Values are the foundational beliefs and qualities that defines what is fundamentally important or necessary. They are the standards or ideals used to measure the significance of our ideas, experiences and activities. They reveal what is ultimately important, providing a guide for both decision-making and determining a course of action.
Peace Ministries holds eight core values that define our direction and identity. They are articulated in the foundational document “Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries,” 2012, and express the commission entrusted to Peace Ministries by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. These core values guide the behavior, attitudes, actions and judgments of the sponsored ministries and unite them as a family of ministries. Living the core values is the way mission comes alive in practical, everyday ways.
“We believe that through extending compassionate care to others, especially to those who are most vulnerable, we bring forth the ‘reign of God’ here and now, helping to make our world a more just, loving and peaceful place for all.”
Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries, 2012.Compassionate care calls for entering into another’s experience, literally “suffering with another," in order to respond to their situation. It is person-centered and rooted in respect for the dignity of the whole person. It requires competency in the interrelated skills of building interpersonal relationships, imagining the distress of others in order to alleviate their needs, extending warmth to others, and fostering hope and meaning for those who suffer.
“We believe that our mission is to make Christ’s gospel of peace come alive through works of justice.”
Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries, 2012."Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements.” (Pope John Paul II). In order to work for peace, we are called to build just relationships and respond to the urgent needs of our times. Fostering the common good, resisting all forms of racism and discrimination, striving for economic justice and advocating to protect our planet are all acts of peacemaking.
“We expect that any ministry carried on in the name of Jesus will be a place of care and compassion for all, especially for those who are frail and vulnerable, for those who are poor and on the margins of society.”
Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries, 2012.In the midst of a deepening divide between rich and poor, we are called to prioritize the needs of those who are vulnerable and in need. Our ministries are obliged to give weighted concern to their economic, political and social needs as we offer assistance by our actions. We strive to be with those who are poor and marginalized in their circumstances, and not just do for them. Our work strengthens the whole community and is part of our effort to achieve the common good.
“We hope that each person who participates in, as well as those who receive benefit from, these works of compassion and care 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.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, independent of any personal action or achievement. This foundational principle calls us to treat all people with deep respect without regard to external circumstances of race, socio-economic location, gender, religion, age, abilities or country of birth. Recognizing persons’ spiritual dimension leads us to see that people are more important than things; that the measure of every institution is whether it contributes to the dignity of each person.
“We respond with the flexibility required by changing needs and remain open to engaging in new forms of ministry.”
Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries, 2012.As God worked in biblical events, God also is present and working in our lives. God works to bring about healing and invites us, in our historical circumstances, to participate in this activity. Perceiving or discerning how this happens is referred to as “reading the signs of the times." It requires a broad, reflective perspective, seeking consistency among a number of critical considerations: the details of a particular situation, core and gospel values, necessities for human flourishing, and claims of the common good.
“We ask that those who nourish and sustain these ministries may be good stewards of all that is given into their hands — people, resources, Earth itself.”
Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries, 2012.Creation is a gift of God, deserving our reverence and care. Not only does nature witness to the existence of God but its wonders remind us of God’s presence here and now. We show our respect for creation by acting as stewards, mindful of our responsibility to future generations. For our sponsored ministries, stewardship encompasses care for Earth and all its resources, effective use of assets, and faithfulness to upholding and developing the mission inherited from the founders of the ministries.
“We expect a willingness to reach out to others, and we rely on the competence, talent, wisdom and willingness our co-workers bring to the tables of conversation and to the work of ministry. We can accomplish together much more than we can ever accomplish alone.”
Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries, 2012.Collaboration implies a reciprocal relationship in which persons or groups of people assist each other to achieve more than they could alone. It requires mutuality in relationships, sharing of ideas and talents, openness to learn from others and imagination. Collaboration has a social dimension rooted in mutual respect, building right relationships and a sense of co-responsibility for the common good. Teambuilding, delegating tasks and responsibilities, engaging in dialogue, and coalition building are examples of collaborative action.
“Our response demands a firm commitment to work for justice in solidarity with our sisters and brothers.”
Hopes and Aspirations for the Future of Our Ministries, 2012.As members of the one human family, we have mutual obligations to promote the development of all, despite our differences. Created by a God of relationship, we do not thrive in isolation. Mutual support and interpersonal connections create the loving, supportive community that is essential for the flourishing of each person. We are called to protect and promote the good of all within the ministry as well as to reach out beyond to the wider community to cross borders and promote human rights and development.
