Catholic Global Mission Resource for Youth

Across_Borders_Masthead

"At this time of year when so many of you are taking your annual holiday, I pray that you will truly find refreshment for body and spirit and an opportunity to rest in the Lord!" (Pope Benedict XVI)

Fr. Carl Chudy sx Fr. John Convery sx

Xaverian Missionaries USA Xaverian Missionaries UK

The Catholic Church's Ritual Unites Us...

At Mass, we all equally affirm our need for spiritual nourishment and enlightenment when we walk together in our ignorance, our faith buttressed by that of others, whatever their particular beliefs on such matters, to receive the Eucharist. This daily ritual unites us all, from Siberia to Ethiopia, and enables us to claim in our diversity that we are all members of the same body. Read more.

Pontifical Mission Societies

Fr. Tom Welsh SX

PMS operates in more than 180 countries throughout the world. As a Pontifical organisation, it has the "first place" of all missionary organisations. PMS is the only organisation which offers support to all 1,103 missionary dioceses and territories, in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the poorest parts of Latin America and Europe.

The highlight of the Assembly was the audience with the Holy Father in the Sala Clementina. The Holy Father reminded us of the "unique vocation to keep alive the missionary vocation of all the followers of Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit to take part in the universal mission entrusted by the Risen Lord to the Church. Your work of missionary animation and formation constitutes the soul of pastoral care so that the mission ad gentes becomes the paradigm of the full apostolic action of the Church. Always be a more visible and concrete expression of solidarity between the churches, living the same vocation and zeal sowing the Word of Truth in all corners of the world to all peoples and cultures."

Read more of Fr. Tom's posting.

Congo Conflict Mineral Trade: A Shout out for Foothill School of Arts and Sciences in Boise

For more than two years students at Foothill School of Arts and Science in Boise, Idaho have been learning about the connection between the minerals in some of their favorite technological gadgets and the conflict that has been going on in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the impact it has on Congolese people and students in particular. Foothill School has a sister school in the DRC called Nkokwe primary school. The Foothill community worries about the safety of their friends at Nkokwe. Read more.

Summer? Scotland Our calendar says so but it can be difficult sometimes to tell the difference between warm rain and cold rain...

That hasn't deterred a group of young Italians from the Bergamo region who will use the Conforti Institute as a base for a week-long visit to Scotland from 17-24 August. Included in their programme will be visits to Glasgow, Edinburgh where they will visit the Scottish Parliament and the Western Highlands as well as some free time for shopping.

Also planned are visits to a local high school, The Wallace Monument at Stirling and a ceilidh dance evening where some young Scottish people will introduce them to the delights of the 'Dashing White Sergeant'.

The Institute is available over the summer to groups or families looking for a comfortable, convenient base to visit the attractions of central Scotland. Too late for this year? Plan ahead and contact us for next year: Conforti Institute

Faith in Action

mission scotland

This is also the time of year when we start planning for the year ahead. Members of our Education Team have been helping Mission Scotland in the preparations for October, when parishes and schools are encouraged to focus on the global missionary work of the Church. This year's theme is 'Faith in Action', drawing attention to the work done by the Church in the service of our poorest sisters and brothers.

Benedict XVI There is added significance this year also because Pope Benedict has declared a Year of Faith to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Throughout the year we will offer some reflections on the significance of the various Council documents and their significance for the Church today, particularly the call for all Christians to play an active role in the life and mission of the Church.

The Aurora Tragedy

Who's protecting whom from what? Who's protecting what from whom? Sr. Joan Chittister OSB

We also, then, must have a right to be protected from the wanton, uncontrolled, unbalanced, dangerous use of guns in the public arena. We have a right to be protected from Wild West gunfights masking as personal or public defense in our public life... Learn more.

Arms Trade

Opposing a Culture of 'Criminality and Violence'

The flow of illicit arms across international borders would be stemmed more effectively by addressing the demand for such weapons through education and public awareness programs, the Vatican's U.N. nuncio said. Addressing the U.N. Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty on July 27, Archbishop Francis Chullikatt said such efforts would promote a culture of peace while opposing a "culture of criminality and violence." Learn more.

Servant Leadership is a Hit!

The Education Team at the Conforti Institute have just completed their 2012 Servant Leadership programme. This is the 4^th year that the Institute have offered the programme to schools and with over 300 students from 25 schools in Scotland and England, it continues to prove popular with students and teachers alike.

The course comprises of a 2 day residential at The Conforti Institute where the students are able to avail themselves of the superb conference facilities on offer. The programme consists of 6 interactive modules in which students consider their potential for leadership within their schools and communities and how the gospel values can offer them a model for living. Over the years the students and staff have commented on the positive impact that the Servant Leadership Programme has had both on individuals and their school communities.

To read more about The Servant Leadership and other programmes on offer at The Conforti Institute you can go to http://www.confortiinstitute.org

Speaking Out for Your Rights

lsj forum Last month we reported on the 'What Next?' event held in the Institute to raise the concerns of young people locally with representatives from political parties, local business and education and police. Our local MP Tom Clarke has since written to the Department of Work and Pensions to raise the concerns expressed and a meeting will take place soon between a representative from the Department and the young people involved. Watch out for future reports.

I DREAM

Idream IDREAM's goal is to show the faces of the immigrant youth movement through art. IDREAM started with it's original campaign which consisted of photographing Dreamers with the US flag painted on their skin symbolizing that it is almost like in their skin to be part of the US. The IDREAM art exhibition was displayed from NY, Texas and In Phoenix / Tucson areas. It was also the front cover art for Phoenix New Times. Discover more.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Cannes 2012 Beasts Of The Southern Wild Official Trailer #1 (2012) Sundance Movie HD

Hushpuppy, the 6-year-old heroine, and her ailing father, Wink, reside on the edge of habitable terra firma in a fictional South Louisiana community called the Bathtub-a place where ribbons of soggy earth melt into the Gulf of Mexico. While spinning a tale of survival, "Beasts" finds buried links between morality and a threatened ecosystem. Learn more. Download a discussion guide and visit the website.