Latest OMI JPIC News
Advent Week 3: Called to Welcome Immigrants, Welcoming Hope. By: Dr. Victor Carmona November 30th, 2018
Advent is a liturgical season of prayer, anticipation, hope and joy leading to the birth of Christ. This Advent season we invite you to join in prayer and reflection on how can we care for the Earth our common home; empower our youth to serve; resolve the plight of migrants and refugees; and protect the gift of human life.
We are pleased to offer 1-page weekly reflections on these issues to share with your congregation, communities and use in your own personal prayer time. Reflections will be available in English and Spanish.
A big thank you to our Missionary Oblates and JPIC Committee members for developing the resources. A SPECIAL thank you to Bro. Lester Antonio Zapata, OMI, for providing Spanish translation.
WEEK 3 — December 16
- Click link to download Advent Week 3: Called to Welcome Immigrants, Welcoming Hope, contributed by: Dr. Victor Carmona, University of San Diego
- Semana de Adviento 3: Acogiendo a los Inmigrantes, Acogiendo la Esperanza
WEEK 2 — December 9
- Click link to download Advent Week 2: They Give All They Have: Young Adults Called to Serve, contributed by: Fr. Ray Cook, OMI
- Haga clic aquí para descargar la versión en español: Semana de Adviento 2: Ellos dan todo lo que tienen: los jóvenes adultos son llamados a servir
WEEK 1 — December 2
- Click link to download Advent Week 1: Called to Care for Creation contributed by: Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, Oblate Ecological Initiative.
- Haga clic aquí para descargar la versión en español: Semana de Adviento 1: Llamados a cuidar,
Church Leaders and Experts Gather for 3rd Vatican Conference on Impact Investing July 26th, 2018
(2nd from right) Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, Chief of Faith Consistent Investment, OIP Investment Trust (Photo credit: Remo Casilli)
From July 8-10, 2018 the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (IHD) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) co-hosted the third conference on impact investing with the theme, Scaling Investment in Service of Integral Human Development. Information about the conference can be found by clicking here.
Held in Rome, the event drew experts and Catholic leaders from around the world, including Frs. Séamus Finn, OMI and Rufus Whitley, OMI. Fr. Séamus spoke on the panel Advances within the Catholic Church and Fr. Rufus participated in discussions on Deploying Capital for Impact at the Base of the Pyramid.
Fr. Rufus Whitley, OMI, President and Chief Investment Officer, OIP Investment Trust (Photo credit: Remo Casilli)
Other panels addressed issues like climate change, health, migrants, refugees, and youth unemployment and how impact investment can improve conditions for people affected. The conference was billed as a ‘results-oriented’ event and a long-term global commitment.
(Photo credit: Remo Casilli)
Merry Christmas. Peace & Goodwill in 2019. December 12th, 2018
United Nations and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate December 11th, 2018
Fr. Daniel LeBlanc is a Canadian Oblate who was also a missionary to Peru. At present, he is the OMI representative at the United Nations. Here in the video, he explains how and why we are there at the biggest international body in the world.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights @ 70 December 10th, 2018
December 10th is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the United Nations is leading world leaders and the international community in celebrating the adoption of these set of principles (30 in all) that were established to safeguard the inherent dignity of every human being.
Among the many activities taking place around the world, the Alliance Defending Freedom International will deliver thousands of signatures from more than 170 countries in support of The Geneva Statement, which urges the international community to uphold the fundamental right to life, family, and religious freedom, as recognized by the declaration. The Geneva Statement calls for new commitments from the international community.
The United Nations was founded in the aftermath of WWII in 1945. Some of the principal objectives for founding the organization as outlined in the preamble of the UN Charter were; “to prevent the occurrence of future atrocities by affirming faith in fundamental human rights, in dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women, and of nations large and small and the commitment to promote better standard of life in larger freedom.” These fundamental human rights are all
captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10th December 1948. This day is observed every year as the International Human Rights Day.
The human rights doctrine is also influenced by tenets of Catholic Social Teaching – in the basic concept of human dignity. The Declaration has many phrases from Catholic Social in the documents. Some of examples are outlined in a 2001 book, A World Made New: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written by former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon. This book is widely considered one of the definitive histories of the human rights document. While Catholic ideas can be found in the document, author Mary Ann Glendon notes that it is just “one of many sources of influence on this impressively multicultural document.”
Still relevant today as they were in 1948, the UN Declaration of Human Rights has been translated into 513 languages, making it the most translated document in history.
LEARN MORE
Video: History of the UDHR: https://bit.ly/2B9wnX2
Short articles on each of the 30 Articles of the UDHR: https://bit.ly/2BFvDpg
Read more at UN News: https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1027981
70 years of progress on Human Rights: https://www.humanrights70.org/#home
Breaking: U.S. Provincial Issues Statement on Border Wall’s Impact on La Lomita November 29th, 2018
Fr. Louis Studer, OMI, U.S.Provincial
November 29: The Very Rev. Louis Studer, OMI, has issued a statement regarding the proposed border wall’s encroachment on an historic, sacred space in Texas.
This is in response to a story which originally appeared in the Corpus Christi Caller Times which was re-posted on OMIUSA.ORG. Click here to read that story.
Read Fr. Lou Studer’s statement.
Read the story in the Brownsville Herald.
Missionary Oblates Partner Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership (MVHP) Featured in Lowell Sun November 29th, 2018
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is proud to celebrate the continuing mission and work of our long-time partner Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership (MVHP)!
Among other projects, they are involved in the creation of safe and affordable housing in and around Lowell, MA. The Oblates were founding partners of the partnership and have been active supporters of their effort to help first time home buyers, from the many diverse communities of the Merrimack Valley, realize their dream.
