Laudato Si’ Quote
38. Let us mention, for example, those richly biodiverse lungs of our planet which are the Amazon and the Congo basins, or the great aquifers and glaciers. We know how important these are for the entire earth and for the future of humanity. The ecosystems of tropical forests possess an enormously complex biodiversity which is almost impossible to appreciate fully, yet when these forests are burned down or levelled for purposes of cultivation, within the space of a few years countless species are lost and the areas frequently become arid wastelands. A delicate balance has to be maintained when speaking about these places, for we cannot overlook the huge global economic interests which, under the guise of protecting them, can undermine the sovereignty of individual nations. In fact, there are “proposals to internationalize the Amazon, which only serve the economic interests of transnational corporations”. We cannot fail to praise the commitment of international agencies and civil society organizations which draw public attention to these issues and offer critical cooperation, employing legitimate means of pressure, to ensure that each government carries out its proper and inalienable responsibility to preserve its country’s environment and natural resources, without capitulating to spurious local or international interests.
39. The replacement of virgin forest with plantations of trees, usually monocultures, is rarely adequately analyzed. Yet this can seriously compromise a biodiversity which the new species being introduced does not accommodate. Similarly, wetlands converted into cultivated land lose the enormous biodiversity which they formerly hosted. In some coastal areas the disappearance of ecosystems sustained by mangrove swamps is a source of serious concern.
Reflection: Have I given much thought to trees and how intricately they are involved in the health of the planet? Am I mindful of how I use wood products, especially paper? Was I aware that just planting a tree is not a one to one correlation for a tree lost to consumer demand? How might Lent be a time of intentionality in my use of paper products?
Action: Pay attention to all the paper that you use this week – newspaper, toilet paper, Kleenex, paper towels, printed sheets of paper. Be aware of both the waste generated by paper and what it took to produce that paper as well. Think before you print – do I really need a hard copy of this? Share this reflection with someone else.
Prayer for Ukraine and for Peace
School Sisters of Notre Dame call for peace and reconciliation through prayer. In communities designated as Shalom Centers of Prayer for Peace, sisters throughout the world pray each day of every month for peace and commit to being actively involved in peace building. Join us as we pray for peace in ourselves, in our homes, and in our world. For more, click here
Dismantling Racism
From Slavery to Sainthood: Mother Mary Lange, OSP founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore in 1829, the first African-American religious congregation. The motto on the Coat of Arms of the congregation is “Providentia Providebit – Providence will provide.” To learn more about her, the Oblate Sisters of Providence, and the work for her canonization read here.
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.
Black History Month is over, but our learning and reconciling has only just begun. Watch this 54 minute PBS documentary, Underground Railroad: The William Still Story, a story of our common heritage between the US and Canada. And then share what you learned with someone else.
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
Click Here to read the Lent suggestions from the Addressing Climate Chanage Committee
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 sure to act on 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
Online child sex trafficking is a global problem. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says, “Traffickers are currently using technology to profile, recruit, control and exploit their victims as well as using the Internet, especially the dark web, to hide illegal materials stemming from trafficking and their real identities from investigators.” To read more, click here.
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 the Sunday lectionary and linked to one immigration issue each week. This week we look at “Leaving It All Behind” – what it means to leave your country of origin, your abuelas, your language, your life as you knew it behind. Each week look for it in the newsletter, on social media, and on the homepage. Please join us in reflecting on justice for immigrants and share it with others!
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,..…. join the vigil here.
Tens of thousands of Afghans and their families have arrived in the U.S. to be resettled and are now in need of a pathway to real and lasting safety. 40% of them are children. They are here with a limited parole and no clear path to safety and stability. Please use your voice through Voter Voice to ask Congress to advance an Afghan Adjustment Act.
Haiti Partnership
The whole world, but in a special way Haiti, lost a great prophet with the death of Dr. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health. But it is becoming clear that he created a community that shared his vision and mission so that his work was never “his” work but the work of just healthcare for the poor. For more about this amazing leader, those he inspired, and how they plan to carry on the work, read this article in this week’s Boston Globe here. Or if you have access to Netflix, watch this 2017 documentary, Bending the Arc, found here.
