Mission and Goals
Mission Statement
Looking to the future and rooted in the call to make Christ’s gospel of peace come alive through works of justice, Peace Ministries governs, supports and advocates for its sponsored ministries.
Goals
Peace Ministries accomplishes its mission by:
Maintaining individual ministry identity and mission while fostering a common grounding in the spirit and principles of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Catholic Social Teaching and Gospel values
Working in partnership with the ministries to provide ongoing spiritual formation, leadership development and mission integration for the board and staff of each ministry
Supporting the development of a sustainable financial future and providing financial review for each ministry
Creating synergy among the sponsored ministries that will encourage collaboration in the areas of operational efficiencies and shared learning
Collaborating with the ministries in strategic planning and decision making
Operating in ways that are mission-driven, collaborative, respectful of persons and responsive to present and emerging needs of the times
Creating a Peace Ministries identity to facilitate advocacy and build awareness for the common goals and objectives of our member organizations
Acting for justice within the ministries and for the people who are served by them
Promoting the care of creation and sustainable practices in each ministry
Extending and expanding compassionate care to people who are elderly, vulnerable, poor or on the margins of society
Creating a compassionate community in which people of all cultures and beliefs can participate
Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Peace Ministries, a ministry corporation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, and its sponsored ministries believe in respect for human dignity. We are committed to working for justice as a way to peace. We are dedicated to fostering an environment of diversity, equity and inclusion for our workforces and those we serve. We recognize this is an ongoing journey requiring continuous education and renewed commitment.
In accordance with the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, “We strive to respect the dignity of all persons, to value the gifts of creation, and confront oppressive situations. We respond to God’s people in need and promote social justice as a way to peace.” (Constitution 11)
Peace Ministries believes each person is made in the image of God and is the clearest reflection of God among us. Therefore, each one is a treasure and each life is a gift. This foundational principle calls us to treat all people with deep respect, recognizing our differences, including but not limited to race, socio-economic location, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, and abilities.
“In recognizing the dignity of all persons, we commit ourselves to education and action that aims to eliminate discrimination in all its forms within the congregation, in those places and institutions where we minister, and in the wider society.” (Constitution 24)
At Peace Ministries and within our sponsored ministries we value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds, cultures and beliefs of our employees. We offer a welcoming work environment where everyone can feel engaged, heard and have a sense of belonging.
As part of Peace Ministries’ strategic plan, we continue to strengthen our recruitment plans and efforts to diversify our own board and the governing boards and senior leaders among all the ministries, to better reflect our staff and the communities in which we serve. We understand that representation matters. We hope those who receive benefit from our works of care and compassion “will find in each of the ministries a spirit of peace, respect, collaboration and justice.” (Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries, 2012)
Our strategic plan also incorporates an orientation program for new executive leaders and trustees to help them gain a strong sense of the mission and Core Values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.
Peace Ministries is committed to the ongoing formation of ministry leaders and employees by providing opportunities to learn, reflect and grow in diversity, equity and inclusion, both personally and professionally. Opportunities include programs and presentations as well as the Mission Alive formation process.
We recognize that this is a lifelong journey of learning, and while we admit that we will make mistakes along the way, Peace Ministries is devoted to this critical work.