findings and encourages the membership to contact White house and Congressional leaders about these concerns. Network also provides sample letters and talking points to be used with legislators. Further information is available at: http://www.networklobby.org

RELIGIOUS ORDERS PARTNERSHIP - The Sisters of St. Joseph are a member of the Religious orders Partnership. The Mission Statement of the group is:

United in our sense of mission
as religious congregations
at a time of transition to a global society,

We are called
to place the history, tradition, gifts and resources of religious life at the service of a global community.

We commit ourselves to leadership within the movements of our time:

• to stand in solidarity with the suffering of those on the underside of history by joining oppressed peoples in their struggle for justice, and by working for equitable global systems;
  

• to live in kinship with nature by promoting earth literacy and working for ecological sustainability;
  

• to promote the wisdom of all cultures and traditions by educating for global citizenship, and providing basic education for all;
  

• to communion among the world's faith traditions and developing and fostering a global spirituality.

See www.religiousorderspartnership.org for more information.

UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations is the international organization of 154 nation states. Its work is done through both governmental and non governmental organizations (NGOs). In 1985 the U.S. Congregations of St. Joseph were formally accepted as an NGO, and in 1999 we received general consultative status with ECOSOC (the UN Economic and Social Council). In requesting this status the U.S. Congregations of St. Joseph discerned that together we have the necessary resources, experience and long-term commitment to make ongoing substantial contributions to the social and economic agenda of the UN system, which affects the lives of billions of people. In granting this status, the UN ECOSOC recognized that the Congregations of St. Joseph could be relied upon to furnish relevant and accurate information in the service of formulating their social and economic agenda; and were in a position to assist the UN in various other ways to fulfill its social and economic mandates.

THE FEDERATION OF THE CONGREGATIONS OF ST. JOSEPH is a Federation of the approximately 9,000 Sisters of St. Joseph and their Associates in the United States, with connections to other Sisters of St. Joseph internationally. The Peace and Justice Office participates with Peace and Justice coordinators nationally to coordinate our efforts and involve our members in activity on current issues. For more information go to: www.sistersofsaintjosephfederation.org

THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS - The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is a national organization for members of leadership of women's congregations. Members surface current issues and resolutions are made nationally which in turn are brought to their congregations for prayer and action.

One of the LCWR initiatives that we have been very active in has been the annual Systemic Change Think Tank. Recognizing that we are part of the global community, of this initiative seeks to provide an opportunity to:

• research, study and refine our understanding of the many systems which effect people and justice issues;
• share this information with our members and associates;
• develop suggestions for action aimed at creating change in the social, political and economic systems which support and undergird injustice and violence throughout our world.
  
  For more information go to: www.lcwr.org

top^

Home

Peace & Justice Office
Mary Ellen Gondeck, CSJ, Coordinator
248-541-3094
MGondeck@csjoseph.org