“The Church's social doctrine is an integral part of her evangelizing ministry. Nothing that concerns the community of men and women — situations and problems regarding justice, freedom, development, relations between peoples, peace — is foreign to evangelization, and evangelization would be incomplete if it did not take into account the mutual demands continually made by the Gospel and by the concrete, personal and social life of man [85].”

[Para. 66, “Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church”]

We are challenged to promote justice, peace and the integrity of creation as an integral part of our work of evangelization. However, confronted with the realities of our lives, it is unclear or seemingly very difficult to do so. What does the promotion of justice, peace and the integrity of creation mean? How is it done? What are the “signs of the times” saying to us? How do we incorporate this work into our lives?

The Asian Center for the Progress of Peoples (ACPP) will run a Workshop to discuss and reflect on these topics from June 23 to 25 this year. The programme will primarily be for the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) coordinators of the Sino-Mongolian region of the CICM Fathers (missionaries working in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mongolia and Singapore), but will also be open to others in Hong Kong interested in discussing these questions and concerns.

What?

• A three-day workshop on Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation.
• The Workshop will be participatory in nature, with emphasis on exercises and discussions.
• There will be some input, but the focus will be on the participants’ own experiences.
• Topics covered will include:
  • What is Justice and Peace?
  • Identifying the “Signs of the Times”.
  • Sharing of experiences.
  • Use of some analytical tools.
  • Main principles of the Catholic Social Teachings.
  • The Pastoral Cycle.
  • Identifying further skills needed.
  • Individual (and where relevant, group) plans of action.
• The Workshop will be carried out in English.

When?

• June 23-25 (Monday to Wednesday), 2008

Who?

• A total of ten to fifteen participants, comprising:
  • the JPIC coordinators (five of them) of the Sino-Mongolian region of the CICM Fathers;
  • five to ten others, clergy or laypersons interested in working or incorporating Justice and Peace more actively in their respective ministries.
  • Participants will be charged a registration fee.

Where?

• Hong Kong.
• Venue to be confirmed later.

If interested, please fill in the application and return to the ACPP before May 16, 2008. If you have any other queries, please contact Ms. Linda Noche at the ACPP.