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Sept. 6, 2011
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Harden Not Your Hearts
 The readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time could not be more providential for the coincidence of this day with the 10th anniversary of the events of 9/11/2001. Each of the readings calls us to forgiveness. Sirach reminds us that "[w]rath and anger are hateful things" (27:30) and that "[t]he vengeful will suffer the Lord's vengeance" (28:1). We hear of the mysterious relationship between the extension of forgiveness to others and the ability to receive forgiveness from God: "Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven" (28:2). In the parable of the unmerciful servant, Jesus confirms this relationship and dramatically illustrates the punishment we can expect from his heavenly Father, "unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart" (Mt 18:35). Sirach asks a challenging question: "Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?" (28:3).
As we face the challenge of forgiveness, Paul reminds us that we do not meet this challenge alone: "For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's" (Rom 14:8). We belong entirely to the Lord. All that we do, and all that others do to us, happens within God's embrace. Even our anger, our vengefulness, and resistance to forgiveness belong to God. When we acknowledge God's sovereignty and surrender all we hold to God, then the Lord can transform and heal us into mercy. We can hear our call to imitate the God whom the psalmist describes as
"kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion" (103:8). When we recognize that God pardons our iniquities, heals our ills, and redeems us from destruction, we open ourselves to God's desire to crown us "with kindness and compassion" (103:4) that flow through us to others. We receive the grace to forgive again and again, seventy-seven times and more.
Perhaps we have already forgiven any wounds we experienced through 9/11/2001. No doubt we have seventy-seven opportunities to forgive within and close to our homes. Let us open the doors of our hearts to forgiveness. Let us open the doors of our homes to neighbors new and old, in peace. To whom can I extend a hand of hospitality this week?
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Responding to the Word: Ask Your Senators to Support the DREAM Act
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Please urge the entire Senate to support the DREAM Act and give thousands of deserving students a chance to be legal residents.
Call, and/or e-mail your Senators to encourage them to support S. 952, the DREAM Act of 2011. You can call their Washington office via the Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121.
Take further action by going to the Justice for Immigrants website to send an electronic postcard to President Obama asking him to protect innocent DREAM youth from deportation. You can also find out how your parish can participate in the upcoming Pray for the DREAM events Sept. 18-Oct. 9.
More information on the DREAM Act:
S. 952, the DREAM Act of 2011, would authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children. Applicants must have entered the U.S. before age 16, they must have lived in the U.S. for at least five years prior to the DREAM Act becoming law, they must pass a criminal background check and the must not have turned 35 when the act becomes law. The DREAM Act is not an alternative to comprehensive immigration reform but a step in the right direction.
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FAN Helps FI Prepare for the Rio 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development  Franciscans International (FI) invites all Franciscan and Franciscan-hearted persons to contribute to the preparation for the Rio 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, informally known as Rio+20. In collaboration with FI, FAN encourages members to support this effort. We can offer support first of all by our prayers, secondly by educating ourselves about this process, and thirdly by contributing input according to these guidelines.
As an NGO with consultative status at the UN, FI will submit recommendations to the working document for this Conference. Until Sept. 30, FI is collecting input for submission. To share your input, please contact Christy Elliott (elliott@franciscanaction.org).
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Stand in Peaceful Opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline
On August 29, Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM and Fr. Erick Lopez, OFM (pictured at right) were arrested for their peaceful opposition to the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. The State Department is considering whether to approve Keystone XL, a proposed pipeline from tar sands oil extraction in Alberta, Canada to refineries in Texas.
You can find more information about the tar sands on FAN's website, or view photos of FAN's participation in the August 29 protest on our Flickr page. The PBS Newshour also featured a debate on this issue. (FAN does not endorse either commentator.)
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FAN Members Join in GreenFaith Fellowship Program
Dennis Testerman, OEF, who features in the DVD that accompanies FAN's C4C: Franciscan Care for Creation program, joins Sr. Jackie Keefe, CSSF in the next class of the GreenFaith Fellowship Program. As members of FAN, Sr. Jackie and Dennis receive scholarships towards their program tuition.
To learn more about the GreenFaith's Fellowship Program and the Certification Program, please visit the GreenFaith website. You can also participate in an informational webinar about the Certification Program on Monday, Sept. 19 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. EDT. E-mail Stacey Kennealy to register.
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There's Something in the Water: The Challenge of Hydrofracking
 Wed., Sept. 21, 3-4 p.m. EDT Register online The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) invites you to participate in a webinar on horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing for shale gas. Prof. Robert Jackson, Ph.D. of Duke University will explain the distinct challenges of this form of extraction. He will present the findings of research on the impact of hydrofracking on drinking water, share policy recommendations, and place hydrofracking in the broader energy context. FAN Action Commission Sr. Caryn Crook, OSF will apply St. Francis' "Canticle of the Creatures" to hydrofracking. If you wish, you can consult Duke University's Center for Global Change website for resources related to this presentation, including Prof. Jackson's data paper, a white paper with policy recommendations, and an Op-Ed article. You can also read a FAN blog post from intern Ben Feuerherd (St. Francis College) on hydrofracking.
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Everybody Loves Francis: Ways to Observe St. Francis' Feast Life to the Full with Francis
 The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops promotes the first Sunday in October as Respect Life Sunday. This year, Respect Life Sunday (Oct. 2) precedes the Transitus celebration of St. Francis' birth into eternal life (Oct. 3), followed by the Feast of St. Francis (Oct. 4). The theme for the 2011-2012 Respect Life Program year comes from Jn 10:10: "I came that all might have life, and have it to the full!" St. Francis lived his life fully by following in the footsteps of Christ, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Francis reverenced all life at every stage. Visit the USCCB Respect Life Program website for resources on this theme.
Honor Francis in Prayer
 Canticle Campus' Fall 2011 online class begins October 3 and ends December 10. The class will study the book Franciscan Prayer by Sr. Ilia Delio, O.S.F.
"By examining Saint Francis' doctrine of prayer through the twin lens of Saints Clare and Bonaventure, this book provides us with a long overdue spiritual and theological synthesis which will be treasured by all who love the Franciscan tradition. A significant contribution, beautifully presented." -Lawrence S. Cunningham
To sign-up, e-mail Francesca Wigle, TSSF (fwigle@gmail.com) or Chris Hickman, SFO (hickmcm@hotmail.com) for access information. All are invited and there is no cost to participate.
St. Francis Pledge The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change offers the St. Francis Pledge and other resources to feature in preparation for and celebration of the Feast of St. Francis on Oct. 4.  NEW resources include:
· Friending Planet Earth: Helping Youth Understand Solidarity and Sustainability in Light of Climate Change, a six-session program for high school youth ministry
· Sustainability and Catholic Higher Education: A Toolkit for Mission Integration, developed in collaboration with the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities
· Catholic Parish and School Planning Guide to Take the St. Francis Pledge
· A revised JustMatters module on care for creation in collaboration with JustFaith Ministries
· The announcement of the St. Francis Pledge Award for elementary and secondary schools sponsored by the National Council of Catholic Women. Please join with us to help promote the St. Francis Pledge as part of what it means to Care for Creation and Care for the Poor: two values by which St. Francis lived and through which his example continues to inspire millions around the world.
Learn more by going to the Catholic Climate Covenant: St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor website.
St. Francis Day in a Box 2011
This year, the Humane Society of the U.S. partners with St. Anthony Messenger press to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with a box full of books, DVDs, and an audio book of Murray Bodo, OFM's Francis: The Journey and the Dream.
You can check out the resources and order a box online.
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Take a Survey to Share Your Views on Climate Change
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Father in heaven, Creator of all,
look down upon your people in their moments of need,
for you alone are the source of our peace.
Bring us to the dignity which distinguishes the poor in spirit
and show us how great is the call to serve,
that we may share in the peace of Christ
who offered his life in the service of all.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[Alternative Opening Prayer for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time]
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Mission Statement
Inspired by the Gospel of Jesus, and the example of saints Francis and Clare, the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) is a collective Franciscan voice seeking to transform U.S. public policy related to peacemaking, care for creation, poverty, and human rights. |
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