The Pursuit of Justice and Peace By Debbie Weber, OPJCC director True humanity, “is not built by turning your back on the suffering of those around you, but in the patient, committed and often even sorrowful recognition that the other person is my brother or sister and that his or her joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties are also mine. To ignore those who have fallen is to ignore our own humanity that cries out in every brother and sister of ours.” Pope Francis, Oct. 16, 2021
of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person. Another key theme is solidarity and the pursuit of justice and peace. We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers and our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
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hen I was in my 30s, I was introduced to the Catholic Social Teachings through the JustFaith Ministry program. JustFaith Ministries is a nonprofit organization that energizes people of faith by offering programs and resources that sustain them in their commitment to build a more just and peaceful world.
In addition to protecting people, Catholic Social Teaching tells us to also protect Earth and to live our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation.
I learned that the Catholic Church has a history of social teaching that goes back centuries and provides a moral challenge for living responsibly and building a just society. Modern Catholic Social Teaching is rooted in Scripture and articulated through official written documents issued by popes, bishops, and other prominent faith leaders. It has evolved over time in response to the challenges of the day.
The Gospel, Catholic Social Teachings, and the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati (SC) mission, vision and charism have guided me in my work to encourage all of us to learn more, to take action to the best of our abilities, and to advocate for systemic change when we hear the cries of our sisters, brothers, and our Earth. My extraordinary journey working for and with the SCs in the Office of Peace, Justice and Care for Creation began in 2012. This is my final Intercom article as I am retiring. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and support provided to me throughout my tenure.
It was an “ah-ha” moment for me. I was already passionate about building a more peaceful and just world, and I had a rich spiritual life. The teachings connected the two for me and I realized that they are inseparable. Promotion of ethical choices, just interactions within societies, and the preservation of the natural world are integrated in Catholic Social Teaching. And, of the seven key themes of this tradition, dignity and well-being of all people is at the core. The theme states that every person is precious, people are more important than things, and that the measure
Peace, love, and blessings to my SC family.
Sources: Caritas International Catholic Charities USA JustFaith Ministries United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Vatican News
In 2017 OPJCC Director Debbie Weber initiated a partnership with Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio to provide area refugee families with welcome baskets and bins. V ol u m e I i I , 2 0 2 1
The Water With Blessings initiative brought OPJCC Director Debbie Weber to Anapra, Mexico in 2013 to train ‘water women’ at the Santo Niño Project.
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