Please do not forward this email using your email program's forward feature.
If you do, you risk being inadvertently unsubscribed from our mailing list. Instead, use this link:
Forward to a Friend
|
December 12, 2011
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
|
|
|
|
|
Dwelling Among Us
 Raise your hand, all those for whom Advent is your favorite liturgical season! Many of us love this hushed season while our culture becomes more frenetic in its clamor to shop, spend, decorate, party. We may have a foot in both worlds, yet yearn for more time to be quiet, to listen and wait in hopeful anticipation. We want more time to reflect on the rich imagery that Advent offers.
The readings the Fourth (and last) Sunday of Advent offer two images of a dwelling place for God. David, with good intention, wants to do a "home improvement" for the "ark of God," building a house of cedar to replace the tent, but God sees otherwise (cf. 2 Sm 7:5). It is among the people that God will establish a house and kingdom that "shall endure forever" (2 Sm 7:13). And when the time comes, the Word made Flesh seeks and finds a dwelling in the womb of a young Jewish girl (cf. Lk 1:26-38). Over and over the scriptures remind us that God's ways are not our ways.
The human way often runs counter to God's ways: In a recent newspaper story, a picture of hundreds of people standing in line with umbrellas all through a rainy, chilly night, hoping to be placed on a waiting list for a low-rent apartment; a TV account of an increasing number of children living in cars. These are realities in the most prosperous country in the world. These are not God's ways.
God longs to make a dwelling among us and within us. For a breathless moment, God waits for Mary's "yes" before becoming one of us and finding a home in her womb. Aren't we all home-seekers? Men and women waiting all night in the rain, children sleeping in cars, undocumented immigrants, those of us who live comfortably-all yearn for a place where we are accepted, loved, wanted. Even God desires to find a home in and among us. Even God waits for our "yes".
Perhaps God is asking you to reach out to those without homes this week. You can say "yes"! Identify a local homeless shelter and volunteer time or give a donation. Search online to find the 60 Minutes segment on "Living in Cars: Homeless Children in Florida." Read the Circle of Protection Statement to address poverty and the federal budget, which the USCCB, FAN and many other Christian organizations have signed. If there is an Occupy group in your town or city, make a visit and ask people why they intend to spend Christmas in a tent in public space. There are now a few Occupy Home groups standing vigil outside a neighbor's home, defending the family against eviction.
Sr. Marie Lucey, OSF
FAN Director of Advocacy and Member Outreach
|
|
The Virgin of Guadalupe and the Call to Environmental Justice
In a reflection on the FAN blog, Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM integrates his experiences, Scripture, and Church teaching to share Our Lady of Gualalupe's invitation to a better understanding of our human vocation.
In two parts, Fr. Jacek explores the meaning of Our Lady of Guadalupe's appearance and image and offers Mary's Magnificat as a model for environmental justice. |
Stopping Human Trafficking: Learn About the 'Protected Innocence Initiative'
 Shared Hope International works to prevent trafficking, rescue victims of trafficking and bring justice to the perpetrators has published their Protected Innocence Initiative, which rates each state in the United States in its prevention of human trafficking.
Visit their website to see how your state rates.
|
|
New Canticle Campus Class Offerings for Winter 2012
 Chris Hickman, SFO and Francesca Wigle, TSSF are pleased to announce that Canticle Campus will be offering two classes beginning January 15, 2012. The 10-week classes will be based on two books by Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF:
Clare of Assisi, A Heart Full of Love
"Although this is a small book on the spirituality of a medieval woman from a glorious past, it is also a book about Christian life today. Clare's decisive emphasis on the person of Jesus Christ is an emphasis on the human person as well, what we are and what we are called to be." - From the Introduction.
Franciscan Prayer
"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. (Published by St. Anthony Messenger Press)
|
Mercury and Toxic Air Pollution Impacts Unborn Children:
A Public Health and Moral Perspective
On Nov. 30, FAN staff Sr. Marie Lucey, OSF and Fr. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM joined the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals for a Senate briefing on the moral and public health impacts of mercury on unborn and young children.
Read the letter FAN submitted to the EPA on this issue and Bishop Stephen Blaire's keynote address on "Good Sense, Good Air.
|
| Give Thanks to God on Your Account
If you are interested in practical steps to shift your family or community finances towards banking and investments consistent with Franciscan Values, check out the following resources from Green America:
|
Time for Safe Chemicals
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee met on November 17 for a hearing on the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011. Watch the webcast of the hearing online. There is still time to contact your Senators to encourage support of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S. 847). Please call the Capitol Switchboard at 1-888-784-0527 to reach your Senators. You can also send an e-mail through FAN's Capwiz system.
|
A Franciscan Cosmology Awaits Your Retrieval
If you missed Br. Keith Warner, OFM's webinar on "Spirituality + Science = Care for Creation, Retrieving a Franciscan Cosmology for Climate Conservation" last week or want to share it with others, you can access a recording online. You can also access the visual component of the presentation on FAN's homepage or Br. Keith's Santa Clara University website. Read questions from webinar participants and Br. Keith's response on FAN's blog.
|
|
O God, Father of mercies,
who placed your people under the singular protection
of your Son's most holy Mother,
grant that all who invoke the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe,
may seek with ever more lively faith
the progress of peoples in the ways of justice and of peace.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
(Prayer for the Memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe)
|
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent)
|
|
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. |
Did someone forward this message to you? if you like what you see, click below to join our mailing list and have our updates delivered directly to your inbox.
|
|
SHARE FAN ON YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES!
      |
|
|
