Some SCJ Guidelines for JPIC in Admissions and Initial/Ongoing Formation

Father Dehon was deeply involved in the spread of the Reign of Christ in souls and societies. This was not an abstract understanding as his life and works testify. A commitment to social justice is a fundamental character of the Dehonian spirit with implications for all our life and ministry. This includes a critical awareness of the structures of societies and solidarity with and advocacy for the poor and marginalized, even the earth herself. As such, social justice is one of the hallmarks by which we judge our lives and the lives of thosewho would become SCJs. Adveniat Regnum Tuum

1. What specifically attracts this person to our community? Has this person had a chance to visit or works in any of our ministries, e.g., Christian Summer Experience?

2. Empathy for the poor: what is the person's attitude toward the poor? Intellectually and behaviorally, where does this person stand in the four stages of option for the poor: compassion, structural change, humility, solidarity (cf. Spiritual Growth and the Option for the Poor by Albert Nolan, OP) Does the individual blame the poor for being poor? Is there any rigidity to this position?

3. Has the person been involved in any way with service to or advocacy for the poor or marginalized? What are this persons reflections on this experience?

4. Does this person exhibit the practice of downward mobility or does the accumulation of materials possessions or other signs of affluence play a major role in their life?

5. What is the person's attitude toward their own authority or that of others? Does the person exhibit a collaborative mode of leadership or that of power-over the other? Is there any history to help elucidate this attitude?

6. What is the person's attitude toward women in a social or working relationship? Is there any indication of rigid sexism? What is the person's attitude toward working in partnership with women?

7. What is the person's attitude towards persons of another culture or race? Is it one of openness or does the person exhibit any ethnocentrism or racism? What is their attitude/behavior toward working in partnership with persons of another race or culture?

8. Does the person know anything about the Church's social teaching, e.g., the Economic or Peace pastorals? Or does the individual exhibit any awareness of Scriptural attitudes toward the poor, the enemy, etc.

9. Does the person exhibit a healthy skepticism of the use of force or violence, be that the force of police or military? Does the person have any awareness of the Peace Pastoral, the Church's position on Just War criteria, Conscientious Objection, Pacifism/Non-violence?

10. Does this person exhibit the values of service, compassion, commitment?

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In May, at the recommendation of the JPIC commission, I wrote to you about how we could further the integration of JPIC into the initial formation program, from candidacy to final vows/ordination. At the recommendation of Mike Burke, Steve Huffstetter invited me to attend the September meeting of the formation commission in Chicago to explore this with you. You may recall that in my May letter I quoted the Plan of the General Council which called for a program which prepares one for social commitment and includes the teaching of Fr. Dehon; it further called for responding to the social sensitivity of young religious by promoting opportunities for concrete experience.

In order to help with this initial reflection on furthering the integration of JPIC, please consider the ways in which JPIC is already part of your program. Would you then fill out the following outline and mail copies to one another and send me a copy as well, by September 1. This does not have to be an exhaustive outline, just a beginning. (I include a copy of the JPIC guidelines to stimulate thought.)

JPIC ELEMENTS: Indicate by initials the level of formation to which each element applies, i.e., Candidacy (C), Temporary Vows in College (TC), Temporary Vows in Theology (TT), Final Vows in Preparation for by Priesthood (FP)

Bob Bossie (US)
December 1994