Mission Statement
The mission of the Office of Peace, Justice & Integrity of Creation is to integrate social and eco justice through education, advocacy and action. Our Sister of Charity charism and faith tradition call us to be agents of change.

We primarily educate the Sisters of Charity and Associates, other Religious Congregations and their Associates, as well as those seeking awareness on our common interests. Five issues have been identified as priority to the congregation. Those issues include Earth, Women, Active Non-Violence, Political & Church Systems, and Racism.

Priority Issues

 

---

Notes from our Office July 22, 2010 Mary of Magdala’s Feast Day – July 22, 2010 That the message of the resurrection was first entrusted to women is regarded by scripture scholars as strong proof for the historicity of the resurrection accounts. Had accounts of Jesus’ resurrection been fabricated, women would never have been chosen as witnesses, since Jewish law did not acknowledge the testimony of women. Early non-canonical Christian writings show faith communities growing up around Mary’s ministry, where she is portrayed as understanding Jesus’ message better than did Peter and the male disciples. Scholars tell us that these writings are not about the historical persons Mary and Peter but instead reflect tensions over women’s roles in the early church. Prominent leaders such as Mary and Peter were evoked to justify opposing points of view. What is not disputed is the recognition of Mary of Magdala as an important woman leader in earliest Christianity. In 312 A.D., when Constantine made Christianity the religion of the empire, the Christian community was caught in a cultural conflict as it moved from worship in house churches where women’s leadership was accepted, to worship in public places where women’s leadership violated Roman social codes of honor and shame. In the fourth century, male church leaders at the Council of Laodicea suppressed women leaders because of the belief that women were created subordinate to men (www.futurechurch.org) and so it goes …