Anaclet Mukendi, cicm
Missionary in Guatemala
Introduction: A Mission in Tension
Today, Mission unfolds in a deeply wounded world: armed conflicts, structural poverty, forced migration, ecological crises, discrimination, radical individualism, and loss of spiritual bearings. Confronted with humanity's search for meaning, the Church is called to offer a credible and incarnate hope.
For the missionaries of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM), this Hope takes shape through concrete commitment to Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC). These are not peripheral additions but essential components of proclaiming the Gospel today. They are the prophetic breath of Mission, rooted in faith and oriented toward the transformation of the world.
1. Biblical and Theological Roots of JPIC
The Mission of Jesus is a mission of integral salvation. He proclaims the Good News to the poor, sets captives free, gives sight to the blind, and lifts the outcasts (cf. Luke 4:16 - 21). Through his words and deeds, he heals bodies, raises hearts, denounces social and religious hypocrisy, and calls for profound inner conversion.
Long before, the prophet Isaiah placed justice at the heart of faith: "Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause!" (Isaiah 1:17). In Scripture, peace (shalom) is not merely the absence of war, but the fullness of right relationships - with God, with others, and with creation.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace (cf. Isaiah 9:5), dies on the cross as an innocent victim, reconciling a divided humanity. In his footsteps, the Church is called to read the signs of the times and interpret them in light of the Gospel (cf. Gaudium et Spes, no. 4), which compels all believers to engage in transforming structures of injustice.
2. The CICM Mission: JPIC Commitment from the Beginning
From its foundation by Reverend Father Theophile Verbist, the CICM Congregation has always strived to unite the proclamation of the Gospel with the promotion of human dignity. From the early missions in China to its work in Africa, Latin America, and beyond, missionaries have built schools, opened clinics, and defended the fundamental rights of local populations. This incarnate evangelization translates into constant attention to social, economic, political, and ecological realities.
Commitment to Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) is not a peripheral activity nor a responsibility reserved for a few specialists. It is a central and transversal component of our missionary vocation. Every CICM missionary, regardless of ministry or location, is called to integrate this dimension into their way of serving and witnessing to the Gospel (13th General Chapter, Revitalizing Our Identity, p. 21). This calling is explicitly inscribed in the Constitutions of the Congregation: "Our commitment to a more just world urges us to support morally and financially those working for human rights, for justice and peace" (Art. 28.1).
The 13th General Chapter reaffirms this conviction: "Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) is an integral part of our mission in today's world" (13th General Chapter, Revitalizing Our Identity, p. 21).
JPIC is thus not a specific domain of action - it is a fundamental evangelical choice, rooted in the spirit of the founder and responsive to contemporary challenges. It is a concrete, credible, and prophetic way of living Mission in the service of transforming the world according to the heart of God.
3. The Urgent Challenges of Our Time Through the Lens of JPIC
a) Social and Economic Injustice
The growing gap between rich and poor reveals a systemic imbalance. While a minority accumulates obscene wealth, the majority struggles to survive. This is not by chance - it stems from deeply unfair economic systems driven by profit, speculation, and exploitation.
Pope Francis denounces in Evangelii Gaudium "an economy that kills" (no. 53). Human beings are subordinated to profit. Against this logic, the Church is called to be a Church of the poor and for the poor - not only to assist but to transform.
In the biblical tradition, God hears the cry of the oppressed (cf. Exodus 3:7). Mission then becomes an act of justice, an instrument of liberation, and a response to that cry.
b) Peace Under Threat
Armed conflicts, ethnic and political violence, religious persecution, and human trafficking ravage entire societies. Often fueled by economic interests and corrupt powers, these situations destroy lives and communities.
To be a missionary today is to become a peacemaker (cf. Matthew 5:9) - not passively, but through courageous commitment: denouncing injustice, promoting dialogue, healing wounded memories, and supporting reconciliation. True peace is always the fruit of justice (cf. Isaiah 32:17). Every Mission faithful to the Gospel must carry this prophetic dimension.
c) The Ecological Emergency
Our common home is in peril due to climate disruption, pollution, deforestation, and species extinction. The cry of the earth echoes the cry of the poor - its first victims.
In Laudato Si', Pope Francis calls for an integral ecology, where social justice, spirituality, and care for creation are interwoven. Protecting nature is honoring the Creator and defending the vulnerable. Thus, the missionary is also guardian of the earth, a sentinel of creation's beauty.
d) Forced Migrations
Humanity has never known such massive displacement: war refugees, climate migrants, economic exiles. These women, men, and children are often stigmatized or exploited. Welcoming the stranger is welcoming Christ himself (cf. Matthew 25:35). In the face of walls, shipwrecks, and inhumane camps, the Church cannot remain silent. Mission becomes hospitality, advocacy, and concrete solidarity.
4. Acting with Hope: The Spirituality and Praxis of JPIC
JPIC engagement is not just another strategy. It is a spiritual response to Christ's call - a way of living the Gospel with Hope. This Hope, far from naive optimism, is rooted in active faith, nourished by prayer, and embodied in concrete struggles.
Inspired by Christ's love for the poor and for creation, JPIC becomes a theological space where God is revealed. It is a prophetic praxis: denouncing injustice, announcing a reconciled world, and calling all to become artisans of Hope.
a) Contemplation of the Poor Christ
Jesus shared the condition of the poor. To contemplate him is to choose to live alongside them in genuine fraternity. The CICM missionary does not come to "help from above," but to walk "with" the people in daily proximity.
b) Analysis of Realities
Charity is not enough. We must understand the roots of injustice. The method see - judge - act, from Catholic social teaching, remains essential. It requires formation, discernment, and community commitment.
c) Closeness to the Poor
Bringing Hope in the Mission means being a living presence among the marginalized. It demands listening, accompaniment, and advocacy. To believe in the dignity of the poor is to believe in their capacity to shape their own future.
d) Education for Peace and Ecology
Mission includes an educational dimension: raising awareness about peace, justice, and ecology. Schools, workshops, retreats, and community projects are all fertile grounds to sow the seeds of a new world.
e) Working in Networks
In the face of complex challenges, we must join forces. Local churches, NGOs, social movements - collaborating increases impact, shares wisdom, and bears witness to unity in diversity.
5. Evangelizing Through Presence and Witness
Mission is not limited to words. It manifests in a life that is generous, simple, fraternal, and close to the poor. This silent yet eloquent witness is a powerful proclamation of the Gospel.
JPIC does not aim to replace public policies but to inspire profound transformation rooted in a lived and coherent faith.
6. Today's Calls: Necessary Conversions
In light of JPIC, several calls arise:
- Personal conversion: Reject complicity with injustice (consumerism, indifference, prejudice).
- Community conversion: Make our missionary communities to be spaces of justice, peace, and care for creation.
- Structural conversion: Reorient our projects, budgets, and priorities based on JPIC values.
- Ongoing formation: Integrate JPIC into both initial and ongoing formation.
- Prophetic engagement: Dare to denounce in the name of the Gospel, even at the cost of rejection.
Conclusion: Hope as Active Resistance
JPIC is not a spiritual extra - it is the living heart of the Gospel in action. Where the world despairs, Mission generates Hope. Where systems oppress, faith liberates. Where the earth groans, the Word recreates.
"Mission is not first about making Christians, but about making the world more human, more fraternal, more just, more beautiful" (Archbishop Oscar Romero).
In the night of our times, CICM missionaries are called to be watchmen of Hope, rooted in Christ, faithful to the Gospel, and committed to the struggle for life.
