SEPTEMBER  2013   

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Dear Friars and Friends,

 

We all promote JUSTICE. Politically we have seen in the "signs of the times" a few victories (e.g. delaying a bombing response in Syria), many on-going struggles (think of climate change; the tenuous economy, food stamp cuts, etc.), and oddly, issues put-on-hold that we are passionate about (like immigration reform and strict gun control).

 

We all promote JUSTICE. In our Church, a Pope takes inspiration from the same source we do--Francis--and speaks out often for awareness of human rights, peace between countries, peace within countries, and fairness throughout our Church structures. Our ESC Franciscan Provincials publicly make statements promoting nonviolence to our government leaders. And ministries we friars are involved in speak out for Justice, for Peace, and for the Integrity of Creation.

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Pictured on the right are two Franciscan Friars at the 689th Weekly Vigil in Tucson, Arizona--remembering our migrant sisters and brothers who have died along the U.S.-Mexico border in search of work. Since October 1, 2012, more than 129 bodies of migrants have been found just in the Tucson sector of the 2000 mile border. JPIC intern Zeno Im OFM [right] joins with a fellow formation friar Sam Nasada OFM [second from right].    

 

 

 

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 St. Barbara formation friar Philip Polk OFM [left] is  pointing out the site of Old San Carlos, the original  Bureau of Indian Affairs settlement on the  reservation, beside  the Gila and San Carlos Rivers  in Arizona. After the  San Carlos reservation was  established in December of 1872, the U.S.  government proceeded  to close various Apache  reservations, in violation of  the treaties establishing  them, and compel their tribal  inhabitants to relocate  to San Carlos. See more at www.sadredearth.com

 

Zeno, a friar in formation from the St. Barbara Province, spent 5 weeks this summer as an intern with me. I asked him to comment on his experience:

"This summer, I learned there are really good people out there who try to change the world. I learned there is real poverty in the U.S... I always thought that East L.A. or East Oakland was the poorest area in the U.S. But I was shocked when seeing the city of South Tucson. I had the same feeling when I was on the San Carlos Apache reservation where we visited Philip's grandmother's house. My family was always poor in Korea and also in the U.S.--but the poverty in South Tucson and the reservation was real... Moreover, I had the opportunity to think about why this is happening... And I realized how important it is to work for justice."

 

Please check out the noteworthy issues presented in the boxes below.

   

..........peace..........Mark

 

 

 

Check out Franciscans for Justice on Facebook 


 

 

 

Helpful and Easy Additions to Your Feast of St. Francis Plans
 
 
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As your ministry prepares to celebrate the 2013 Feast of St. Francis (Oct. 4), we want to remind you about resources available from the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change that are easy, last minute additions to your efforts if you haven't yet incorporated them.  Promoting these materials is another simple way to make clear Francis' commitment to creation care.  

 

For more information, visit the Catholic Climate Covenant website. 


 
 Immigration Reform    
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"The Strengthen And Fortify Enforcement Act ("SAFE Act"), H.R. 2278 would encourage racial profiling, eliminate the Administration's protection of DREAMers, expand immigration detention, criminalize overstaying a visa, and harm both community safety and vulnerable populations. Modeled after Arizona's SB1070, this bill would also encourage racial profiling, mandating that local police investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest and detain everyone who they suspect to be undocumented or deportable." - Interfaith Immigration Coalition

  

"This is a very dangerous bill that would hurt our communities. All Members of Congress need to hear from people of faith that we OPPOSE the so-called "SAFE" Act, and that we urge them to instead promote legislation that would create a pathway to citizenshipand reunite families." - Fast Action for Immigration Reform

  

Call 1-866-940-2439 to be connected with your Congressional Representative!  

 

Click here to read the religious leaders' letter addressed to Speaker Boehner opposing the SAFE Act. We signed this. 

  

Visit the Interfaith Immigration Coalition website for more information!

 

  

It's never too late to join in the fast!

 

 40 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Advocacy for Immigration Reform

September 9 to October 18, 2013

For more information about the 40 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Advocacy, visit our website.
 

Pope Called for Prayer & Fasting on September 7 

 

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Many of our places heeded Pope Francis's call for a prayerful intervention to the crisis in Syria. (We have OFM friars living in Syria.) Pictured is the evening prayer organized at St. Francis Parish, Sacramento CA. For a script of that prayer service which can be adapted if you ever need a prayer for peace, visit
our website resources.
 


School of the Americas 
 

Celebremos la Resistencia!

For more information, visit the School of the Americas Watch website.  

 

 

National Farm Worker Ministry

Over many years, St. Barbara Province supported the efforts of the National Farm Worker Ministry through grants and Board membership. Long time Executive Director Virginia Nesmith has retired.
 nullMark Schroeder OFM (past Board President) took this photo of Virginia with Erik Nicholson, National Vice President of the United Farm Workers, UFW [left];
Baldemar Velasquez, President of Farm Labor Organizing Committee, FLOC [center], and Ramon Ramirez, President of Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, PCUN [right]. There is a new Executive Director.
 
See the National Farm Worker Ministry website for more information.

 

 
MigrantWeek

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Franciscan Action Network is engaged in a long-term effort of grassroots organizing to create political awareness on climate change. A monthly webinar has been established to build the campaign; the webinar is on the first Thursday of every month. Visit Franciscan Action Network for more information.

 

 

 

 

 
Franciscan Renewal Center Celebrates World Peace 
ActionCircle
 

September 20 & 21, Scottsdale AZ

Annual 2-day celebration of World Day of Peace. For registration information, see below. 

 

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2013 Casa Peace Honoree is
David Buer, OFM
 
 
If you are interested, please RSVP for this event by September 18, 2011 to: 
480-948-7460, ext. 157 or www.thecasa.org


JPIC Animation to Iceland (!) 

 

While attending a meeting in Missouri, Mark found the Wish Tree art project at the St. Louis Art Museum. Yoko Ono has invited folks from around the world to write down a wish on a piece of paper, and then attach the wish to the branch of a Japanese maple tree. Specified museums collect the cards and return them to Ono, to be buried, unread, around her Imagine Peace Tower, a 2007 installation in Reykjav�k, Iceland, dedicated to the memory of her late husband John Lennon.

 

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You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us

And the world will be as one

 

 

What did Mark write?

 

What wish would you write?


 

 

JPIC Resources

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lookingahead
Looking Ahead

Christian Life in Evolution:4 Talks that Illuminate Evolutionary Christianity

with Ilia Delio, OSF

Friday, November 1 - Sunday, November 3, 2013

 

Peace Retreat: The Justice Stations of the Cross

with Mark Schroeder OFM

March 14-16, 2014

 

  

 Franciscan Spirituality, "A Pope Named Francis: The Message of St. Francis for the Church Today," with  

Bill Short OFM 

October 4 - 6, 2013

  

Franciscan Giftedness: A Vision of Beauty and Abundance, with Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, CSJ, Ph.D

November 22 - 24, 2013

  

Mission San Luis Rey

Promise, Preparation, Presence & Peace (an Advent Retreat) with Fr. Garrett Galvin, OFM

Friday, November 1-3, 2013

 
Waiting, Conversion, Hope: Preparing for the Way of the Lord (an Advent Retreat) with Fr. Franklin Fong, OFM

Friday, December 13-15, 2013

  

Washington D.C

Ecumenical Advocacy Days Conference: "Jesus Weeps: Resisting Violence, Building Peace."  

 March 21-24, 2014  

linksresourcesLinks/Resources

 

Franciscans for Justice Website 

   




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Franciscans For Justice 

1112  26th St.
Sacramento CA  95816

 

Mark Schroeder, OFM

619.962.0919 - Cell

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