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Oblates Daily Prayer April 23rd, 2025
Every day the Oblate Community and Family in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales publish a short reflective morning prayer video, created by members. Please join in daily from where you are.
Visit their Youtube channel for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOblates
Earth Day 2025: Power Up for the Planet April 22nd, 2025
(Contributed by: Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of San Angelo)
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Tuesday, April 22, 2025, is the 55th anniversary of Earth Day. Everyone is invited to support, to study and reflect on Earth Day’s 2025 theme – Our Power, Our Planet. There are many ways to make a difference for our planet on Earth Day and every day. Join millions worldwide in Earth Day 2025 activities.
Attend a local event or plan and register your own. Earthday.org mentions several resources such as quizzes, fact sheets, articles and more to help us celebrate Earth Day this year in our homes and communities, at work and at school.
We are invited to act now to make smart powerful energy choices at a family level and community level and demand rapid renewable energy deployment from your governments, industries, schools and businesses.
Happy #EarthDay! 
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Faith Meets Sustainability: Discussion With Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI & Br. Thomas Marchetti, OMI April 10th, 2025
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI recently had a discussion with Br. Thomas Marchetti, OMI to explore his timely thesis on how the Catholic community in San Antonio, TX can increase their engagement in sustainability efforts.
The full title of Br. Thomas’ thesis is: “Investigating the Potential of Engaging the Catholic Community in Sustainable Interventions in San Antonio, TX.”
They discussed Br. Thomas’ passion for the the issue of sustainability, his process for gathering & analyzing data, and his plans for engaging with the community.
Watch this inspiring conversation on Youtube: https://bit.ly/425PJbR
Strengthening the Mission: OMI JPIC Committee Spring Meeting April 10th, 2025
On March 28th the OMI JPIC Committee convened its 2025 Spring Meeting. The group meets twice a year to discuss JPIC’s work and exchange ideas.
Discussions centered on JPIC’s socially responsible investing efforts, integrity of creation initiatives through LaVista Ecological Learning Center, and supporting Oblate initiatives in caring for the planet.
Our JPIC Committee is a mix of Oblates and laypersons passionate about issues of justice, economic development and ecology. They serve as a sounding board for the office.
Full list of JPIC Committee and meeting attendees:
- Dr. Victor Carmona Chair, Assistant professor of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Diego
- Ms. Patti Radle, Co-Director, Inner City Development
- Mr. Gary Huelsmann, Chief Executive Officer, Caritas Family Solutions
- Ms. Mary O’Herron, Former OMI JPIC Staff & Honorary Oblate of Mary Immaculate
- Fr. Daniel LeBlanc , OMI, Associate, International JPIC Office and Oblate UN Representative
- Fr. Valentine Talang , OMI. OMI Bangladesh
- Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
- Fr. Ray John Marek, OMI, Council Liaison to JPIC Committee, Sacred Heart Church
- Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, Director, OMI JPIC & Chief of Faith Consistent Investing – OIP Investment Trust
- Ms. Rowena Gono, Communications Coordinator, OMI JPIC
Reflection on March Ecological Conversion Session with OMI Novices April 8th, 2025
Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director La Vista Ecological Learning Center
L to R: Edwin Silwimba, Alfred Lungu, Bro. Francois, Mike Katona, Eliakim Mbenda
For our final session this “year” we stayed at home so we could connect with Br. Francois Balga Goldong, a remarkable OMI brother who is from Cameroon and is currently studying in the Philippines.
After viewing the documentary, Fleeing Climate Change: the Real Environmental Disaster (https://bit.ly/4jmi9UO), Francois was so moved that he felt impelled to write his thoughts in an article he entitled “The Urgent Mission of Religious Congregations in Caring for the Earth” ( https://bit.ly/43E6ZpV). We viewed the video and were also moved by the way that rising sea levels in Indonesia, melting permafrost in the Arctic, extreme heat and drought in Cameroon, and desertification in the Sahel, are resulting in the mass migration of, “climate migrants”. Francois told us he is familiar with the crisis, having experienced heat and drought in Cameroon. He shared that he was now experiencing climate change effects in the Philippines in the form of flooding from rising seas levels and increased intensity of typhoons.
The novices were all ears when Francois spoke, since he is close to their age, has experienced climate change first hand, and had the courage to challenge the Congregation to a deeper response to the climate crisis. He said, “The documentary…presents a stark reality: entire communities are being uprooted due to ecological degradation. As I reflect on this I feel compelled to explore whether ecological justice should be considered and essential part of our missionary identity, even if it has not traditionally been emphasized within our charism”.
Even though it was the wee hours of the morning in the Philippines, Francois had the energy to share the urgency he feels about the many people around the world who are facing climate migration, saying, “The question is not whether we should act, but how we will act. If we, as religious, do not take this crisis seriously, who will? We cannot afford to delay, for the earth and its most vulnerable inhabitants are crying out for justice. By embracing this call, we as Oblates will continue to be true to our missionary identity bringing hope to the most vulnerable and witnessing to God’s love in a world in crisis.”
We ended our time feeling blessed by the witness of a young Oblate who is tuned in to the reality of the
climate crisis and who had the courage to write his thoughts, resulting in our meeting across the miles and supporting one another. Since we met in March, Brother Francois has also written ” The Three ” H”, Integrating ” Head, Heart, and Hands”: A New Culture of Response to Ecological Conversion”. I invite you to support him by reading his inspiring article and enjoying the photo of his garden, pictured here
climate crisis and who had the courage to write his thoughts, resulting in our meeting across the miles and supporting one another. Since we met in March, Brother Francois has also written ” The Three ” H”, Integrating ” Head, Heart, and Hands”: A New Culture of Response to Ecological Conversion”. I invite you to support him by reading his inspiring article and enjoying the photo of his garden, pictured hereBr. Francois’ article: https://bit.ly/43E6ZpV
READ La Vista’s E News & Eco-spirituality Calendar: https://bit.ly/3XATuU7
