Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa
Secretariat:
P.O. Box 21191 NAIROBI, Kenya
Telephone: +254 20 3878008 / 10
Fax: 3878009, 3871590
E-mail: amecea@africaonline.co.ke

The 16th AMECEA Plenary Meeting

Reconciliation through Justice and Peace
in AMECEA Region
27th June – 7th July 2008
Lusaka, Zambia

- Report No.6

JCTR Visit - 03/07/2008
From Bill Turnbull M.Afr.

Visit to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection

Our time in Lusaka continues with more educative tourism! After our visit to FENZA yesterday this morning we were privileged to spend a few hours at the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) in the company of Peter Henriot. Most of us had read his many articles but only knew him by reputation, so it was marvellous to be able to talk about many issues with him face to face. We discussed the work of JCTR how they operate and many topics that effect the people of Zambia and Africa.

Peter Henriot, the second from the left with a group of Missionaries of Africa.

Peter Henriot admitted to us that in many ways he is a child, and certainly a great friend, of the WFs since he worked with us on his arrival in Zambia many years ago. The close collaboration between the Jesuits and WF is seen especially today with the cooperation between JCTR and FENZA, in Zambia, and the Centre for Social Concern (CfSC) in Malawi. All three centres compliment each other and carry out evangelisation in their various fields.

JCTR was set up at an opportune time in 1988 when there was a hot debate about "scientific socialism" and just before Kenneth Kaunda, the then president of Zambia, broached the subject of multi-party democracy for the country. The Centre is an independent project of the Jesuits' Zambia-Malawi Province. It was established to be at the service of the church in Zambia and to promote our faith in the local community through JPIC based on Catholic Social Teaching.

The Centre combines well carried out research and analysis and simple practical material. It also seeks to give people a methodology to help them to get involved in everyday social and economic issues and the implications that they have for the people of Zambia. One good example of this work is the "Basic Needs Basket" which is a monthly survey of what it costs for a family of six to live. This is carried out in six urban and three rural areas and includes checking the prices of necessities such as food, electricity, water, housing that are used by the average family. This information is used by various organisations to look at economic performance, to claim wage increases, and to promote better living conditions.

For me the "Basic Needs Basket" shows how simple JPIC work can be and how anyone can take part. We do this at CfSC in Kanengo on a different level that proves very worth while. It a simple a example of the way we can look at what is happening around us in our parishes and analyse the situation in order to improve the lives of the people we serve.

Underlying all their activities at JCTR, the Jesuits attempt to put their faith at the service of justice. For them the two cannot be separated. The letter of James speaks about faith without works not being faith at all. For Peter Henriot working with and for the poor is an essential manifestation of our faith in Jesus. For this insight alone I thank Peter. May all our talk about God and the poor bear some fruit in their lives.

During the AMECEA Plenary it was clear that the bishops were searching for a way to promote and use JPIC and to try and see what relevance it has in the lives of the people of their dioceses. They, like us, struggle to make JPIC relevant and part of what we do and see as central to our "mission". All of us who attended the Plenary realise that this is a continual struggle that is open ended and has no clear answers, but is something worthwhile continuing with in the faith that we profess.

When you meet someone like Peter Henriot you believe more in what JPIC can do. He is an intellectual with his feet on the ground. A rare combination of the two talents and someone who has dedicated his life to the work of seeing the gospel in the practical every day situation that we live in - a rare gift to have and to be able to use. I only wish that, like him, I will be so enthusiastic about JPIC when I am in my seventies and that my brain will be as active - though the latter is a problem even now! It is good to see faith lived out in such a challenging way at JCTR.

The JCTR do a lot more than I have mentioned above in the fields of research, campaigning, lobbying, publications, workshops, courses from the perspective of our Catholic faith. You can get more information about JCTR by going to their web site at www.jctr.org.zm

From Bill Turnbull M.Afr.