Moving Justice with Grace By Debbie Weber, OPJCC director
T
he Office of Peace, Justice and Care for Creation (OPJCC) enjoyed a faith-filled, collaborative, and productive year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
became a reality for all of us and the collection initiative halted. For the first few months of the pandemic, there was a collective pause. Despite the shock of this novel virus amongst us, it was an opportunity for deeper prayer and contemplation, and a time to regroup and begin to adjust to a new way of being. It was a time to “meet our grace.”
During the month of August 2019, the office was open for Sisters and Associates to write letters to Congress. OPJCC collaborated with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati in a letter writing campaign urging Congress to make changes in Thanks to the coordination of Sisters our broken immigration system. Driven In August 2019, OPJCC collaborated with the Archdiocese of and employees at the Motherhouse, Cincinnati in a letter writing campaign urging Congress to make by the tragic shooting in Dayton, Ohio staff from Shelterhouse picked up our changes in our broken immigration system. that month, OPJCC offered another donations in June 2020. Even though we letter writing opportunity for Sisters and could not continue to collect donations Associates to encourage Congress to address gun control. during Lent, the Shelterhouse staff was thankful for such a large From Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, Christians around the world celebrate the Season of Creation. Some of us pray, some of us do handson projects, and some of us advocate. With the help of several Sisters, OPJCC kicked off the Season of Creation with a beautiful prayer service followed by a month of “handouts” consisting of compostable corn straws, fairly traded tea, and recycled newspaper pencils. It was a fun way to celebrate creative alternatives to ordinary purchases we make. OPJCC Director Debbie Weber continued her partnership with Mount St. Joseph University, mentoring and working with a service-learning student during the 2019 fall semester. Emma focused on human trafficking, particularly concerning our vulnerable migrant sisters and brothers. Her project was writing an OPJCC column for Update. Unbeknownst to us, OPJCC was about to “meet our grace in every circumstance” as we began the 2020 liturgical season of Lent. The office partnered with Cincinnati-based Shelterhouse to provide a unique opportunity for almsgiving. Shelterhouse was in need of liquid laundry soap and toothbrushes for their residents who were experiencing homelessness. A Charity Family Lenten Collection was initiated. Three weeks into the robust collection, COVID-19 A n n u al R eport 2 0 2 0
amount of laundry soap and toothbrushes. Water With Blessings (WWB) is the nonprofit co-founded by S. Larraine Lauter, OSU, that supplies water filtration systems to women in countries who have no access to clean water. WWB also serves people in emergency situations such as in the aftermath of earthquakes, tornadoes and tsunamis. Throughout the years, OPJCC has supported these endeavors. S. Larraine reached out asking for assistance in getting water filtration systems to the Navajo Reservation. Navajo families were struggling to survive a massive COVID-19 outbreak and many had no access to clean water. Through the OPJCC water initiatives fund, we were able to buy enough filtration kits to serve up to 40 Navajo families. As a liaison to the SC Federation’s representative to the United Nations, Debbie usually participates in the annual SC Federation Leadership meetings. Because of the pandemic, the liaisons now meet via Zoom technology and correspond via email on a regular basis. OPJCC staff, advisory committee members and collaborators are grateful for the many opportunities during the last fiscal year. We look forward to moving the work of social and Earth justice in a grace-filled and creative way. 15
