34. It may well disturb us to learn of the extinction of mammals or birds, since they are more visible. But the good functioning of ecosystems also requires fungi, algae, worms, insects, reptiles and an innumerable variety of microorganisms. Some less numerous species, although generally unseen, nonetheless play a critical role in maintaining the equilibrium of a particular place. Human beings must intervene when a geosystem reaches a critical state. But nowadays, such intervention in nature has become more and more frequent. As a consequence, serious problems arise, leading to further interventions; human activity becomes ubiquitous, with all the risks which this entails. Often a vicious circle results, as human intervention to resolve a problem further aggravates the situation. For example, many birds and insects which disappear due to synthetic agrotoxins are helpful for agriculture: their disappearance will have to be compensated for by yet other techniques which may well prove harmful. We must be grateful for the praiseworthy efforts being made by scientists and engineers dedicated to finding solutions to man-made problems. But a sober look at our world shows that the degree of human intervention, often in the service of business interests and consumerism, is actually making our earth less rich and beautiful, ever more limited and grey, even as technological advances and consumer goods continue to abound limitlessly. We seem to think that we can substitute an irreplaceable and irretrievable beauty with something which we have created ourselves.
Reflection: How am I intentional in my understanding of and reflection on the deep interconnectedness of all of creation? Of pesticides and hormones used in producing the food I eat? Of the dumping of toxic wastes on those who have little voice to protest? Of the ways my human choices contribute to making the world “more limited and grey”?
Action: Watch #5 of the SSND Integral Vision series, which is a five-minute summary video, and talk with another person about what this reflection means for you.
Dismantling Racism
Are you looking for a way to integrate Lent and your desire to be an anti-racist? Consider registering for the workshop “White Supremacy and American Christianity” sponsored by NETWORK on April 9, 2022. Details and registration can be found here.
From Slavery to Sainthood: from Venerable Henriette Delille, founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans: “I believe in God. I hope in God. I love. I want to live and die for God.” To learn more about her and the Sisters of the Holy Family, read here.
Black History month is almost over, but this compelling opinion piece suggests that we imagine instead “the 2% rule” – moving the needle every day from systemic racism toward justice. Read in the Boston Globe here.
Bread for the World has created an excellent resource for determining the race equity of policies and programs that can be found here.
Climate Change
Transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the US. Demand that car manufacturers make a commitment to clean electric vehicles by joining this petition here.
Plastic is everywhere. Last week Pope Francis called the throwing of plastic in the sea as “criminal.” "It kills biodiversity, it kills the Earth, it kills everything," said the pope. But how much have we come to rely on plastic and not asked the cost? How much do you know about the life cycle of plastic? Watch this four minute video from the Story of Stuff about plastic, and share the video with others. And be on the lookout for a Voter Voice on the global use of plastics!
The overarching question for women religious in addressing Climate Change is: What is the role of women religious in response to the signs of these times? Please watch this two part webinar by Sr. Laurie Brink, OP. Professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, “For All the Earth: Integrating Charism, Mission, and Care of the Creation.” Part 1 and Part 2.
Human Trafficking
In partnership with One Child and Meta (FaceBook) there is this development to address child online exploitation in Canada. Read here for excellent information and to learn more about how we must hold each other accountable for our online access and privacy – for the sake of the children. Be sure to scroll down and look at the videos produced with Meta. We have to begin somewhere.
Justice for Immigrants
Called to be Dangerous Women (and Men):The Triune God Impels us into the Heart of the World is the theme of the Justice for Immigrants Committee Lenten reflections, based on scripture from that Sunday and linked to one issue in immigration each week. They will be released each week in the newsletter, on social media, and on the homepage. Please join us in reflecting on justice for immigrants and share it with others!
Kate Kinnally SSND and Mary Dooley SSND work for justice for immigrants in their work at the KinDoo Family Center in Indiantown, FL, teaching English, computer skills, sewing, cooking, nutrition to immigrant women and their children. Find out more here.
Every Tuesday night at 7:15 p.m. EST since December 12, 2000 there have been a group of people who pray at the border and call out the names of those who have died trying to reach safety. You can now join this vigil with Healing Our Borders virtually through Zoom. Hear the names, including those no identificado, and think of their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles,..….the link to join the vigil is here.
Haiti Partnership
The whole world, but in a special way Haiti, lost a great prophet this week with the death of Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health. When interviewed in 2003 he said: “The problems we work on…are really rebukes, not to me or to them or to you, but to all of us. Can you look at a problem like AIDS and say, ‘We’ve all done our best; there’s no blame to be assessed, no judgment to be made.’ Of course not. We’re total failures, all of us, in the equity department.”
For more about this amazing leader, and those he inspired, read here. Or if you have access to Netflix, watch this 2017 documentary, Bending the Arc, found here.
Gospel Fund
Atlantic-Midwest Province Gospel Fund Application – Due March 1, 2022
The Gospel Fund of the Atlantic-Midwest Province is established for the purpose of assisting in the financing of projects whose goals are consistent with the SSND congregational mandate to reverence all creation and make the concerns of the poor our own. Gospel Fund applications are due by March 1, 2022. Click here for the current application. You may send the completed application via email to Cheryl Fameli at cfameli@amssnd.org. If you would prefer to send hardcopies of your application through the mail, please contact Arlene Flaherty (aflaherty@amssnd.org) for instructions.
