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| December 07 Issue 1 Number 1 |
The St. Francis Xavier Missionaries, in service to Catholic youth, young adult ministry and campus ministry, would like to present this e-newsletter as a simple aid in the challenges of the 21st Century where US Catholic experiences of youth and young adults are more inter-cultural and inter-religious than ever before, and Catholic life has broad, global implications in spirituality, morality, culture, politics, and economic outreach. The demands of faith in Christ have no borders, and that mission, driven by a passion for Christ and humanity, is our way to help heal the earth of violence and injustice, and to establish the Kingdom of God. Christ is the balm!
Suggestion: The Holy Father's Letter for World Youth Day 2008 makes a great source for prayer and reflection or small group or family discussion with youth in the class or parish. The questions he asks here, are worth pondering among our youth, and us all.
 Toward the end of October this year, more
than 500 young adults and youth from the Catholic Church, other
Christian Churches, Jewish, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and other
faiths gathered in Chicago with a common goal: to create a new
culture in the USA of dialogue, understanding and collaboration in
social justice among the young. No church or faith tradition can
claim to stand in isolation from another again. It is a growing
"interfaith youth movement" sweeping the globe.Each of these young people coming from campuses, high schools, churches and communities across the nation are practically involved in building opportunities of youth interfaith dialogue and service across the nation. There are millions of religious young people in the world interacting with greater frequency. That interaction tends either toward conflict or cooperation. Where so many of these interactions tend towards conflict, the Church aims to help bring about a new relationship, one that is about mutual respect and religious pluralism. Instead of focusing a dialogue on political or theological differences only, we build relationships on the values that we share, such as devotion to God, hospitality, healing for the Earth, and peace and how we can live out those values together to contribute to the betterment of our community and world. Suggestion: Check out ways you can make interfaith youth encounters in your community, campus, or parish.
 From Italy to the U.S. to Africa, and back to the United States, Fr. Victor Mosele is now a missionary to a new
population ? college students. A missionary with the St. Francis
Xavier Foreign Mission Society (Xaverian Missionaries), Father
Mosele lived in Africa nearly 30 years. But after being captured a
second time during the civil war in Sierra Leone, he was brought
back to his community in Wisconsin.Since his return five years ago, he has worked in campus ministry in several state universities. Currently he is working with students at St. Paul?s University Catholic Center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Read on...
     From the Asian Christian Arts Association
 The Xaverian Missionaries
began work in Sierra Leone, West Africa in 1950. Since then, the
Catholic Church has grown dramatically in this predominately Muslim
country. A civil war broke out in 1991 and ended in 2000, brutally
killing hundreds of thousands of people. Roughly 10,000 children
were actively recruited in Sierra Leone during this war, drugged
and learned to kill and massacre.For the past seven years, since the war's ending, we have worked with many of these youth as they integrate themselves back into society. One such project is led by Fr. Eugene Montesi regarding 43 of these young people, all of whom were child soldiers and orphaned because of the war. They are creating a farm and school for them. Much had been done. They want to build a house for the boys and girls, and one more for the family who will take care of them. Can you help? Pray Liturgy and reflection resources for Holy Innocents Day Learn 30 Minute Video by the UN: What's Going On? Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone Web Companion to the Film, What's Going On? Lesson Plans on Child Soldiers Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers Respond *Please share what you learn with your friends, school, youth and young adult group, and parish... *Consider helping financially this project in Sierra Leone for the rehabilitation of child soldiers. This makes a good project goal for any school or parish. Contact us |
When faith matters, how will you help shape the world
Church Teaching on Global Mission To the Ends of the Earth, US Bishops Teaching the Spirit of Mission, US Bishops Best Practices in Teaching Mission, US Bishops Mission of the Redeemer, JP II World Mission 2007, Benedict XVI
Crossing the Lines of Faith Church Teaching on Interfaith Dialogue The Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Vatican II) Pontifical Council on Inter-religious Dialogue
Other helpful links on interfaith youth work Days of Interfaith Youth Service A Different Conversation about Religion Curriculum for Starting Interfaith Work Acts of Faith Discussion Guide Building the Interfaith Youth Movement
Links on Fr. Victor Mosele MP3 Homily: Light to the Nations Get his book, Running for Life Additional links News from the Missions Worldwide Focus on Mission for Young Adults Mass Readings and Missionary Prayer Mission Intentions of the Holy Father Martyrs of the Xaverian Missionaries Patrons of World Mission: St. Francis Xavier & St. Therese Lisieux Justice, peace and integrity of creation e-newsletter
Great way to help tackle the problems of poverty and a great fund raising idea for your institution.
Running for My Life The book, RUNNING FOR MY LIFE, by Fr. Victor Mosele S.X., is a factual account of some of what he experienced as a two time captive of the rebel forces during Sierra Leone's recent civil war. It offers an insightful look into a horrible war through the experiences of an eye witness. While brutally frank at times as well as touchingly moving, it is never contrived and allows the reader to know Fr. Mosele's beliefs while leaving room to come to one's own.
Get your copy at Amazon.com $18.00 NOBORDERS Program for your
Institution
Themes Merry Christmas and many blessings as we approach a new year, a new opportunity to serve the mission of Christ, and the salvation of the world.
NO BORDERS: PASSION FOR CHRIST - PASSION FOR HUMANITY St. Francis Xavier Missionaries |
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"Missionary commitment remains the Church's
primary service to humanity today to guide and evangelize cultural,
social and ethical transformations, and offer Christ's salvation to
modern humanity, humiliated and oppressed in so many parts of the
world by endemic poverty, violence, and the systematic negation of
human rights." |
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The Holy Father writes: "Many young
people view their lives with apprehension and raise many questions
about their future. They anxiously ask: How can we fit into a world
marked by so many grave injustices and so much suffering?
How should we react to the selfishness and violence that
sometimes seem to prevail? How can we give full meaning to
life? How can we help to bring it about that the fruits of
the Spirit mentioned above, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, can fill
this scarred and fragile world, the world of young people most of
all? Let us not forget that the greater the gift of God - and
the gift of the Spirit of Jesus is the greatest of all."
