News from Maryknoll Northwest
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Greetings!
Greetings!
"Are you open to the possibility that your life may change?" When Jack Jezreel developed the initial JustFaith program for his parish in 1989, he wrote this question on the flyer. What started with a group of 13 interested Catholics soon spread like wildfire to churches across the country - Catholic and otherwise.
The ministry of JustFaith is rooted in the love of Christ, which, as Jack notes, is more than a love without conditions, but is also a love without exceptions. Not only are we called to love our friends, family, neighbors, and fellow citizens, but all people. We are commanded to love them, be they rich, poor, immigrants, thieves, Muslims, Christians, liberals, conservatives, murderers, ill, homeless - whether they burden us, hate us, anger us, confuse us, frighten us, or even harm and kill us. We are commanded to love without condition or exception.
As we enter another Lenten season, Jack Jezreel's question is one that we should ask ourselves. Are we open to our lives to changing through Christ? As we prepare for the sacrifice of his death and the promise of his resurrection, are we willing to follow him in the path of love without exception? Are we prepared to be guided by this love towards God's other commandments - that we be peacemakers; that we hunger for justice; that we stand up for human dignity and oppose the oppression, violence, and hatred that diminishes it?
It is fitting that, while we reflect during Lent upon the life of Christ and His death on the cross, we also this month commemorate the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero. As one of the great modern examples of Christian witness and sacrifice, Romero's story demonstrates how we often react in fear to a love as uncompromising and perfect as God's. But, as always, we realize that Christ's suffering ultimately leads to triumph over death. And, in growing in genuine love, especially for the poor and vulnerable, we grow closer to God.
Peace,
Kevin Foy and the Maryknoll Team
kfoy@maryknoll.org
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Mission Forum Notices
March Mission Forum
In commemoration of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero, and in the spirit of Lenten reflection, our March Mission Forum will include a viewing and discussion of the film, The Narrow Path: Walking Toward Peace and Nonviolence with John Dear, SJ. View the official announcement here. Date: March 2nd, 7pm.
If you are not receiving email announcements for our Seattle/Northwest Mission Forum, you can register online here.
April Mission Forum
Because the first Friday of April falls on Good Friday this year, we will have our April Mission Forum on Friday, April 13th. Recipients of our Seattle/Northwest Mission Forum email list will receive an official announcement in late March or early April.
February Mission Forum
Thank you to Fr. Jack Shrum and Sr. Judy Desmarais for an excellent presentation on work being done in Haiti. To read about the work that Maryknoll is also doing in Haiti, please click here.
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Maryknoll Affiliates
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Seattle Affiliates Roger and Kitty Schiltz in Tanzania.
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The Maryknoll Affiliates are a group of people committed to Christian values of love and justice, and who support Maryknoll in answering the mission call.
Many Maryknoll Affiliates also participate regularly in short-term mission opportunities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
If you are interested in learning more about your nearest Affiliate chapter, please click here.
The Maryknoll Affiliates is an excellent place for JustFaith graduates to continue their journey of embracing God's boundless love.
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Mission Education Training Program
April 27th-29th
Grow in love, faith, and mission!
With baptism, we are all called to participate in the mission of Jesus. But how many Catholics are aware of this and formed for mission, whether at home or around the world?
One of the first things Jesus did with his disciples was to send them out in pairs to do what he did. To do mission. Jesus passed this mission on to his disciples and for almost two thousand years the mission has passed down from generation to generation.
We are excited to offer a Mission Education Training Session for teachers*, principals*, DREs, lay ecclesial ministers, catechists, deacons and priests. Incorporate a stronger sense of mission into your ministerial identity and spirituality. Develop skills and resources to integrate mission into your ministry and programs. Help your students and parishioners come alive in their faith as you animate and support them in their calling to take part in the mission of Jesus.
(*Now certified for clock hours by the Catholic Schools Department of the Archdiocese of Seattle)
Four two-hour sessions over the course of the weekend at our Maryknoll Mission House in Seattle.
For more information and registration, click here.
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April Immersion Opportunity
Immersion to Guatemala
The Maryknoll Mission Center in New Orleans, LA., is offering an immersion program in the pilgrimage town of Esquipulas, Guatemala, from April 17th-25th, 2012.
This program is understood as a "mission education and solidarity program," with a strong emphasis on learning, analysis, on-going solidarity, and "being with" rather than "doing for"...However, there will be opportunities for participants "to do" - viz. home visits, programs in a rural school and in the streets of a couple of aldeas, and some teaching of English.
Interested adult Catholics are strongly encouraged to apply! For more information, click here.
(I am also happy to note that our Teacher Immersion to Guatemala this summer is filled almost to capacity!)
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Justice Walking
JustFaith Ministries
Justice Walking (J-Walking) is a three to six month program designed to help college and older high school students engage in a spiritual journey and exploration of the radical call of the Gospel.
J-Walking includes 12 biweekly sessions, contemplative dialogue on the signs of our times, daylong opening and closing retreats, a weekend justice-immersion pilgrimage, monthly meetings located at a community service agency, maintaining a prayer journal, reading and reflecting on two books together, public presentations, and practicing six lifestyle adjustments that apply Gospel teachings to life choices.
For more information or to bring Justice Walking to your youth group or high school, click here.
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Catholic African Connections Conference
Save the Date!
The annual Catholic African Connections Conference in the Archdiocese of Seattle will occur on Saturday, April 21, from 8:00am-3:00pm at St. Bridget Parish in Seattle.
This is a free annual event for those involved in or thinking about beginning a parish or faith partnership beyond our borders.
http://www.catholicafricanconnections.org/
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Speakers and Parish Missions
 
The local Maryknoll team is available for presentations and reflections with schools, parishes, faith formation groups, as well as for Parish Missions. Read more about us:
Kevin Foy is a former Catholic educator with experience in low-income areas across the United States. Kevin is a resource and education specialist for Maryknoll in the Northwest.
Fr. Tom Marti is a Maryknoll priest with many years experience in the Philippines. Fr. Tom is available to speak on many issues relating to mission, justice, and peace.
Fr. Tom is also available to offer parish missions on the theme of Mission - the Mission of Jesus, the Mission of the Church, the Mission of all the baptized. Click here to learn more.
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Maryknoll Mission House
958 16th Avenue E
Seattle, WA 98112
P: (206) 322-8831
F: (206) 324-6909
E: seattle@maryknoll.org
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Reflection
The Force of Peace
"Moses Killed an Eqyptian;
Elijah put to the sword the prophets who did not adore the true God;
Peter drew his sword against Malchus to defend Christ;
James and John begged Christ to rain fire on a town that would not give him lodging.
But I say...[that] Christians are peacemakers
not because they cannot fight,
but because they prefer the force of peace.
And so I invite you,
let us place all that energy that God has given our Salvadoran people,
like a torrent,
not at the service of bloodshed, of violence...
[but] at the service of building true justice..."
-Archbishop Oscar Romero, 1978
In this time of repentance, we reflect upon the violence and injustice of our world. Nearly one half of all Americans are now considered low-income. Famine, water shortages, and war effect people all over the world. At a time when it is all too easy to fall into the trappings of political, ideological, and religious divisions, how can we instead to come together as one true human family? How can we renounce violence in word, thought, and deed, and take to heart the example of the Prince of Peace?
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MARYKNOLL Magazine and REVISTA now online
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Get additional copies of the magazines for each of your students along with a poster and study guide. FREE. Check out our Classroom Program.
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Mission Education & Promotion
Western Region
Seattle/Northwest
958 16th Ave E
Seattle, WA 98112
Regional Center
16642 Ashland Ave.
San Lorenzo, California 94580
General Hours
Mon-Fri 9 am to 4 pm
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