JPIC Newsletter November 2021

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Newsletter

Mission in the Midst of the Pandemic As Covid-19 and climate crisis swept throughout the world, wherever the SNJM sisters and affiliates were, they recognized their call to action.

While blessed with community support and available health care, SNJMs did experience fear and separation from what had been their lifestyle before. Conscious of homelessness, SNJMs are called to collaborate with others advocating for justice.

How have we lived through this time? Has the pandemic changed our commitments to justice? Did it impact our relationships with others? Has it transformed us? Has it affected how we respond to the call of the Acts of the 35th General Chapter?

In this edition of the JPIC newsletter, we present the testimony of three sisters and one SNJM associate who grapple with these questions. You will also find updates on ongoing justice and peace issues, as well as a few topical highlights from each province.

In Maceió, Brazil, under the supervision of Sister Joanne Pundyk, food and information was distributed to help people through the pandemic.

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IN THIS ISSUE z Mission in the Midst of the Pandemic z Province Highlights z Trafficking Report z Lesotho Partner Update z Bill-C15 Passes z Call to Action

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Mission in the Midst of the Pandemic IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SNJM Despite the many measures put in place and the observance of health guidelines, SNJM has suffered the deaths of six sisters from Covid, two in Lesotho and four in the U.S.-Ontario province, since March 2020.

In total, 22 sisters in three of the four provinces have tested positive for Covid-19.

To date, the province of Quebec has not had any cases.

Lesotho: Sister Laurentina Sister Laurentina Motseki, Provincial of the Lesotho Province, experienced first-hand the painful loss of life of the pandemic. But she also saw every day the myriad challenges brought about by so many having lost their livelihoods to it as well. This has resulted in, among other things, an increase in marital problems, domestic violence and surprise pregnancies, at a time when many families are having trouble feeding themselves and can no longer afford to send their children to school.

“As SNJMs, we have to see what can be done,” said Sister Laurentina and then listed the things Lesotho Province is doing to help its community.

For parents who have lost their jobs, SNJMs

are paying their school fees and supplying new uniforms, as needed, and making sure that the children are getting enough to eat. As she put it, “When we are teachers, we are also parents.”

The yearly donations received from the SNJM Congregation have been instrumental in paying for these unbudgeted expenses.

On top of being very near the front lines of community support during this pandemic, Sister Laurentina has had to deal with the lingering effects of her own Covid infection.

In January 2020, she was hospitalized for three weeks and continues to feel the effects today.

She is trying to make peace with the fact that she gets tired quickly and must work at a slower pace than in years past. That said, she wonders if she got it, and survived, so that she can use her experience to better understand the trials of the people she is “According to our working to support.

Chapter Acts ...

For her, one particuwe need to help the larly troubling injustice people around us.” that this pandemic has brought into sharp focus is the Lesotho government’s failure to do more for its citizens. The way she sees it, “according to our Chapter Acts, we have to make sure that we listen to the cries of the world and the cries of the people around us and we have to respond to them — not just to listen. We need to help the people around us.”

And she wishes that the Government was doing the same. 

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TESTIMONIES: Mission in the Midst of the Pandemic Peru: Sister Yenny In Lima, Sister Yenny Chipana has experienced all the emotions that the pandemic has evoked universally. Fear, isolation, loneliness, but also thankfulness and hope. “I feel hope,” she said, because of all the people, NGOs and other religious congregations that “are present and deeply committed to serving those who have no homes, particularly immigrants, who have no shelter, no food, and no legal status in Peru.”

Although Sister Yenny contracted Covid herself, she felt privileged to have received medical care and to have been looked after by fellow sisters.

She is thankful she recovered from Covid at home and didn’t need hospitalization, although it took her another three months to get back to normal. “I always had the emotional and spiritual support of my SNJM community and friends,” which helped her greatly, she said.

In San Juan Lurigancho, Sister Yenny ministers to mainly Venezuelan and Haitian immigrants who have fled severe poverty and/or oppression.

She and a Christian Brother volunteer coordinate a project, Comedor popular where families come together daily to prepare and share a meal. Every two weeks, baskets of food, hygienic supplies, masks, etc. are distributed to 100 families, as well. A branch of the UN collaborates with this project and many others, giving the immigrants legal and humanitarian support.

“In developing As a congregation, countries poverty is Sister Yenny thinks economic ... and in we are fortunate to be so involved with developed countries the world. She said, poverty is spiritual.”

“We recognize that in developing countries poverty is economic or material, and in developed countries poverty is spiritual,” which leads to isolation and drug use, etc. “We recognize the plight of refugees and immigrants,” and Sister Yenny’s ministry is a direct response to that, before the pandemic, and now. 

At the beginning of the pandemic, Lima was in chaos. In San Juan Lurigancho, one of the largest and poorest districts of Lima, there was a massive shutdown of the water system for two weeks forcing people to leave the district to find water. At the same time, the main avenue was completely blocked and people could only get in or out of the area by train. During this crisis, the SNJM custom of conserving water was essential and they educated the community how to conserve and recycle it.

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TESTIMONIES: Mission in the Midst of the Pandemic Canada: Sister Pauline Sister Pauline Saurette has been accompanying SNJM sisters in long term care at the Actionmarguerite Health Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for the past 15 years.

The pandemic has been a reflection of the best and the worst, according to Sister Pauline. She was touched by the gestures of solidarity and mutual aid and by the dedication of medical staff. “Even “Prayer gives me politicians brought an extra source of a social and human motivation to give my touch in these difficult best during my visits” times.” But Covid-19 also revealed many of society’s inequalities. Beyond the many job losses, she laments the plight of vulnerable people, often isolated and homeless, who had no place to eat or sleep.

She and her companions are aware that they are among the privileged. “We were never worried about a lack of food and care. We have expressed our gratitude many times.” Despite this, she says she still feels uneasy about being “so pampered when people around us are suffering so much.”

Already very involved in her ministry, Sister Pauline recognizes that the pandemic is making her even more concerned for others. “Prayer gives me an extra source of motivation to give my best during my visits.”

Beyond the issues of lack of food and shelter, and the inequalities in vaccine distribution between rich and poor countries, Sister Pauline sees the use of technology to hold meetings remotely, instead of travelling in person, as a positive development. In addition to reducing our

environmental impact, this could help strengthen relations between SNJM provinces.

She values and is sensitive to the realities of the ageing sisters she assists — who have given much to the community and the world — and she would like to propose mission actions that they are capable of. Even if they can’t leave their communal residence, elderly sisters can visit other sisters who can’t leave their rooms. “Continuing

Sister Pauline visits the elderly in Winnipeg. She is pictured with Sister Thérèse Brodeur, now deceased.

to stay informed on current issues and being welcoming of immigrant workers who are more and more present in the healthcare field,” are other avenues, particularly in the fight against racism.

Staying in touch — whether by phone, Zoom or snail mail — to break the solitude, is another example that comes to Sister Pauline’s mind in response to the calls of the Acts of the 35th General Chapter. 

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TESTIMONIES: Mission in the Midst of the Pandemic USA: Dr. Dorine Dr. Dorine Lantimo-Vetter, an SNJM associate, is in the second year of her residency in family medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC-Lititz). She is on the front lines of the pandemic in Pennsylvania and has administered over 500 Covid vaccines, both to willing and hesitant patients. One of them even asked her “Are you going to put a chip inside me?” But even though some of their fears might be absurd “you can’t be condescending — you have to be compassionate — and you have to say you understand what they are saying,” or risk alienating them, she said.

She was a little skeptical herself of the “I’m actually in the vaccine at first — for trenches, and it scientific reasons — doesn’t cause me but she thinks that any anxiety ... it has has made it easier confirmed that it’s for her to understand her patients’ anxieties, what I’m called to do.” even if their reasons are unfounded. When she tells her hesitant patients that she too had questions about the vaccine, they are a little more willing to listen to her, and to agree to get vaccinated too.

like you are just watching from the side-lines.” Instead, Dorine says “I’m actually in the trenches, and it doesn’t cause me any anxiety — it actually makes me happy that I can do something about it — and it has confirmed that it’s what I’m called to do.”

A big issue that the pandemic has highlighted for Dorine is about “equity in the digital age.” In her region, the vaccine was first available only to those who could register online for it, but, as she discovered, “you would be surprised how many people don’t have smartphones.” As more and more services transition online, a lot of people are getting left behind and “there’s no digital justice for them.”

She feels very privileged to never have had to worry about providing for her family, or about child-care through these many months; “I praise God every day for that.” And she also feels very lucky not to have lost anyone in her family to the disease, as have so many others.

For Dorine, the pandemic has affirmed that she’s chosen the right profession, and being an associate of the SNJM community has given her the strength to keep doing it, day after day, even as many of her colleagues are feeling defeated. She said, “the pandemic can make you feel powerless,

Dr. Dorine LantimoVetter, an SNJM associate, administers Covid-19 vaccines in Pennsylvania.

PHOTO: BLAINE SHAHAN, LANCASTER ONLINE

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PROVINCE HIGHLIGHTS LESOTHO In July, on Radio Maria Lesotho, the SNJM Justice and Peace Committee spoke about the perils for girls and young women of accepting dubious job offers in South Africa. Sister Agnes Motake explained that young Lesotho women are the main targets of human traffickers and are often lured into

trafficking with a bogus job offer. Although the unemployment rate is high, she advised girls and young women to be cautious by first checking out the employer and the job — before moving — especially if the potential job is located in South Africa. 

Sister Agnes Motake

MANITOBA In the coming year, Manitoba have been woven over time.

SNJM Justice and Peace A project is also in developCommittee members will ment to meet with sisters continue to look for ways to and affiliates in Quebec to improve their knowledge of discuss the various realities of Aboriginal peoples in the the issues facing Aboriginal people. They want to better two provinces. understand Aboriginal world- Last spring, the Manitoba views and unravel the invisJustice and Peace ible threads of prejudice that Committee produced a

self-evaluation tool to identify prejudices that are consciously or unconsciously held. It promotes self-awareness and can help us modify our perceptions and actions on a daily basis. 

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PROVINCE HIGHLIGHTS US-ON

QUEBEC

Meetings of the SNJM Justice and Peace Committee of Quebec are once again held in person.

The SNJM Justice and Peace Committee in Quebec launched its new year in September with the main theme of discovering and listening to Aboriginal voices. Of the six meetings planned for this year, four will focus on this theme. The Committee wishes to accept Truth and Reconciliation Commission president Murray Sinclair’s invitation “to question what we have been taught and explore the possibilities of how things should be in the future.”

z Invite sisters to read about indigenous people and share summaries of their readings, and;

At their October meeting, members of the U.S.-Ontario Justice Network reflected on the General Chapter Acts and SNJM corporate stands through the lens of the global climate emergency, anti-racism and white privilege. SNJMs and Affiliates are praying for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) and — following Pope Francis’ call — for the World Day of Prayer for the Poor, both taking place in November.

z Organise a joint meeting with the Manitoba sisters online.

The other two meetings of the year will focus on the campaigns of the NGO, Development and Peace.

Talk on Interculturality

Delayed for over a year, Sister Huguette Fleurant’s presentation, in May, on her experience In order to do this, the comof intercultural communal living mittee has put forward a proved to be very stimulating for number of actions: both Manitoba and Quebec sisters. Her talk focused on all the z To dive deeper into certain aspects of the book Listening challenges inherent in this type to Indigenous Voices, a guide of project, but more specifically prepared by the Jesuit Forum on the realities facing migrants and refugees, which is another for Social Faith and Justice, way of concretising the first which is based on the experience of the KAIROS Blanket point of the Chapter Acts.  Exercise;

Meanwhile, as climate change and the effects of the pandemic continue to draw media attention, Sisters Mimi Maloney and Teresa Shields launched an interview project entitled “Women on a Mission Podcast”.

The podcasts explore the vision, ministries, and challenges of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary to support asylum seekers at the border, Latina women in rural Oregon and Washington, homeless women in Spokane, and children’s rights to education.

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UNANIMA Releases Major Report Last May, UNANIMA International produced its report The Intersections of Family Homelessness and Human Trafficking. This comprehensive assessment focuses on the roots of family homelessness and human trafficking and their interconnections, as well as the links between child trafficking and migration, the impact Covid-19 is having, and the roles technology is playing. The publication also offers testimonies from survivors and healing and preventative measures.

The report is available in English only, so we have translated the Conclusion and Recommendations, available here in French and here in Spanish.

In addition to producing important reports of this nature, UNANIMA International — which is supported

by SNJM and several other religious congregations — regularly publishes a newsletter with updates on recent developments and actions. The newsletter is available here in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

New Partnership with Lesotho’s TRC At the Spring Leadership Teams Assembly, there was a consensus to support a new partnership with the Transformation Resource Centre (TRC) in Lesotho. TRC is an ecumenical resource centre that advocates for justice, peace and participatory development in Lesotho.

Several meetings among the sisters and many of the staff of TRC resulted in the recommendation to bring the SNJM funding of Polihali Dam Water Justice Project to completion and to establish new funding for TRC. Click here to read the final report on the Water Justice Project.

TRC will collaborate with the Lesotho Province to: z Provide workshops on civic engagement, human rights and advocacy; z Engage our sisters in local organizing projects; z Provide opportunities for the sisters to participate in radio programming on justice issues; z Organize World Water Day events; z Acquire and distribute books for schools.

Sister Eugenia Masheane will be the Province liaison to TRC. Sister Eugenia will work with a subcommittee of the Province Justice and Peace Committee to develop programming, action and advocacy for SNJMs and other religious.

The members will be Sisters Bathilda Heqoa, Christina Mohlomi, Miriam Botsane and Christina Mabula.

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Passage of Bill C-15: A Historic Step Bill C-15, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP) was passed by the Canadian Senate at the end of June and enacted immediately.

UNDRIP requires the Government of Canada to work in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples to develop and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the

Declaration and to ensure that federal laws are consistent with it.

The Act allows two years for the development of the plan that must include measures to combat racism. It also recognizes that Aboriginal and treaty rights continue to evolve and are not static.

This adoption is an important victory for Indigenous peoples who have been struggling for decades for justice.

Thousands of people mobilised to support the passage of Bill C-15.

PHOTO CREDIT: FAITH IN THE DECLARATION

Call to Action We invite you to consider connecting with a sister, affiliate or ministry partner to reflect on the articles in this JPIC Newsletter.

What personal or communal call to action emerges?

We encourage you to write to the JPIC Committee at snjm@snjm.org to let us know what you would like to see covered in the Congregational JPIC newsletter or to share highlights from your activities on our Corporate Stands and Integral Ecology.

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