WHO WE ARE
IDENTITY - MISSION - PEOPLE
JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC)

IDENTITY

The Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) ministries of Immaculate Conception participates in a vibrant and diverse Franciscan parish located in downtown Durham. We aspire to be servant-leaders within our parish. We are committed to live the values of Catholic Social Teaching and to being vigilant and responsive to current issues affecting our parishioners, our community, and our world.

MISSION

Our mission is to engage and empower Immaculate Conception parishioners to live lives of justice, healing, compassion, and peace, manifesting the reign of God in our parish, our community, and our world. We will do this by being attentive to the signs of the times, through dialogue, and through organized communal response to societal and individual human needs, always cognizant that all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God.

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​PEOPLE

Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
​Ken Chiha, [email protected] - (919) 682-3449 Ext. 293

The Catholic Church does not have "volunteers," a church only has "disciples" who dedicate their lives freely in loving service of God and their neighbors. All our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) ministries are led by our parishioners' loving faith commitment, call to discipleship, and sharing of their God-given gifts and talents. They embody what it is to be church (ecclesia) and “a faith that does justice.”

Before joining our parish as Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), my graduate studies, research, and teaching at the University of Notre Dame, Loyola University Chicago, and Duke University focused on the intersection of Catholic social thought, systematic and moral theology, philosophical ethics, and political theory in the Western intellectual tradition, with a particular emphasis on Catholic discernment and post-Shoah theology in response to the challenges of post-Enlightenment secularism and modernity. When I was hired at Immaculate Conception, I was asked to rebuild and restructure our JPIC following several years of transitions in leadership and the difficult struggles of Covid.

Ken Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)

Below is a general overview of my role serving alongside all our dedicated parishioners and JPIC ministry leaders.

I. THEOLOGICAL (Mission and Vision - Unity of Faith Formation and Action)

• Direct, promote, and support the parish’s mission of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in the areas of education/faith formation, global solidarity and advocacy, systematic justice, community organizing, and direct service in accordance with the Gospel, Catholic Social Teachings, and Franciscan vision, values, and approach to ministry.
• Develop/communicate this theological vision, raise awareness, and foster the social mission of the Church, ensuring that Catholic principles are understood and meaningfully integrated into all JPIC ministries/actions in our parish and the wider community.

 
II. ADMINISTRATIVE
A. Oversee, advise, and serve as a liaison to the following groups:

• JPIC Council
• JPIC parishioner ministries
• Local and global religious, political, educational, and social justice organizations connected with our JPIC mission, vision, and ministries

B. Communication/Transparency

• Work to increase transparency, openness, and opportunities for accountable JPIC parishioner leadership/action through communicating all JPIC information publicly on our JPIC website (i.e. content creation, design, maintenance, etc.) which will serve as a single, accessible location for equal and full access to all JPIC programming.​

C. Financial/Budget

• Develop, plan, and allocate all financial/budgetary funds in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching principles and our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) mission/identity.

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Assistant to the Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
​Isabel Kovalik, [email protected]
*Please Note: Isabel works part-time, approx. 15 hours per week and will do her best to respond to all JPIC correspondence as soon as possible. 

Isabel Kovalik, Assistant to the Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)

Isabel and her family have been parishioners at Immaculate Conception for over 25 years. Isabel is fully bilingual in Spanish and English. She initially joined our staff as our parish calendar/scheduling coordinator, later being asked to help schedule baptisms as well. Driven by her passion for justice, peace, and care for creation, she is excited to be serving our parish working in her new role as JPIC Assistant. We are all thrilled to have her with us!​

​JOB DESCRIPTION
Support and assist the Director in all areas related to Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), with primary responsibilities including:​
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I. JPIC ADMINISTRATION
A) JPIC Announcements & ACS Calendar

• Serve as a liaison for JPIC parishioner ministry leaders for their communication submissions: Parish e-newsletters, social media, emails, pulpit announcements, Canva flyers, copies, etc.
• Assist JPIC parishioner ministry leaders in scheduling and reserving rooms and resources for their meetings and events.
• Respond to selected JPIC emails, digital queries, and other correspondence.

B) JPIC Contact List, Forms, & Supplies

• Keep and update the JPIC Director’s database/contact list of parishioners and others in the community who are interested in taking part in our JPIC faith formation and action opportunities.
• Process administrative or reimbursement submission forms for any pre-approved parishioner or collaborator receipts.
• Maintain JPIC supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needs and placing orders for supplies; and verifying receipt of supplies.

C) Hospitality

• Facilitate hospitality (i.e. welcoming materials/settings/food/supplies) needed for the JPIC Director’s meetings, presentations, or other selected events.

II. JPIC EVENT PLANNING AND COORDINATION
Coordinate and prepare all aspects and logistics for executing selected JPIC parish-wide events, including:

• Form and oversee any committees necessary to help facilitate the implementation process (i.e. responsibilities for meeting agendas, recording of accurate minutes of meetings, assignments of various tasks, promotion, etc.).
• Coordinating room/facility setup (resources/technology needs).

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Pastoral Associate
​Katushka Olave, [email protected] - (919) 281-0728 

Our Spanish ministry is an ever-growing part of Immaculate Conception. Katushka Olave, our parish's Pastoral Associate, serves our church community in a multitude of ways. An essential part of the Pastoral Associate's role is to help our Spanish community play a vital part in our parish's JPIC ministries. Katushka has been an amazing colleague and counterpart, helping to ensure that our JPIC ministries address the needs of both our English and Spanish-speaking parishioners. 

Katushka Olave, Pastoral Associate

Katushka works on numerous social justice issues, with her JPIC efforts as pastoral associate particularly focusing on areas such as immigrants and refugees, poverty, homelessness, hunger/food insecurity, and healthcare. Katushka also serves as our parish liaison with a variety of community organizations, such as the North Carolina Congress of Latino Organizations (Latino Congress), Durham Congregations in Action (DCIA), Franciscans Network on Migration (FNM), and Durham CROP Hunger Walk.

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JPIC Council

The JPIC Council consists of a select group of extremely dedicated parishioner leaders chosen by the Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation from our various JPIC ministries to help keep the parish conscious of its obligation to live a “faith that does justice.” The JPIC Council supports the director in developing various strategic and budgetary goals responding to the “signs of the times” in alignment with Catholic Social Teaching. They serve our parish by providing leadership in promoting and coordinating programs on behalf of our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) ministries.

For more information about our JPIC Council, please contact:
Ken Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
​(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - [email protected]

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© All rights reserved.
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]