INSTRUMENTS OF PEACE!

"We cannot remain passive

when faced with innumerable conflicts and wars,

declared and undeclared, that nowadays afflict

the human family and ruin

the lives of the youngest and of the elderly,

poisoning long-standing relationships of co-existence

betweeen different ethnic groups and religions."

~ Pope Francis

In his Message for World Mission Day 2014 Pope Francis reminds us that we all can bring Christ and His message to a wounded world by our willingness to embody the joy and compassion of his Good News.

Xaverian Family News

Distributing food to quarantined families

Ebola Emergency in Sierra Leone

"...The situation may seem to be "out of control." However there are efforts at national level to limit and prohibit travel to riskier areas and train personnel to track possible cases of contagion and keep them under observation. But the situation caused by the Ebola epidemic remains very critical. Anxiety and tension are everywhere. More concrete help is needed, especially for families in quarantine. Churches are collecting cash for food, which is distributed to families in need...." Learn more.

Letter from the Missionary Sisters of Mary General Directorate to the Sisters

"...Olga, Bernadette and Lucy have participated in the passion of the Lord Jesus. They are for us missionaries living icons that put their trust in the Lord...in a constant effort to get out of themselves to accept and go toward the 'other,' abundant with spirit and good heart.

We know that you, too, as we have received many testimonies of solidarity. Pope Francis was 'struck by the tragic death' of our sisters and expressed the hope 'that the blood shed becomes the seed of hope for building an authentic fraternity among peoples.' We assured of his prayers for these generous witnesses of the Gospel..." Read more.

Conforti Update

Conforti Anti Sectarian Project

Programme of events in Collaboration with the Motherwell Action Group & The Presbytery of Hamilton

Community Conversation @ Conforti

Thursday 16th Oct

7.00pm - 9.30pm

Group of participants involved in cross community dialogue share their experiences. There will be a light buffet. For more information on this free event please contact: Geraldine Hill or Helen Martin at the Conforti Institute. Geraldine@confortiinstitute.org 01236/607120 or 01236/ 70790001236 707900

Download the pdf of all the 2014-2015 events.

Interfaith Dialogue

We are all in the same boat: Interfaith Action @the People's Climate March

See more pics from Interfaith Action here.

In his Reflection on St. Francis, Fr. Joseph Nangle, O.F.M., seeks to show us a pro-active Francis concerned with real issues of peace. Francis went to the Middle East during the Fifth Crusade and actively engaged the Sultan who he refused to categorize and see as an "enemy." In our polarized age, Francis is a model of active peacemaking and of encounter with the "other."

Tying both the environment and peace together, this Litany for the Feast of St. Francis focuses on areas of our global community where the resources of the earth have become a cause of violence and source of conflict; where greed and economic incentives have led to loss of human life and destruction of the land. We lift up the people in these places and pray for healing of the earth and peace that restores communities.

TheGYM Experience

A Deeper Commitment to Mission

It is October. Traditionally one large Catholic theme during this month is MISSION. We celebrate MISSION during this month because we are all engaged in MISSION by virtue of our Baptism in one way or another. We each are infused with the grace and authority to go beyond ourselves in big and small ways to witness the person of Jesus Christ, live His message and serve others near and far... Read the the rest of Fr. Rocco's Reflection.

SYNOD on the FAMILY

Do not be afraid to offend me, Pope tells synod participants

Pope Francis, who opened the Extraordinary Synod on the Family yesterday with Mass in St Peter's Basilica, has urged participants to speak their minds about related contentious issues without fear of offending him. "You have to say what you feel the Lord tells you to say, without concerns of human respect and without fear," the Pope instructed the bishops at the start of their meeting. Read more. And still more.

The Church needs leaders that are listening to their people, speaking honestly, seeking consensus and discerning new ways of supporting family life. Those were the guidelines that emerged from a press conference held at the conclusion of the morning session by four of the key players in the Synod of Bishops. They were Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, French Cardinal Andr� Vingt-Troi, Italian Archbishop Bruno Forte and Mexican Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes. Read more.

Find the full text of the Opening Mass here.

The Francis Chronicles

Francis on Immigration

Francis called for "a universal network of cooperation", saying organizations around the world were making "laudable" efforts but that more decisive action was needed to ensure humane conditions for migrants. Read more.

CAFOD steps in to ease the desperate plight of refugees

As fighting between Kurdish forces and the group known as Islamic State intensifies, CAFOD is providing aid to thousands of refugees who have fled into Turkey.

The United Nations estimates that a staggering 140,000 people - more than 15,000 per day - have crossed from Syria into Turkey since 19th September. As fighting continues around the town of Kobane, they warn that a total of 400,000 people could seek refuge in Turkey over the coming days. Learn more.

CAFOD is the official overseas development and relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

World Food Day

A guide to help us focus on the problem of hunger in the world and to help us take part in World Food Day through education, advocacy, and prayer.

This prayer service provides facts on the current state of hunger in the world as well as helps us reflect on the Scriptural basis of the call to feed those who are hungry. It offers participants an opportunity to remember those who are hungry today and to commit to working to justice for those who are without food in a world where there is abundance.

Pope Francis calls on Catholics to "raise a voice for the hungry."

Make Holy All the Things...

What if we all just helped each other a little bit more?

Check out more at ChurchPop.

MOBILE APP

The Xaverian Missionaries have a new Mobile App

available on Apple, Android & Amazon. Now you can take us with you wherever you go. Remember: We are ALWAYS here for you!

The summer 2014 edition of the Xaverian Mission Newsletter is available online.

Experience the magic of summer nights at the Franklin Mission Festival. Travel to the Holy Land with Pope Francis and on a bus in Thailand with Xaverian Missionary Sister Teresa Bello. Celebrate with the sisters in Worcester MA and at a grand wedding feast in Sierra Leone with Fr. Luigi Brioni SX .

Read it here.