Pope Benedict's World Peace Day Message for 2010

Go to the Vatican website to read Pope Benedict's World Peace Day message, "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation." Also, remember that resources for reflection can be found on the website of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change at www.catholicsandclimatechange.org

Christmas 2009

Amidst the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, let's take a moment to remember the Prince of Peace:



E-mail subscribers: If you do not see a video clip above, please click here to view "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

Jubilee Act

The Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 4405) was introduced in the House of Representatives on December 16. Go to the Jubilee USA website to send messages to your representative, asking him or her to sponsor the Jubilee Act.

Pax Christi USA Announces Completion of the People's Peace Initiative

You may recall that this initiative was begun in 2003, the 20th anniversary of the US Bishops' Peace Pastoral and the 40th anniversary of Pope John XXIII's "Pacem in Terris." The project is now complete in two languages, English and Spanish, and suitable for use by different
kinds of groups. Go to www.paxchristiusa.org for more information.

Peace in Afghanistan

Go to www.fcnl.org to read and sign a petition by FCNL (Friends Committee for National Legislation) toward working for peace in Afghanistan

Advent Reflection from Pax Christi

While reminding you that SCC Advent reflections can still be found on the Director's Message page of www.quellenspiritualcenter.org let's look at Megan McKenna's Pax Christi reflection for today:


Monday, December 21, 2009
Song of Solomon 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18a ~ Luke 1:39-45

What is the quality of our waiting: Is it intense, passionate, on edge, concentrated? Do we wait for the coming of the Word made flesh into the world and into our own flesh like a lover waits? What are we expecting this Word-of-God-made-flesh to say to us? For Christians in the northern hemisphere, it is now the heart of winter; in the southern climes, it is beginning to turn cooler and the rains are coming. We read in the Song of Solomon that when those who seek each other meet, it is the fullness and harvest of spring and summer and the lushness of blossom. Are we watching and listening for Love to appear in our midst, seize hold of us, and bring the world back to life?

There is an anonymous saying: "That which you are seeking is always seeking you." God is always seeking us. Do we move with haste and the freedom of hope? Or do we just learn to stop stock still and look? God is everywhere. There is no place where God is not. Now, we are being taught to look for the presence of God in every human being. Are we learning to see the shining presence of holiness and love hidden and seeping out in the face of everyone?

We hear the same gospel as yesterday-did we catch the revelation? We are all blessed. We have all heard the Word of God that has been proclaimed to us. We have all believed in it-to one degree or another. God's word will be fulfilled in us, as it was in Elizabeth and Mary. Because of the moment of the Incarnation that continues through time and history, we are always being met by the Spirit of God. Irénée Guilane Dioh, an African writer, says, "Every word and every being come knocking at your door, bringing you their mystery. If you open to them, they will flood you with their riches."

For more resources for prayer, study and action this Advent season, click here.

Another request from NETWORK

From NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby:

Buying Fair Trade Gifts?

Support a Framework for Fair Trade -- Get your Senator on board with the TRADE Act.

NETWORK activists like you have consistently opposed unfair trade agreements. You've helped your members of Congress understand how our trade policies hurt poor and vulnerable communities in the U.S. and in the developing world. Now we have a key opportunity to help Congress map a fair way forward on trade!

Last week, Sen. Sherrod Brown introduced the Senate version of the 2009 TRADE Act (S. 2821). The TRADE Act is an excellent vehicle for re-evaluating U.S. trade policy and re-shaping it so that it serves the common good in stable jobs, environmental protections, public health, and poverty reduction. It sets standards for what must and must not be included in future trade agreements, and requires a comprehensive review of existing trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA that are failing to serve the most vulnerable in the U.S. and our trading partners.

Please email your Senator and urge him or her to co-sponsor this bill. The more co-sponsors the TRADE Act has, the greater momentum we will gain in Congress for a new trade agenda.

You can send an e-mail via: http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=14462976&type=CO