Greetings!
As we prepare for new life in the resurrection of Jesus, how do we bring this Good News to a world so shattered by death and destruction? We witness the magnitude of global unrest--from peoples dying for their right to speak, to those evicted from their homeland so others may gain from their resources--and we question our ability to bring the hope of the Easter story to our neighbors near and far. But the stories of those crucified for speaking out, in fact, embolden us to share Christ's message and act for justice in this broken world. Drought, famine, increasingly destructive tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, record-breaking temperatures--all tell us that we must act with compassion and urgently on the issue of climate change if we are to be peacemakers. Pope Benedict XVI said: I am increasingly convinced that the root of the environmental crisis is a crisis of the spirit, a crisis of personal holiness that must lead to concern for one another and to stir a response in love and good works. If we take the time--truly take the time--to nurture our own holiness, we will undoubtedly see that our own actions have consequences for other people and for the planet as a whole. If we take the time to listen to our hearts, we will easily understand how environmental degradation and climate change compounds our duty to care for the most vulnerable. Environmental degradation makes the life of the poor especially unbearable. (August 27, 2006) During our Lenten journey, we have had the opportunity to nurture our relationship with God and with our neighbors in anticipation of the incredible gift of the Resurrection. As Easter people, we are called to renew our commitment to caring for God's creation by praying for the resolve to curb our consumption; by learning more about policies that fail to protect our neighbors from environmental degradation, and by speaking out for change. In peace, Trudi Jenny and Lori Nemenz on behalf of the Global Restoration Committee, Pax Christi USA | 
