"A Christian who does not protect creation, is a Christian who does not care about the work of God."
~Pope Francis
|
| | Catholic Climate Covenant |
|
|
Catholic Commitment to the Environment
|
Encyclical on Climate Change
The encyclical won't be released until June or July. But Cardinal Peter Turkson gave a talk last week in Ireland that Vatican observers consider an outline of what Francis will say. Cardinal Turkson is head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He acknowledged disagreement over the causes of global warming, but said it's not contested that the planet is getting warmer. The cardinal said the pope believes Christians have a duty rooted in "ancient biblical teaching" to curb climate change. Read more.
The pope is emphasizing Roman Catholic social teaching that links protecting life with fighting global inequality and preserving the environment, Cardinal Turkson said. Discover more.
Read the transcript of Cardinal Turkson's Tr�caire 2015 Lenten Lecture
Respect for God's creation
The Environmental Justice Program (EJP), a program of the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace & Human Development, educates and motivates Catholics to a deeper reverence and respect for God's creation, and encourages Catholics to address environmental problems, especially as they affect poor and vulnerable people.
|
| | Catholic Climate Covenant - Who's Under Your Carbon Footprint? |
The impact of climate change falls heaviest on the world's poor. As Catholics, our faith demands prudent action. Our cars and power plants, more energy consumption and waste-we're leaving a bigger carbon footprint. Scientists tell us that means more climate change. Here and around the world, it is the poor who will be hit hardest. Discover more. Catholic Social Teaching and Ecology Respect for human life means respecting all of God's creation. We must re-engage with our environment and take responsibility for it; live sustainably, live so that there are enough resources for everyone. Learn more. Young adults, interfaith and climate change: now that is a combination!
A group of young people representing different religions have joined together as the first interfaith lobby of Parliament calling for action to be taken on the changing climate. Find out more. St Peter's Basilica goes dark for Earth Hour The lights went out on St Peter's Basilica for one hour on March 28, joining once again the international 'Earth Hour' effort to raise awareness about climate change. Discover more.
|
The Conforti Institute has been kept busy during this past Lenten season. We have been helping with Services of Reconciliation in local Catholic schools, helping with Lenten masses in parishes and schools as well as taking time for Lenten reflection for ourselves. Our work in some of the local prisons has become more of a focus during this Lenten season and it is an area that we are developing in the coming year; with Jim, John and Hugh involved in the Prison Spirituality programme.
For Easter, Paddy and Jim joined thousands of pilgrims to Lourdes as part of the HCPT Easter Pilgrimage. For more information about the week in Lourdes please visit there website.
We were also fortune to have Fr Cyril Axelrod staying with us for a few days. Fr Cyril is both deaf and blind and has an extraordinary story to tell. This was covered in the local Catholic news.
|
The Wisconsin Catholic Youth Rally 2015, was an amazing opportunity for young people to reflect on the vocation that each and every one has; first to be followers of Jesus; second to fulfill the vocation that each one is called to live. "To live" was the overall theme of the day. We were reminded of the mission of Jesus who says: "I came so that they may have life, and have it more abundantly" - John 10:10, through the testimonies of Paul George, and Tammy Evevard, who shared their own wisdom as a way to promote among the young a life committed to purity, openness, and generosity. The day was filled with talks, table sharing, the sacrament of reconciliation, adoration and the sacrament of the Eucharist. In a special manner the organizer called the youth to recognize the consecrated people (priest and religious) present in their mist and offer a blessing for those who were considering to serve their brothers and sisters through the ministry of the Church. It was a blessed day the one we spent together! I accompanied the youth from the parishes of St. Rita, St Paul the Apostle, and St. Patrick, in Racine. It was a great opportunity to pray, rejoice and build community!
~ Fr. Alex Rodriguez Gomez SX
 PAX CHRISTI Massachusetts The trial of accused Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev brought back memories of 1997 when the return of the death penalty to Massachusetts was feared imminent. Read Massachusetts' Pax Christ's Reflection here and its newsletter here.
|
The Urgency of Catholic Interfaith Advocacy
On March 30, 2015, the Xaverian Missionaries throughout the world, along with many lay people who collaborate with us globally, celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of St. Guido Conforti, founder of the Xaverian Missionaries in 1895. His legacy lives on today in the desire of the Church to reach beyond the borders of faith and culture to share the hope, mercy, and compassion of Jesus Christ. Discover more.
BETTER TOGETHER DAY|
| | 4.14 is Better Together Day |
Research shows that just having one friend of a different religious or non-religious background can build understanding and combat ignorance. That's why, on April 14th, we want you talk to an actual human of another religious or non-religious background about the values you both share.
Learn more.
|
Year of Mercy
Francis announces new global jubilee, the Holy Year of Mercy--
symbolically calling on the entire global Roman Catholic Church to take up his papacy's central message of compassion and pardon...Discover more. Here is a reflection in the year of Mercy by Donald Dorr.
Read the Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy here.
|
|
Building a Culture of Peace
|
Campaign Nonviolence is a long-term movement to mainstream nonviolence and build a culture of peace in three interrelated ways: practicing nonviolence toward ourselves, toward all others, and toward the world by working to abolish war, end poverty, reverse the climate crisis, and challenge all violence. Check it out.
PEACE WORKS!
How do you take a stand and begin to change the world? Well maybe not the entire world, but perhaps the place where you live. At the very least your might change the minds of your friends and colleagues just because you brought up your concern. Who knows, maybe hundreds, thousands, and even the lives of tens of thousands of people may be different because of your deciding to do something.
The Peace Jam Foundation is a global leader in developing young leaders and engaging adults and youth in their local and global communities.
|
400th anniversary of St John Ogilvie, SJ martyred in Glasgow.
John Ogilvie was a convert to the faith from Banffshire. Educated in mainland Europe, he was ordained a Jesuit priest and returned to Scotland despite it being illegal to promote Catholicism. He preached in secret and celebrated Mass in people's homes but was arrested after a year. Learn more.
|
Go Green With SCIAF
|
| | Climate Change in Zambia and Malawi |
In Africa, Asia and Latin America, climate change is pushing people into poverty. But it doesn't have to be this way. Here in the UK, we produce 79 times more Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions per head than people in Malawi. We all have a part to play to live in ways that don't hurt God's creation and His people. Together we can make a big difference. Find out how.
|
|
|
Climate change could affect so many of the things we care about, from our families to our food to our futures.
But so often what we hear about climate change sounds remote and technical. We've got to get people more inspired and involved. This year especially as world leaders are meeting to make some big decisions.
That's why we're asking children and young people around the UK to get creative. Make a short film. Show everyone why fighting climate change matters. Find out more.
|
|
Earth Day Films
This stunning film takes you on a hypnotic journey, reaching to the past to understand the origins of the catastrophic environmental transitions we now face. Over two years, director Matt Anderson traveled 16,000 miles to document firsthand our modern industrial world and the environmental destruction in its wake. In the process, he discovered exciting strategies to help humanity transcend the coming ecological and psychological crisis. Discover more.
|
|
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 Winter 2015 edition of the Xaverian Mission Newsletter is available online.
This issue highlights the JOY of Consecrated Life and excerpts Pope Francis' Letter. It covers stories on South Sudan and Being Catholic in a Diverse World. There are excerpts from St. Guido's Testament on Consecrated Life.
 FOUNDER of the XAVERIAN MISSIONARIES Saint Guido Maria Conforti Our "missionary to the world" became a saint on World Mission Sunday, October 23, 2011.
 FOUNDER of the XAVERIAN MISSIONARY SISTERS OF MARY |
|
|
|
|
