Members of the Josephite Justice Network (JJN) attended the Parramatta Diocese launch of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Social Justice Statement, Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World, on 20 August.

Bishop Vincent Long reminded us that this violence is not so distant, as our neighbours in West Papua and Myanmar are suffering from wicked injustices, fueled by the narratives of competing truths. In light of this, the Social Justice Statement provides a vital blueprint for upholding truth and peace both at home and across neighbouring seas.

Guest speaker, Joel Hodge, Senior Lecturer at the Australian Catholic University provided a simple, yet insightful presentation on how to receive the messages of truth and peace found in the statement. Hodge simplified the complexities of the violent world that often undermines our confidence as drivers towards the common good. He identified two types of change makers, the ‘I possess myself’ and the ‘gift based’ individual.

‘I Possess Myself’ – Individualistic

The universal yearning for purpose and the self-contained pursuit of the heart is often at odds with the outward expression of peace-building. Here, the social contract serves the gift of self, whilst failing to honour the spirit of the collective.

‘Gift Based’ – Empathetic

The gift of God, guides us to love and serve the common good of the world, working as one body. Charism is a life-giving artifact passed down through generations and connects us through the shared acceptance of an ancestral truth – we do not own our gifts but are temporary bearers of it.

This gift-based understanding lit up Joelle Sassine, as she nudged my shoulder, whispering “the Josephite Charism”, highlighting the incredible gift we, as Josephites, have received by following in the footsteps of Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods. In receiving this forged gift of truth, we reflected on Sr Susan Connelly’s introduction to prayer that day, “speak deliberately and loudly, we need each other’s support”; we are called to share it in communion with others and to inspire fellow challengers of the violent status quo.

Understanding this concept of ‘gift based’ change, was outlined effectively by Hodge: TRUTH shapes TRUST and TRUST shapes PEACE. You must be honest with yourself in order to cultivate trust in others. Once you build trust in yourself and others, peace can be achieved. An ‘I possess myself’ outlook may make us feel worthy of love, but as Bishop Vincent Long reminded us, it is through a ‘gift based’ outlook, that “we are loved by God”.

Let us take this message peacefully and utilise this guide of truth to change our world, together in trust.

Violet Cabral (and Joelle Sassine)
Josephite Justice Network