Latest OMI JPIC News
2018 World Refugee Day: Take Action & Pray for Refugees June 18th, 2018
The United Nations General Assembly in 2000, designated June 20 as World Refugee Day. According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is one who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
For many years the Catholic Church, through its various agencies has actively raised awareness about the plight of refugees through education and advocacy, and directly provided services for them.
These efforts take place on the international level through organizations like Catholic Relief Services and Jesuit Relief Service, and domestically, through Catholic Charities and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Here are some ways to become involved:
Download a 2018 World Refugee Day Resource.
Visit Justice for Immigrants’ website to read more about the U.S. Bishops’ campaign to support immigrants and refugees.
Leading Oil and Gas Executives Attend Climate Change Conference Hosted by Vatican June 12th, 2018
On Friday, June 8, leading oil and gas executives attended a climate change conference hosted by the Vatican titled, “Energy Transition and Care for Our Common Home” and held at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
The conference is follow-up to Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home, which was released three years ago on June 18.
Visit this website to read Pope Francis’ address to meeting participants
Visit these links to read more about the conference:
CAFOD
https://cafod.org.uk/News/Campaigning-news/Pope-fossil-fuels-energy-call
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/09/pope-francis-tells-oil-bosses-world-must-wean-itself-off-fossil-fuels
Pope Francis Announces Synod of Bishops for Pan-Amazon Region June 12th, 2018
The Vatican has announced plans for a Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Pan-Amazon region. The event will take place in October 2019. The theme for the event is “Amazonia: new pathways for the Church and for an integral ecology” and will bring together Vatican officials and prelates and consultants from Latin America’s Pan-Amazon region.
Click here to read the full story
Visit the Vatican’s website to download the Synod’s preparatory document (available in Italian, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese).
Sr. Ann Diehl, CSJ Named Honorary Oblate of Mary Immaculate June 6th, 2018
 Photos courtesy of Janice Cooke |
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Congratulations to former OMI US provincial secretary and archivist Sr. Ann Diehl, CSJ, for 26 years of service to the Oblates and still counting. On June 4, Sr. Ann received the designation of Honorary Oblate of Mary Immaculate during a Mass and program held at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. The ceremony was officiated by Oblate Superior General Fr. Louis Lougen, OMI, assisted by US Provincial Fr. Louis Studer, OMI. Following the Mass, a lunch reception was held at the Oblate residence. Sr. Ann has been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for 54 years.
Oblate Vocation Stories: Fr. Louis Studer, OMI May 21st, 2018
In honor of the Oblate Year of Vocations, all Oblate Fathers and brothers, and those men in Oblate formation are invited to “Tell Their Vocation Stories. Listen to Fr. Louis Studer, OMI’s vocation story.
