RACIAL JUSTICE MINISTRY
JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC)
It is no secret that Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is an extremely diverse parish, blessed with parishioners from a wide variety of ethnic, national, and cultural heritages. Our parishioners speak a multitude of languages and have very different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. Yet, we share one faith in Christ and a commitment to our call of discipleship. Our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) celebrates the beauty and goodness found in this diversity and is deeply committed to racial justice education and advocacy.
Our JPIC Racial Justice Ministry originally formed when members of our JPIC Promoting Human Dignity ministry recognized that our faith called us to greater solidarity and understanding as we sought to learn how our Catholic faith and community speaks to the social justice issues and experiences our African American brothers and sisters in Christ face in Durham. This included not only studying our faith tradition but the importance of acknowledging the impact of our country’s 400-year history of systemic injustice deeply embedded in our laws and the cultural, psychological, spiritual, economic, social, and political legacies of institutional oppression (slavery, Jim Crow, etc.).
Our JPIC Racial Justice Ministry seeks not to foster shame or guilt, but to work for justice and empowerment through advocacy, education, healing, reconciliation, and building an authentic, beloved community. We listen to the struggles and the triumphs of people right here in Durham and seek to be an advocate for change in our community and our country.
Our JPIC Racial Justice Ministry originally formed when members of our JPIC Promoting Human Dignity ministry recognized that our faith called us to greater solidarity and understanding as we sought to learn how our Catholic faith and community speaks to the social justice issues and experiences our African American brothers and sisters in Christ face in Durham. This included not only studying our faith tradition but the importance of acknowledging the impact of our country’s 400-year history of systemic injustice deeply embedded in our laws and the cultural, psychological, spiritual, economic, social, and political legacies of institutional oppression (slavery, Jim Crow, etc.).
Our JPIC Racial Justice Ministry seeks not to foster shame or guilt, but to work for justice and empowerment through advocacy, education, healing, reconciliation, and building an authentic, beloved community. We listen to the struggles and the triumphs of people right here in Durham and seek to be an advocate for change in our community and our country.
We hope you will join us! If you have any questions, please let us know.
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Barbara Curran and Lauren Lee Schewel, Racial Justice Ministry Parishioner Leaders
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Ken Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
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JPIC RACIAL JUSTICE EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
Ken Chiha, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church's Director of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC), encourages active discipleship in response to racist hate crimes and mass shootings.
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JPIC Book Studies
(Promoting Human Dignity) |
JPIC PHD LENTEN BOOK STUDY GROUP
VISITS HISTORIC STAGVILLE PLANATATION
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Many of our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Promoting Human Dignity Book Studies have focused on issues of racial justice, with some including optional follow up events. Following our Lenten Book Study of "The Cross and The Lynching Tree," a group of parishioners visited Stagville, a state historic site that includes the remnants of the one of the largest plantations in North Carolina.
Over 900 people were once enslaved on this property. According to their website, "Stagville protects a fraction of the land from that plantation, including original slave quarters (1851), a massive barn (1860), and a Bennehan family house (1787-1799). Stagville is dedicated to teaching about the lives and work of enslaved people on the plantation." |
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Our parishioners found it to be a very profound and moving experience. If you would like to learn more or visit Historic Stagville, please click this link.
RACIAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY EVENTS
RACIST ROOTS SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION AT OMNI CINEMAS IN FAYETTEVILLE
On Thursday, May 23rd, from 6:30-8:30 pm at Omni Cinemas in Fayetteville, NC, the North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty in partnership with Fayetteville PACT and VoteRiders will be presenting The Racist Roots of NC’s death penalty and the Commutation Campaign to end it!
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Racist Roots is a powerful 25-minute film that reveals North Carolina death penalty’s deep entanglement with slavery, lynching, and racism. Nick Courmon will perform spoken word poetry and will moderate a panel discussion following the film. Panelists include Andre Smith, who lost his son to homicide, and Jerome Bell, who serves on the Board of Directors for Fayetteville PACT. The evening will conclude with a call to action to write Govenor Cooper asking him to commute all death sentences. Racist Roots is a project of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation.
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH
CELEBRATING OUR FAITH TOGETHER AS A BELOVED COMMUNITY
Historically rooted in the 1920s and more formally/widely recognized in the 1970s through presidential statements like Gerald Ford’s declaration that Black History Month is an occasion to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history” (1976 Bicentennial Year Message), the United States has celebrated Black History Month every February. American Catholics also celebrate Black Catholic History Month every November.
In addition to our Immaculate Conception and Immaculata’s celebration of Black History Month, I have included below some events that our Franciscan friars, parishioners, etc. have shared that will help us celebrate Black History Month in conversation with our greater Durham community.
In addition to our Immaculate Conception and Immaculata’s celebration of Black History Month, I have included below some events that our Franciscan friars, parishioners, etc. have shared that will help us celebrate Black History Month in conversation with our greater Durham community.
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CELEBRATING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Events Listed Below Courtesy of Durham Congregations in Action (DCIA)
MLK Sunday Service with Watts St. Baptist Church and St. John MBC
MLK Commemoration at Duke Chapel: Grant Hill to Deliver Keynote Address
2024 MLK Holiday Durham City Workers Union March
11 am, March kicks off to City Hall
11:30 am, Rally and speak-out at city hall, 101 City Hall Plaza
MLK, Jr. March & Rally
10:30 am, Starting at NC Mutual Tower
11:45 am, Rally at First Presbyterian Church of Durham.
We are asking all clergy to come and march at the front.
- January 14, 11 am, Watts St. Baptist Church; Followed by a discussion with the speaker.
MLK Commemoration at Duke Chapel: Grant Hill to Deliver Keynote Address
- January 14, 4 pm, Duke University Chapel
2024 MLK Holiday Durham City Workers Union March
- Monday, January 15 (Fair Pay, Union Rights, Affordable Housing)
11 am, March kicks off to City Hall
11:30 am, Rally and speak-out at city hall, 101 City Hall Plaza
MLK, Jr. March & Rally
10:30 am, Starting at NC Mutual Tower
11:45 am, Rally at First Presbyterian Church of Durham.
We are asking all clergy to come and march at the front.
USCCB STATEMENT IN OBSERVANCE OF REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY 2024
Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, President
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
In observance of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement:
On Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day we pause and reflect on Rev. King’s indelible legacy, and his rallying cry in the pursuit of justice and peace.
As Rev. King taught us, we must confront the evils of racism and prejudice with the love of Christ: ‘Deeply etched in the fiber of our religious tradition is the conviction that men are made in the image of God . . . the heirs of a legacy of dignity and worth. . .. This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one’s tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men.’
Each of us can and must work for justice and peace, remembering Rev. King’s call to action: ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’
Martin Luther King, Jr., was a champion of civil rights. Dr. King used the Word of God to effect change of hearts and minds. Given the issues of migration, antisemitism and racial and religious discrimination touching our communities, we are reminded that the work of bringing people together in mutual recognition and cooperation is never really done. There remain forces in the human condition that would tear asunder what has been accomplished. Let us remain vigilant to take advantage of positive signs existing in evangelization efforts and continued civic progress within human relations. These things help shape communities that manifest the affirmative outcomes arising from our varied races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. The Catholic Church is committed to this endeavor and willingly clasps hands and hearts with all others of like mind, faith, and hope.
On Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day we pause and reflect on Rev. King’s indelible legacy, and his rallying cry in the pursuit of justice and peace.
As Rev. King taught us, we must confront the evils of racism and prejudice with the love of Christ: ‘Deeply etched in the fiber of our religious tradition is the conviction that men are made in the image of God . . . the heirs of a legacy of dignity and worth. . .. This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one’s tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men.’
Each of us can and must work for justice and peace, remembering Rev. King’s call to action: ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’
Martin Luther King, Jr., was a champion of civil rights. Dr. King used the Word of God to effect change of hearts and minds. Given the issues of migration, antisemitism and racial and religious discrimination touching our communities, we are reminded that the work of bringing people together in mutual recognition and cooperation is never really done. There remain forces in the human condition that would tear asunder what has been accomplished. Let us remain vigilant to take advantage of positive signs existing in evangelization efforts and continued civic progress within human relations. These things help shape communities that manifest the affirmative outcomes arising from our varied races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. The Catholic Church is committed to this endeavor and willingly clasps hands and hearts with all others of like mind, faith, and hope.
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If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact:
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - [email protected]
If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact:
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - [email protected]