ROME — The JPIC course being offered in April at the Pontifical Antonianum University here will focus on the themes of peace-building — specifically, reconciliation, active non-violence and conflict resolution — according to a recent letter from General Minister Fr. Jose Rodriguez Carballo, OFM.
The Order’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office announced last month that the next JPIC course at the Central Franciscan Study Center will be held April 13 to 23. According to the letter, the course promotes the formation of “our JPIC animators and responds to a decision of the 2003 General Chapter, which was reaffirmed at the General Chapter of 2009.”
Fr. Jose said, “I am very happy that the Antonianum and our JPIC office are collaborating in the organization of this course. I hope that it will be an occasion for many people, both friars and others, to come together in their efforts to promote the Gospel values of peace, justice and care for creation. More detailed information about the course will be provided as it becomes available.”
The course will be offered in the three official languages of the Order of Friars Minor: English, Italian and Spanish.
The mornings of the first five days of the course are reserved exclusively for JPIC animators, according to the Dec. 7 letter, and will offer practical suggestions for their work. Afternoon sessions of the first week, and the entire second week, are open to all friars as well as interested lay and religious persons. The afternoon sessions of the first week will present theoretical issues related to JPIC.