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 of our common interests. Five issues have been identified as priority to the congregation. Those issues include Earth, Women, Active Nonviolence, Political and Church Systems, and Anti-Racism.

Office Brochure [Click here to view]
EarthConnection Brochure [Click here to view]
Priority Issues [Click here to view]

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The Office of Peace, Justice & Integrity of Creation has a coordinator, an advisory board, a speaker's bureau and issues committees.

Coordinator:
Louise Akers, S.C., D. Min.
Cincinnati Office
370 Neeb Road #101
Cincinnati, Ohio 45233
(Tel) 513-451-9444
(Fax) 513-451-7932
OPJIC2@gmail.com

Administrative Assistant: Sue DiTullio (Tel) 513-451-9444 (Fax) 513-451-7932 OPJIC1@gmail.com	Executive Liaison: Louise Lears, SC

Advisory Board Members:
Barbara Busch, SC
Peggy Deneweth, SC
Barbara Huber, SC
Joanie Schaffer, SC Associate
Terry Thorman, SC
Vicki Welsh, SC Associate
Rita Wesseling, SC Associate
Mary Ellen Williams, SC Associate

Speakers' Bureau:

Sally Duffy, SC, (513-347-1136) sduffy@scministryfdn.org
S. Sally has master degrees from the following universities: M. Ed. From Xavier University in Guidance and Counseling, M. PA from the University of Colorado in Health Care, and a M. Div. from Loyola of Chicago University in Spirituality. She currently serves as President/CEO of the SC Ministry Foundation. Board service includes: Cincinnati Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, Seton High School, Price Hill Will, Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Catholic Legal Immigration Network

Racism involves social analysis to better understand the political and economical analysis that is needed. Some critical and essential questions are: who makes the decisions, who gives input, who is affected, who benefits or wins, who loses, who has opportunity, who bears the costs and who colludes in who wins and who loses. How do dominance and privilege permeate our political and economic systems and structures? How do dominance, privilege and opportunity influence our psychological and spiritual constructs and models? Justice is about resisting injustice.

Transformation involves knowing our need of God, our reliance on the Spirit and a hope-filled imagination to live the Gospel. We must know and experience the pain, suffering and lamenting that calls us to transform political and Church structures. Are we willing to recognize our excessive independence, consumerism, fear and control? Through prayer, faith, hope-filled conviction, community, imagination, and action, we can journey in ways that catalyze conversion and transformation from exclusion to inclusion, from excessive independence to humility and community, from marginalizing and silencing to engagement and shared membership and from self-absorption to the common good.

 

Paula Gonzalez, SC, (513-922-1468) paulagonz@fuse.net
S. Paula, futurist and environmentalist has offered nearly 2000 programs on various topics including Awakening to the Cosmic Story, Co-creating a Sustainable Future, the Emerging Solar Era, Toward a 21st Century Spirituality, Religious Life in an Ecological Age, Living in Eucharistic Universe and Exploring the Earth Charter.

Approaches to Earth
S. Paula tailors programs to meet needs of groups. Lately, presentations have also included Toward a 21st century spirituality; Climate Change & Faith; Brightening the 21 st Century (Renewable Energy); Facing the future with Hope.      

 

Marge Kloos, SC, (513-244-4245) marge_kloos@mail.msj.edu
Associate professor of religious and pastoral studies at the College of Mount St. Joseph and serves as Dean of Arts and Humanities. S. Marge participates in on-going explorations about contemporary practices of spiritual and pastoral care. In 2008, she was a scholar in residence at Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies in Jerusalem. She is a presenter and retreat leader in the region, and has taught in a regional lay ministry formation program for thirteen years. She has traveled with students in immersion/service learning courses; including the US-Mexico border, and Ireland. BA in environmental studies and human ecology; MA in theological studies and a DMin., from United Theological Seminary.

Women’s Spirituality
Trending toward non-institutionalized spiritual engagement is empowering for many women today. This presentation explores the historical dynamics that have been involved with moving toward such a reality and the implications of women’s empowered spiritual perspective and rituals for today. Moving through three paradigms that have historically defined women’s spiritual legacy, those attending are encouraged to reflectively consider the impact of each on the women they have become or the women they love. The final paradigm recognizes that the greatest transformation in spiritual care of women has originated from the reframing processes of women themselves. Along the way there is time for reflection. 

 

Ruth Kuhn, SC, (513-347-5331) region6.cri@srcharitycinti.org
BA, College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati; MBA, Xavier University, Cincinnati and a masters in health care administration from Central Michigan University. Ruth has been involved in the work of socially responsible investing for over 35 years. She coordinates the efforts of the Region VI Coalition for Responsible Investment and represents the 29 member organizations at the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) in NYC.

Socially Responsible Investing
How we use our money can be one of the most powerful ways to live the Gospel today. This short presentation/discussion will help participants become more aware of the power of their investments and how to use this power to ‘do well while doing good.’ (Power Point)

Fair Trade
Catholic social teaching emphasizes that life and the dignity of persons is foremost. One way in which we can practice this is through the support of fair trade – which involves more than just coffee. This presentation reviews the major themes in CST and how they apply to the purchases we make. (Power Point)     

 

Jean Miller, SC, (513-347-4056) SrJeanMiller@gmail.com
Years of living, working and advocating for the poor: 10 years in Rome, Italy where the boys were from some of the poorest families from rural areas; 5 years living in the Inner City of Cincinnati and advocating for/with the life of those living on the margins of society; 10 years in Latin America where Sister heard their stories of struggle, patience, hope, compassion and community; 4 years in Nicaragua. It was at this time S. Jean learned the need to opt for Earth and the Poor; 20 years of living with the poor on the U.S. border with Mexico.

“Awakening the Dreamer, Change the Dream” is a world-wide symposium developed by the Pachamama Alliance, an International Group concerned about our planet. It can be given in two hours, three hours or five hour sessions. The program uses a beautiful DVD with educational content by experts from around the world, meditations, and discussions among participants. 

 

Kay Tardiff, SC, (513-347-3917) Sisterktar@zoomtown.com
MA in theology and scripture studies in the Holy Land. Pastoral ministry includes administrator of a inner city Catholic parish in Detroit, Mich., 1970s, religious educator in high schools, pastor of First Congregational Church/United Church of Christ with the approval of Bishop Ken Utener

 

From “Church Ladies” to Gospel Women
Sisters in the Roman Catholic Church were often dubbed ‘Church Ladies’ by those of other traditions, especially if the children asked: “Who are those people?” Within the Church, women religious were often seen as subservient to the clergy, as well as cheap labor for schools and hospitals. Today Sisters are ‘wise sages’ and gospel women, inspiring a new generation of gospel women and men who want to return the Church to the Church of Jesus and the people of God.

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