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This is what Yahweh asks of you,...To Act
Justly...Micah 6:8
Responding to the Gospel call to act justly, we, the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, commit ourselves:
to work with and for those who
are poor and marginalized.
Our work with and for other others is:
inspired by our founding
sisters
animated by our charism of unity, mission and
constitution
guided by Catholic Social Teaching...
Justice and Peace Committee
The Justice and Peace Committee reflects, educates, and
acts on social justice issues in collaboration with:
Sisters and Associates of the Community
The
Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph throughout the
world
The
Leadership Conference of Major Superiors
The
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Local, National and Global organizations
Sisters of St. Joseph Gather for
Federation Event
In early July,
approximately 900 Sisters of St. Joseph and Associates
from around the globe met in St. Louis to pray,
reflect, and commit to expand their vision to embrace the
global neighborhood while reaching out to local needs.
The event was organized by the
Federation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, which was
formed in 1966.
During the Federation Event 2011,
participants discussed Human Trafficking, with the goal
of working together to eliminate the commercial
exploitation of children around the world.
The Federation has released a
statement
on this topic which includes information
about the collaborative effort to eradicate human
trafficking.
Social
Justice Issues Topic of Program
Two social justice issues
- the need for Immigration Reform and the crime of Human
Trafficking - were examined during a program held at Mont
Marie March 12, 2011. Organized by Sisters of St. Joseph
Peace and Justice Committee, the program drew a gathering
of Sisters, SSJ Associates, Agrégées, and other partners
in ministry, as well as
friends and guests.
During the first
session on immigration, participants reviewed their own
heritage and viewed the DVD Strangers No Longer.
They also discussed advocacy ideas for immigrants and
refugees, ending the session with a prayer.
The second part
of the program dealt with Human Trafficking. Those
attending committed to educating themselves and others
about this issue, supporting victims of injustice and
working for systemic change.
Sr. Judith
Kappenman Publishes Book on Orphan Train
Fulfilling a
promise to her late mother, Sister Judith Kappenman has
written a book about her grandfather’s journey on the
so-called orphan train, which shipped immigrant children
across the country.
 To
Dakota and Back, The story of an Orphan Train Rider is
a fictionalized biography which follows John Donahue, son
of Irish immigrants, to Dakota and back to Massachusetts,
detailing the pain and triumph of his journey.
Sister Judith
said she was moved to write his story because “he was so
dear, so loving and gentle, and taught us real values.”
She also felt that the story of the orphan train needed to
be told. “It’s a justice issue and people should be aware
that these abuses of children happened.”
Although this is
her first book, Sr. Judith is no stranger to writing. She
taught English at Cathedral High School in Springfield,
Mass. for 16 years, and also taught at St. Peter’s High
School and St. Peter-Marion in Worcester, and Sacred Heart
in Holyoke.
She currently
serves as the director of the Irish Cultural Center at
Elms College, Chicopee, Mass.
To Dakota and
Back, The story of an Orphan Trail Rider is available
at
www.Lulu.com
Embracing the
Common Good
 As part of our ministry to promote social justice, the
Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield have embraced the
platform of the Common Good which calls for people of
faith to come together with deep urgency to make our
nation “a more perfect union” for the common good.
The platform includes efforts to:
Establish
Justice – we are
challenged to protect life and to address disparities
between “haves” and “have nots” in this country and around
the world.
Ensure
Domestic Tranquility – we
need infrastructure and programs to build up local
communities and businesses and to provide access to
education, jobs, needed services and green space.
Provide for
the Common Defense – we
need to develop an ethical U.S. foreign policy that
emphasizes conflict resolution through diplomacy instead
of military force – and that promotes stability abroad
through fair trade laws, debt cancellation and increased
responsible international development aid.
Promote the
General Welfare – we must
promote and protect life and all of the systems and
supports that are required for life and human dignity.
Secure the
Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity
– we must organize our economic development and production
to provide for long term sustainability.
For more
information and the complete Platform for the Common Good:
www.networklobby.org
Los Alamos,
Aug. 2009
It took me more than 15 years,
but I got there.
I saw it.
In the early
nineties,
working in the Community’s Office for Justice and Peace,
Sadako touched me.
I heard that
children in New Mexico
had started a campaign
to designate a plot of land
in Los Alamos
as a sister peace park
to the one in Hiroshima
where a bronze Sadako nobly holds,
fingertip to fingertip
a large, graceful origami peace crane.
They chose
August 6, 1995,
as their day, the 50th anniversary of the
dropping
of the bomb
dubbed Trinity
built in Los Alamos.
The Los Alamos
City Council refused the gift,
a sculpture of the world
designed, created, and paid for by the world’s children,
including many from Western Massachusetts
who folded cranes
and collected dollars and signatures
at the SSJ Festival at Mont Marie.
I kept folding
peace cranes,
just as Sr. Carol Hebert taught me,
methodically,
prayerfully.
Last year, when
I told John Dear, SJ,
that I wanted to make a retreat with him,
he invited me to Los Alamos
to mourn the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
with women Nobel laureates, Jody Williams and Mairead
Maguire.
I went. I wept.
The day of mourning
concluded with singing
--neither a John Lennon song
nor Dona nobis pacem—but
“I can’t help falling in love with you”
to the people of Japan.
 The next day
dawned.
The moment came.
I found the children’s peace sculpture
housed at Ghost Ranch in Santa Fe
for the time being.
What transpired the more?
Did I touch it
or did it touch me?
I pray to know
on the day the children have their way
when all will be One.
by Sister Jane Morrissey
Ongoing Social Justice
Actions:
Death Penalty
Earth Charter
Human Trafficking
Immigration
Millennium Development Goals
Non-violence/War
Socially Responsible Investing
There are several
things that an individual or group can do to address the
compelling needs of our time, including contacting your
Congressperson:
Write
letters to your Congressperson
For further
information, click on the underlined title to open up the
organization's web site:
Bread for
the World-
seeks justice for the world’s people who are hungry by
lobbying our nation's decision makers.
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty-
works to end the death penalty in the United States
through aggressive campaigns of public action and the
promotion of tactical grassroots activities.
Jubilee USA Network-
is part of a worldwide movement to cancel the crushing
international debt of impoverished countries.
Interfaith Center on
Corporate Responsibility-
members utilize religious investments and other
resources to change unjust or harmful corporate
policies, working for peace, economic justice and
stewardship of the Earth.
NETWORK-
A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby,
educates, lobbies
and organizes
to influence the formation of federal legislation to
promote economic and social justice.
Pax Christi USA-
strives to witness to the call of Christian nonviolence.
School of the Americas
Watch-
seeks to close the US Army School of the
Americas, under whatever name it is called, through
vigils and fasts, demonstrations and nonviolent protest,
as well as media and legislative work.
US Federation
of the Sisters of St. Joseph -
has NGO consultative status with the UN Economic
and Social Council.
Leadership Conference of Women Religious - works
for a more just and peaceful world with a corporate
voice by taking action on resolutions approved at the
national assembly.
US
Conference of Catholic Bishops -
The purpose of the Conference is
to promote the greater good which the Church offers
humankind.
 For more information contact
Sr. Denise Granger
Justice & Peace Office
Tel: (413) 536-0853 ext. 269
Fax: (413) 533-3275
Email:
justicepeace@ssjspringfield.org
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