New Co-Executive Secretary of JPIC Commission

07/03/2023

News

New Co-Executive Secretary of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission

After more than seven years on the position of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Co-Executive Secretary, sr. Sheila Kinsey, fcjm is concluding her mandate which is now being assumed by sr. Maamalifar M. Poreku.

Sr. Maamalifar is a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA). She was born in Ghana and accompanied junior sisters who were preparing for their own final vows. Actively involved in many areas of activism, she was a member of JPIC Roma working groups for the Integrity of Creation and antitrafficking. Currently, she is a Laudato Si Animator and a member of the Laudato Si Movement and a participant in Faith for Earth and Stakeholders Forum for Sustainable Future.

She says about her appointment: “Taking this new role is an opportunity to collaborate with my sisters and brothers of different religious institutes to journey together to let God’s Kingdom come on earth through our ministries of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. This means an attentive listening to the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth as a motivating factor to co-create with God, a reconciled humanity and a reconciled creation.”

Sr. Maamalifar will be collaborating with Fr. Roy Thomas, svd, a member of Society of the Divine Word working in India Central Province, who will also be working as a JPIC Co Executive Secretary.

Sr. Sheila Kinsey served as a JPIC Co-Secretary tirelessly, creating a united community of JPIC Promoters working hard to help make Laudato Si’ a reality for so many. During her mandate, many programs were developed, especially the UISG initiative Sowing Hope for the Planet, the JPIC formation workshops, and the mapping tool which have helped interconnect advocacy efforts.

Sr. Sheila reflects on her time as a JPIC Co-Secretary: “I will take many precious memories that have been blessed with conversations with amazing people who are actively engaged in important issues related to justice, peace and care for the integrity of creation. I am grateful for their commitment and energy healing our earth and attending to the needs of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Collaboration with the UISG and USG members has shown me the importance of working together. This has given me more insight for my continuing work with our church membership. My experiences in the JPIC Office will be very helpful in my work with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

It has been an enriching spiritual experience to work with the different charisms of the congregations in relation to the work of JPIC. My own religious understanding has been deepened as I follow the Gospel in the light of appreciation of these vitally lived traditions.

The gift of truly listening to others and affirming their efforts to actualize Laudato Si’ has been a wonderful opportunity. I feel that I have entered a privileged space of God’s action in the lives of amazing conversion experiences. The giving and receiving of nonjudgmental attention and care has yielded so much fruitfulness! This receptivity cannot be underestimated.”

Visit:

JPIC Commission website
Sowing Hope for the Planet website
Laudato Si’ Action Platform