JPIC Office 2009
Petitions JPIC Office Blog February 13, 2009 Dear Friends, Peace and all good to you! As we face the many
challenges in need of assistance in our generation we raise ourhands
and join our hearts in prayer for God’s continual blessings on
ourselves, our country and our world.
February 13-20 prayers Prayers for Immigration Reform
Prayers for Immigration Reform During the week of February 13th, the Interfaith Immigration Organization invites persons of faith to join in prayer for humane immigration reform. Throughout the liturgies at Our Lady of the Angels prayers will be included for these concerns. Visit this website http://www.interfaithimmigration.org/index.php/section/Events for more information. World Day of Social Justice February 20, 2009 marks the first observation of The World Day of Social Justice following its unanimous adoption by the 192 member states of the United Nations. Within the context of prayerful support, advocates are encouraged to “consolidate further the efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, full employment and decent work, gender equality and access to social well-being and justice for all.” Our Lady of the Angels will be including the prayers in our liturgy for that day. To read more about this day and prayers click here. If none of these focused days for pray works for you please chose another day in February that is more appropriate. We are making adaptations as well at OLA. Ongoing Advocacy Updates With all the advocacy issues being
raised on a daily basis the JPIC Office will be summarizing these
advocacy efforts. The stages of the legislative progress and the
leadership being addressed will be recorded. The most recent update
will be listed to keep you current. Areas addressed include: those
which we have worked on for a long time, the economic recovery and
reinvestment efforts, environmental actions, closing of Guantanamo,
conflicts in Israel/Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan and healthcare
issues. The JPIC Office has been attentive to the latest actions on
these and other issues and will regularly update any actions.return
to top Franciscan Solidarity Experience Franciscan Solidarity Experience in Belem, Para January 17 to February 1, 2009: Forty-four Franciscans from four continents and fourteen countries gathered in Belem, Para in Brazil to pray, to share the situations in our countries, to network and to determine future actions together. Click here to see map of Belem, Para. It was exciting to feel our common bonds in the midst of such diversity. Simultaneous translations kept the dynamics alive as we each heard the messages in our respective languages-- English, Portuguese and Spanish. Indeed the spirit was present amongst us strengthening our bonds of solidarity as Franciscans. Song, music and dance enlivened our days and enhanced the sharing of our diverse cultures. Stories of poverty and environmental destructions were common although the circumstances varied for us. We felt the pain of abject destitution and the consequences of environmental degradation. Franciscans shared advocacy efforts: addressing our governmental concerns, engaging in marches, and creating alternative lifestyle arrangements to envision that another world is possible. Hope was alive. We analyzed our situation in a global context and felt the need to create viable bonds for networking amongst us. In our diversity we found unity to do this. A letter drafted by the participants in the Franciscan Solidarity Experience. World Social Forum in Brazil World Social Forum in Belem, Para, in Brazil January 27 to February 1, 2009. Energized by our days of creating our Franciscan solidarity we were ready to share our spirit at the World Social Forum. Carrying our hundreds of banners for peace, which we shared with other marchers, we clearly stated this message for the forum. Indeed this was a very peaceful march of 90,000 participants from around the globe displaying and dramatizing that another world is possible. Indigenous people were given a pride of place not only on the central stage but throughout the days of the forum. They gave voice to their concerns about their culture and their land rites. Their message was dramatized in song and dance. Often they posed for pictures and sold their crafts and artistic skills. The forum was organized around 9 tenets, and the hundreds of sessions explained these principles. In many ways the tenets were interrelated. Many of the presentations focus on workshops related to the environment, human rights and transnational corporations. Our Franciscans sponsored a workshop on eco-justice which featured Leonardo Boff and Franciscan Bishop Luiz Ceppio of Barra, as well as witness talks by Sr. Yleana Arnaez on the abuses by transnational corporations and by Sr. Juliana Cutierrez for the rites of indigenous people. The latter were both participants in our solidarity experience. Our speakers charged us with the imminent need to change the perils affecting our planet wherever we live. Liberation and theology were proclaimed as nourishing our Franciscan spirituality and as compelling our advocacy for the poor and vulnerable. Catholic Members of the President’s Faith Based Advisory Council Congratulations to Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, and Arturo Chavez, president of the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio, formerly known as the Mexican American Cultural Center, both men have been appointed by President Obama to be members of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, comprised of 25 leaders of religious and community organization. Peter Minches Marshal from Murkuru Slum Earns College Scholarship Congratulations to Peter Minches Marshal from the Mukuru Slum near Nairobi for receiving a college scholarship. He is delighted to be given such an opportunity to study very hard since studying has been his greatest desire. Peter hopes that his studies will enable him to help transform the lives of many youths especially in his area of Mukuru. Peter has been an active participant in the Franciscan Seminar Experience in Eastern Africa sponsored by Franciscans International. The Wheaton Franciscans have been supportive of this successful African project. As always thank you for reading our blog and for all that you do to make this world a better place. Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF
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