Latest OMI JPIC News
Introducing the Lavista Learning Garden June 17th, 2020
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since its inception in 2001, La Vista Ecological Learning Center has taught that how we eat determines, to a great extent, how we care for creation. That is why we were aligned with the Community Supported Garden at La Vista for 15 years. Since that project ended in 2019, we have established La Vista Learning Garden under the umbrella of the Oblate Ecological Initiative.
MISSION
The Learning Garden will be a model and gathering place for novices and area participants to learn and practice:
- sustainable gardening skills like creating a garden plan organic soil preparation and fertilization crop rotation choosing vegetables and their planting times methods for harvesting vegetables growing fruit trees native flower propagation a variety of composting methods
- raising and caring for chickens
- backyard beekeeping
- cooking and nutrition
- hand-carving kitchen utensils
- DIY recycled garden decorations
STAFF
Vernon DePauw is our head gardener and teacher. He is a nationally known wood carver as well as a backyard gardener, poultryman, and beekeeper. Vernon has been a presenter at the Learning Center for several years. Vernon is faithfully supported by his wife Kathy who is also a volunteer.
Sister Maxine collaborates with Vernon to plan, organize, advertise and execute programs.
Volunteers – A small group of volunteers contribute their skills.
This project has been made possible with the support, encouragement and help of Seamus Finn, OMI, and OMI Novitiate Leadership: Pat McGee, Frank Kuczera and Humphrey Milimo.
[Novices and Vernon with hives built by Vernon and painted by novices.]
Help Protect the Environment! April 12th, 2021
(Photo courtesy of Nareeta Martin, Unsplash)
Reducing consumption, reusing items and recycling whenever possible reduces air and water pollution, keeps landfills from filling up so quickly and saves energy and money for both consumers and governments that have to deal with trash. This is a great way to deal with climate change. Our new brochure offers tips on ways you can reduce, reuse and recycle as individuals and in your communities.
Download the brochure to share online
Download the brochure to print
2021-JPIC-Reduce-Reuse-RecycleFinal
Courageous Conversations: Can Inclusive Capitalism Work for the Common Good? March 29th, 2021
Courageous Conversations: Can Inclusive Capitalism Work for the Common Good?
Socially Responsible Investment Coalition
Annual Education Event 2021
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 via ZOOM
Program: 6:30 – 8:30 pm CST
Courageous Conversations:
Can Inclusive Capitalism Work for the Common Good?
“Once capital becomes an idol and guides people’s decisions, once greed for money presides over the entire socioeconomic system, it ruins society, it condemns and enslaves men and women, it destroys human fraternity, it sets people against one another and, as we clearly see, it even puts at risk our common home.” – Pope Francis
REGISTRATION
We welcome your participation and financial support for our Virtual 2021 Annual Event Sponsorships as well as individual tickets will be available
Please indicate your choice below and send payment by check to SRIC:
- Sponsorships of $250 and above allow for 8 participants
- Individual tickets at $25 per person, please indicate number
Send this registration form with payment to: Socially Responsible Investment Coalition, 285 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216-6693 Contact: Anna Falkenberg at afalkenberg@sric-south.org
Purchase of a sponsorship will allow us to feature your organization’s name and logo on our event materials. If you have purchased a sponsorship you will be responsible for sending out the link to your invited participants. Links will also be sent for individual ticket purchases, if more than one, please email us with names and email addresses. We will be sending you a registration confirmation with the ZOOM link and instructions on accessing the event. Registrations will be accepted through Friday, April 16, 2021
Invited Participants
Rev. Séamus Finn, OMI — Chief of Faith Consistent Investing at the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Larry Hufford, Ph.D. — Professor of Political Science and International Relations at St. Mary’s University
Sister Michele O’Brien, CCVI — Development Specialist at the Friends of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Foundation
Nadira Narine — Senior Program Director, Strategic Initiatives at the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
Inclusive Capitalism is fundamentally about creating long-term corporate value that benefits all stakeholders – businesses, investors, employees, customers, governments, communities, members of society, and the planet.
OMI JPIC Among Civil Society Organizations Urging the Administration to Not Repeat Mistakes of the Past in Central America March 29th, 2021
As the State Department is developing a “root cause strategy” addressing the reasons why so many children, women, and men are fleeing the northern countries of Central America, US-based and international faith, humanitarian, immigrant-led, human rights, environmental, and grassroots organizations called on President Biden and Vice President Harris to support and amplify civil society calls in each country for governments to address the structural and societal causes driving forced migration. These include pervasive corruption, corrosive levels of human rights abuses and impunity, gang and gender-based violence, poverty and inequality, exclusive economic models, and climate change.
The letter opens with expressions of appreciation for the administration’s pledge to ensure a fair, humane, and orderly immigration system that welcomes immigrants and restores access to asylum. Download the letter here in English or Spanish.
Webinar: “No ecology without proper anthropology” March 23rd, 2021
- Register at this link: bit.ly/393aYPI
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI Weighs in on Climate Crisis & Wall Street March 19th, 2021
Reading the writing on the wall’: why Wall Street is acting on the climate crisis
“They are getting pushed by the customer, by the science, by the general public.” — Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI
Wildfires burned nearly 10.4m acres across the US last year. The most costly thunderstorm in US history caused $7.5bn in damage across Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. As the climate crisis swept the globe on a biblical scale it left in its wake a record number of billion-dollar disasters.
And yet out of these ashes has emerged an unlikely savior: Wall Street. After decades of backing polluters and opposing legislation to rein them in, finance says it’s going green.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS/CARE OF CREATION March 16th, 2021
We gather in the mystery and depth of the cross, the intersection of life and love, of pain and perseverance, of injustice and determination, of tenderness and solidarity, of Ongoing Care and Co-Creation. (+).
We invite you to join us for the Stations of the Cross under the Care of Creation theme. This resource was created by Fr. Jack Lau, OMI, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oakland CA
Download Stations of the Cross/Care of Creation. (Some text adapted for parish use)
Join Sacred Heart parish every Friday during the season of Lent for Stations of the Cross livestreamed through Zoom. Visit the Parish’s website for more information.
