The Dominican Asia-Pacific Justice, Peace & Care of Creation Network, initiated in the post-Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975) climate of the 1980s, serves as a support network linking and encouraging members of the Dominican Family in their efforts to promote social justice and care of the earth. Regional Co-Promoters (a Sister and a Friar), at present from the Philippines, take the lead in organizing a four-yearly Regional Conference. Because of the vast expanse of this region, extending from Pakistan in the west to Japan in the east, and southwards through the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia to Australia and New Zealand, this region was in 1998 subdivided into four zones – South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Pacific - each with a Liaison person to facilitate communication with Country Link persons as needed.  

The Pacific Zone at present includes Dominicans in Indonesia, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Australia.

In November 2008, a ‘mid-term’ meeting of Co-Promoters and Liaison persons met in Cimahi, Indonesia, to share update reports on the work for justice and care of the environment in our respective Zones, and to plan for the coming Regional Conference in mid-2010.   With the collaboration of Country Link Persons and the cooperation of Dominicans in Western, South and Eastern Australia, the Pacific Zone Report reflected substantial involvement – even if by relatively few persons - in the key issues of our times: in New Zealand, action to protect threatened river systems and other issues; in Timor Leste, ongoing care for orphans and others in need; in Indonesia, care of the elderly, the poor and advocacy for workers’ human rights;  in the Solomon Islands, efforts to address the poverty behind the trafficking of young women, and in Australia, support for Indigenous development in various ways, together with other justice and environmental efforts.

The theme for the 2010 Regional Conference (July 4-9), to be hosted by the Indonesian Dominicans, will focus on labour issues and human rights in general in the region.  The keynote theological address is planned to be a reflection on the theology of suffering, resistance and hope (as in Edward Schillebeeckx), and we have engaged a Dominican Sister theologian, Sr Kathleen McManus OP, from the United States for this address.
Conference Schedule : click here for ›› page 1 ›› page 2

Liaison for the Pacific Zone: Sr Gabrielle Kelly op
Email: gkellyop@bigpond.com