Latest OMI JPIC News
Peace in the DRC & US Legal Sourcing of Mineral September 11th, 2024
(Reposted with permission from AFJN.ORG)
By Dr. Steven Nabieu Rogers, Executive Director, AFJN
On June 7, Africa Faith & Justice Network (AFJN) and Friends of the Congo visited key Congressional Offices to discuss DRC peace, informing Members about the truth in the war in the DRC and calling on Congress to ensure the US does not source strategic minerals from Rwanda (known to violently steal DRC minerals).
The US House of Representatives is considering “H.R. 8310: Bipartisan Building Relationships and Increasing Democratic Governance through Engagement to DRC Act of 2024,” introduced on May 8 that includes provisions in which stipulate that it is the policy of the US to “identify opportunities to increase the amount of United States investment in the DRC’s critical minerals sector.”
Week 2 – 2024 Season of Creation Reflections – “To Hope & Act with Creation” September 9th, 2024
(By Maurice Lange, current Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
Reflection #2: September 1
READ: 2nd part of Pope Francis’ letter for the 2024 Season of Creation (below)
REFLECTION: Recall the last time that you groaned.
Groan. It’s not a commonly-used word, but perhaps it’s something you’ve been doing more of in these times. What with climate anxiety, polarization, forced migration, racism, economic disparity, fundamentalism and the US election year.
Pope Francis points out: Paul writes that groaning is a response common to Creation, ourselves and even the Holy Spirit. “Creation is groaning in labor pains” (Romans 8:22). What is it that Creation, we ourselves and also the Spirit are all trying to give birth to?
Francis writes that our faith is gift but also task. Our faith tasks us to care for suffering humanity, including their environment (oikos), Earth. We’re all groaning to birth and put into practice a new level of human consciousness, one that hopes and acts with Creation.
ACTION: Today is the World Day of Prayer for Creation and the beginning of the Season of Creation. Let’s pray & celebrate today by consciously, hopefully and actively groaning. This intentional act, in unison with Creation & the Spirit, brings to consciousness our deep desire & opens the way for clear-minded commitment.
“Earth herself…is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she groans…” (Laudato Si #2)
- Visit the Presentation Sisters, US Province’s WEBSITE
2024 Season of Creation Reflection – “To Hope & Act with Creation” September 3rd, 2024
(By Maurice Lange, current Justice & Peace Director at Presentation Sisters & founder of the Oblate Ecological Initiative)
These reflections are inspired by Pope Francis’ 2024 letter for the Season of Creation. Each ponders 1 of 9 topics in Francis’ writing, with focus given to the 2024 theme of “To Hope & Act with Creation.”
“We need only take a frank look at the facts to see that our common home is falling into serious disrepair. Hope would have us recognize that…we can always redirect our steps.” (Laudato Si #61)
READ: 1st part of Pope Francis’ letter for the 2024 Season of Creation (below)
(Image by Almeida, Pixabay)
REFLECTION: : How did we come to have faith? Pope Francis begins this Season with a basic question that prompts serious reflection. What is your response? In examining the theme for this year’s Season of Creation, I’m struck by various parts of the phrase “To Hope & Act with Creation”. Throughout the next several weeks we’ll be pondering this theme along with each segment of Francis’ letter. Three cheers for the Holy Spirit who gifts us with faith and evokes our creativity! During this Season, let us, along with Creation and our God of love, co-create a world of justice, a world at peace.
ACTION: The Season of Creation begins September 1 and continues through October 4. Procure and keep a Season of Creation journal. Ponder the implications of how truly hoping and acting “with Creation” might challenge, enhance and deepen your Christian calling.
“All it takes is one good person to restore hope!” (LS #71)
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Visit the Presentation Sisters, US Province’s WEBSITE
READ MORE OF MAURICE’S WEEKLY REFLECTIONS
2024 Season of Creation: Join the Global Movement to Nurture Our Planet August 30th, 2024
The firstfruits of hope (Romans 8:19-25)
The Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action for our common home, celebrated by Christians everywhere from September 1 to October 4. This year’s theme is “To hope and act with Creation.”
Oblate Scholastic Musonda Choto, OMI and Fr. Jack Lau, OMI prepare Sacred Heart Church, Oakland, CA for the Season as shown in these are photos.
What is the Season of Creation? August 27th, 2024
Pope Francis calls for a World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
By: Bishop Michael Pfeifer, O.M.I, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo
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The Season of Creation is an ecumenical monthlong moment of prayerful reflection and celebration which began several years ago and calls us to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During this Season we join together as sisters and brothers of a universal family in prayer and action to renew our appreciation, our commitment, and our care and activities to protect and bring new life to Mother Earth, our Common Home, as we thank our loving God for the beautiful gift of all creation.
The theme for this Season of Creation is “To Hope and Act with Creation” and it is also the theme designated by Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer of Creation which takes place on September 1st , the first day of the annual Season of Creation, which will end on October 4th , the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis is the Patron Saint of ecology and is beloved by many Christian and other denominations. Pope Francis in the statement Laudato Si calls Mother Earth, our Common Home, that we will pass on to the next generations. Pope Francis’ World Day of Prayer focuses on thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for the beautiful gift of all of creation, and asking God’s continuing blessings on this wonderful gift.
The Laudato Si Movement points out that in accord with this year’s theme of Hope, the symbol is the first fruits of hope inspired by (Rom 8;19-25) which is to produce new life. The biblical image pictures the Earth as a mother groaning as in childbirth (Rom 8;22). Saint Francis understood this when he referred often to the Earth as our sister and our mother in his Canticle of Creatures. In so many ways the present moment we live sadly shows that we are not fully relating to the Earth as a gift from our Creator but most often as a resource to be used selfishly and not to protect, to enrich, and renew this wonderful gift. “Creation is groaning” (Rom 8;22) because of our selfishness and our unsustainable actions that harm her.
