Justice and Peace
Corner
Br. John Kerr,
T.O.R.
Dear Brothers,
It was
wonderful being with you during our retreat and having the
opportunity to share with you about our proposed eco
farm/spirituality center at St. Bernardine�s.� Most of the province
joined us for that evening conversation, which tells me that there
is a great interest in manifesting our Franciscan charism in another
concrete�better yet, down-to-earth�way.
We
heard from you both excitement and challenges.� The latter focused
on the interest in the Hollidaysburg area of participating in this
type of project and having a friar�s face connected to it.� Pat
Foley has offered to be at least part of that face, to plant himself
at St. Bernardine�s for some time while also doing vocation
promotion.� As he speaks with locals about their interest in the
initiative, he will have new promotional materials, including the
DVD currently under production, and ideas to share with the friars.
For my part, I
want to continue to foster the justice in being stewards of our land
and producing healthy food for all as well as deeper ways we connect
with and preserve our planet.� As the book
Care for
Creation (Delio, Warren and
Wood) expresses so beautifully, we are co-creators with God in the
building of the kingdom.� This capacity for co-creation originates
in the relationship of Father and Son that emanates in the love of
the Spirit.� As the Father has created all in the divine likeness,
we are gifted with an abundant love through the Son and Spirit in
order to deepen our relationship and commitment to God and others
(human and non-human alike). To participate in that relationship of
creator-creature is to likewise engage directly in doing the justice
that God through Jesus and the Spirit calls us to.
This theology
of divine call, indwelling and transformation in Christ, based
primarily on Bonaventure, and its application has moved me to change
the name of my ministry in the province to director of Justice,
Peace &
Care of Creation.� I wish I
could say I�m being original but this is something many of our
religious brothers and sisters have been doing for a few years.�
What is more original, however, is the Franciscan nuance of �caring
for creation� rather than merely �preserving the integrity of
creation.�
If you have any
thoughts, please feel free to pass them on.� My hope in the coming
year is to visit with all of you about what issues of justice you
feel most passionately about and how I can serve you in moving them
forward.� As we move toward the fall harvest, may we all experience
the rejuvenation of our vocation through the call to be
co-creators/co-workers in the Lord�s vineyard.
�
�
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