“Living Franciscan humanism in today’s European context: Go and repair my house” was the topic of the VII Continental Meeting of JPIC European Animators. 25 brothers working for the animation of the values of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in the European continent met in the Franciscan Centre in Baħar iċ- Ċagħaq. The meeting started with the celebration of the Eucharist, presided by Br. Richard Stanley Grech, OFM, Provincial Minister of the Province of St. Paul in Malta.
JPIC animators coming from Spain, Ireland, England, France, Austria, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Malta, presented their realities. Through the presentations of the Conferences participants had the possibility to appreciate how JPIC animators are putting into practice the priorities set forth by the JPIC Office of the Curia. They had the opportunity to recognize the profound work concerning care for creation, hospitality to migrants and the promotion of peace.
After sharing the JPIC work done in the Conferences, participants listened to a presentation by Andrej Owca, SVD, who lives in Geneva and is member of the NGO ONG VIVAT International: he talked about the current social and political context in Europe. The concept of “Franciscan Humanism” was introduced by Br. José Antonio Merino, OFM, Ph.D in Philosophy and Letters, through two presentations: “Franciscan humanism for a culture of love” and “Franciscan Humanism and Ecology”.
Formation meetings were complemented by two practical experiences offered by the JPIC commission of the Province of St. Paul in Malta: participation in the inauguration of the ‘Season of Creation’ in the locality of Xgħajra coordinated by the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment, and a visit to “John XXIII Peace Lab”.
During the last days of the JPIC Continental Meeting the animators worked in linguistic groups to plan the JPIC work for the next three years, in the light of proposals forwarded by the Plenary Council of the Order and in line with the Declaration of the International JPIC Council in Jerusalem held in 2019.
