"New Together" is a Public Service Announcement for World Refugee Day 2018. At only 1:15 long, it is a very simple, moving message to help us recommit to our prayers and actions for refugees. (The video is embedded below. Email subscribers who do not see a video below, please click here to view it on YouTube.)
Today, and every day, let us pray for refugees:
Sheltering God,
You were born in flight,
Your parents anxious and given no rest.
The manner of your birth calls me to
Open-heartedness and sensitivity to the strangers in our midst.
Help me not to flee your challenge.
The violence of the present time teaches me fear of the stranger,
Reluctant to reach out to those who are different.
Grace me this day as I seek
To see you in the faces of those uprooted,
Weary, as they seek refuge and peace. Amen.
(Copyright, Education for Justice)
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Fortnight for Freedom/Religious Freedom Week
Remember that the USCCB's "Fortnight for Freedom" campaign runs from June 21-July 4. Prayer resources and reflections are available here. Within the Fortnight is Religious Freedom Week, which begins on June 22 (the Feasts of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher). Resources for Religious Freedom Week are available here.
Saturday, June 16, 2018
On the Call to Holiness in Today's World
We continue reading through Gaudete et Exsultate:
"To be holy does not require a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves" (n. 14).
"Let the grace of your baptism bear fruit in a path of holiness. Let everything be open to God; turn to him in every situation. Do not be dismayed, for the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to do this, and holiness, in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life (cf. Gal 5:22-23)" (n. 15).
"This holiness to which the Lord calls you will grow through small gestures. Here is an example: a woman goes shopping, she meets a neighbor and they begin to speak, and the gossip starts. But she says in her heart: 'No, I will not speak badly of anyone.' This is a step forward in holiness. Later, at home, one of her children wants to talk to her about his hopes and dreams, and even though she is tired, she sits down and listens with patience and love. That is another sacrifice that brings holiness" (n. 16).
"At times, life presents great challenges. Through them, the Lord calls us anew to conversion that can make his grace more evident in our lives. . . . At other times, we need only find a more perfect way of doing what we are already doing. . . . [Quoting Cardinal Francois-Xavier Nguyen van Thuan]: "I will seize the occasions that present themselves every day; I will accomplish ordinary actions in an extraordinary way'" (n. 17).
"I this way, led by God's grace, we shape by many gestures the holiness God has willed for us, not as men and women sufficient unto ourselves but rather 'as good stewards of the manifold grace of God'" (n. 18).
"To be holy does not require a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves" (n. 14).
"Let the grace of your baptism bear fruit in a path of holiness. Let everything be open to God; turn to him in every situation. Do not be dismayed, for the power of the Holy Spirit enables you to do this, and holiness, in the end, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life (cf. Gal 5:22-23)" (n. 15).
"This holiness to which the Lord calls you will grow through small gestures. Here is an example: a woman goes shopping, she meets a neighbor and they begin to speak, and the gossip starts. But she says in her heart: 'No, I will not speak badly of anyone.' This is a step forward in holiness. Later, at home, one of her children wants to talk to her about his hopes and dreams, and even though she is tired, she sits down and listens with patience and love. That is another sacrifice that brings holiness" (n. 16).
"At times, life presents great challenges. Through them, the Lord calls us anew to conversion that can make his grace more evident in our lives. . . . At other times, we need only find a more perfect way of doing what we are already doing. . . . [Quoting Cardinal Francois-Xavier Nguyen van Thuan]: "I will seize the occasions that present themselves every day; I will accomplish ordinary actions in an extraordinary way'" (n. 17).
"I this way, led by God's grace, we shape by many gestures the holiness God has willed for us, not as men and women sufficient unto ourselves but rather 'as good stewards of the manifold grace of God'" (n. 18).
Thursday, June 14, 2018
I was a stranger . . .
While we have been praying for the denuclearization talks in North Korea this week, there may have been a few items that we missed regarding immigration:
- On June 7, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested 114 workers in an Ohio gardening business.
- On June 11, Attorney General Sessions said that immigration judges "generally" cannot consider domestic and gang violence as grounds for seeking asylum in the United States. Some Catholic leaders have denounced this decision.
- With the increase of unaccompanied minors and the increase of children being separated from their parents at the border, NBC reporter Jacob Soboroff visited "Casa Padre," a shelter in Brownsville, Texas for over 1,500 boys ranging from age 10 to 17. His June 3 report can be found here.
- At its June 13-14 spring meeting, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) considered the effects of recent immigration policy and considered sending a delegation to the Mexico border.
Please remain informed and prayerful regarding these and other life issues. Remember the words of Jesus as passed down to us in the Gospel of Matthew: "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me."
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Culture of Individualism
This morning, Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli, of the Diocese of Paterson, NJ, was a guest on Relevant Radio's "Morning Air" program. Click here to listen to Bishop Serratelli's words on the "Culture of Individualism or here to read Bishop Serratelli's column, "The Loss of Freedom in a Culture of Radical Individualism."
Saturday, June 9, 2018
On the Call to Holiness in Today's World
We continue reading through Gaudete et Exsultate:
"'Each in his or her own way' the Council says. We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable. There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts (cf. 1 Cor 12:7) rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them" (n. 11).
"In times when women tended to be most ignored or overlooked, the Holy Spirit raised up saints whose attractiveness produced new spiritual vigor and important reforms in the Church. We can mention Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Saint Bridget, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Therese of Lisieux. But I think too of all those unknown or forgotten women who, each in her own way, sustained and transformed families and communities by the power of their witness" (n. 12).
"'Each in his or her own way' the Council says. We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable. There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts (cf. 1 Cor 12:7) rather than hopelessly trying to imitate something not meant for them" (n. 11).
"In times when women tended to be most ignored or overlooked, the Holy Spirit raised up saints whose attractiveness produced new spiritual vigor and important reforms in the Church. We can mention Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Saint Bridget, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Therese of Lisieux. But I think too of all those unknown or forgotten women who, each in her own way, sustained and transformed families and communities by the power of their witness" (n. 12).
Monday, June 4, 2018
JPIC Newsbrief
Thanks to Sister Joanne for sending us this Newsbrief from the USG-UISG Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. Click here to access the newsletter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)