Justice & Peace
In a world that has become increasingly violent, the Sisters of the Holy Cross choose to follow the nonviolent way of Jesus, and work to implement a culture of justice and peace, standing in solidarity with all who suffer, especially women and children.
“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of those abandoned by others.”
— Proverbs 31:8
Our work for justice
For more than 175 years, Holy Cross sisters have responded to the injustices of the times through their ministries—from educating girls and providing health services to the poor, to socially responsible investing, to caring for Earth and collaborating to end human trafficking.
Our Congregation Justice Committee (CJC) directs and coordinates the work of the Congregation. The CJC and the Congregation Justice Office help members of the Congregation and the broader society understand and address issues of social justice and peace.
Our work involves raising consciousness about justice issues; seeking the interconnections among issues; providing opportunities and resources for justice education; advocating for action strategies that promote the transformation of unjust structures; global networking with individuals and groups working for social justice; and participating in initiatives proposed by the Holy Cross International Justice Office.
Contact Us
If you would like to know more about our work for justice, please call 574-284-5660
In the rich imagery of Pope Francis, when such vast numbers are leaving their homelands “with a suitcase full of fears and desires,” the Congregation must “respond to the globalization of migration with the globalization of charity and cooperation.”3
Resources
Thirty Million: Climate change in Bangladesh. (video, 35 mins)
Uganda: A Model of Hospitality: Welcoming those seeking asylum. (PBS NewsHour video, 8 mins).
What Does It Mean to Be a Refugee?: What does that term really mean? (video, approx. 5 mins)
Our current focus:
Migration, through the lens of Gospel nonviolence and Just Peace
Today, unprecedented numbers of people are displaced around the globe, a circumstance that leaves many individuals vulnerable to acts of aggression, manipulation and violence—including human trafficking.
In response to this horrific situation, the Sisters of the Holy Cross have taken a congregation-wide, formal stand in solidarity with migrants forced to flee from their homes for any reason.
“The phenomenon of migration is part of salvation history, a sign of the times which speaks of the providential work of God in history and in the human community, with a view to universal communion,” Pope Francis explained.¹ Specifically addressing the dangers migrants face he called for action. “Indifference and silence lead to complicity whenever we stand by as people are dying of suffocation, starvation, violence and shipwreck. Whether large or small in scale, these are always tragedies, even when a single human life is lost.”²