News Archives » Homepage News
World Water Day celebrates Water & Awareness of the Global Water Crisis: By Bishop Emeritus, Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI March 30th, 2022
Designed by Freepik (http://www.freepik.com)
World Water Day, March 22nd focuses on the most essential element of all life which is water. The value of water is much more than its price – water has an enormous and complex value for all our households, food, culture, health, education, economics, and the integrity of our natural environment.
World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance, started in 1993 and focuses on the importance of water. World water day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people living without access to water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. The theme of World Water Day 2022 is GROUNDWATER – MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE. Groundwater is invisible but its impact is visible everywhere. Almost all the liquid water in the world is underground. Water day is to inspire action towards sustainable development: Water and sanitation for all by 2030.
We love water and it goes without saying that we love our planet, so World Water Day isn’t just a celebration of water but a global reminder that water and climate change are inextricably linked. Water is under extreme threat from a growing population, increasing demands of agriculture and industry and the worsening impact of climate change. According to the UN there are 129 countries not on track to have sustainably manage water resources by 2030 and the current rate of progress must be doubled. Read the full statement.
Lenten Prayer Service to Renew Our Communities March 23rd, 2022
Cross in the Mountains and Coast Lines
Lenten Prayer Service to Renew Our Communities
As you prayerfully observe Lent, here is a helpful resource inspired by Laudato Si. Thanks to the Greenteam at Sacred Heart Church for contributing this resource!
Kokotek, Poland: Polish Provincial Visits Refugees from Ukraine March 18th, 2022
Almost 130 Ukrainians found refuge in the Oblates’ retreat house in Kokotka, Poland.
On Sunday, the Provincial of the Polish Province visited war refugees from Ukraine who found refuge in the Oblate Youth Center in Kokotka, Poland. Currently, nearly 130 people are staying here, including about 60 children. Their stay and maintenance is financed by the Polish Province and private donors.
Father Paweł Zając, OMI celebrated the Eucharist for those willing. In a word addressed to the faithful, he noted that for the first time Holy Mass was celebrated in the chapel of the Oblate youth center, which was still under construction. He compared the construction of this most important place for the OCM to the building of the Church community that we all are. Our task is to build a new world in which love will replace hate, joy will replace sadness, and we will not pay back evil for evil. Holy Mass was celebrated for the good stay of guests from Ukraine in Kokotka and for peace across our eastern border. In addition to the Ukrainians, the Eucharist was attended by several employees of the Oblate Youth Center, who help the guests of the center on a daily basis, and people who support the Oblate help. Read the full story.
2022 Ash Wednesday: Let Us Fast for Peace March 2nd, 2022
Pope Francis has asked all of us to offer our Ash Wednesday fast for peace in Ukraine.
Let us offer our sacrifices, prayers, and actions of this day for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and for an end to war. Jesus, Prince of Peace, hear our prayer.
#PrayforUkraine
2022 Lent: Practice 40 Days of Kindness February 25th, 2022
Rekindling our Connection to the World
La Vista and the Confluence Climate Collaborative invite you to join our observance of Lent which has become a tradition we share with the broader community online. We invite you to join us on our gentle Lenten journey guiding us to freedom from consumerism, increased peace in daily life, and greater alignment with Earth’s goodness. By practicing 40 days of Kindness toward each other and our Earth, together we can Rekindle our Connection to the World.
Through this practice we will:
* create more space and time in our lives for what really matters;
* live mindfully and joyfully in the present, wonderful moment;
* act to counter climate change, which is deeply affected by our habits and increasingly affects us all.
This online program will provide a variety of simple but inspiring suggestions for shifting our identity from consumer to lover of the whole Earth community. During the final week we will invite you to join the special challenge we are calling a Consumer Fast: 7 days of living with nothing but the absolute essentials – those things that meet our needs or bring true joy and nourishment.
This is an individual journey, but not one you will be embarking on alone. Start where you are, and let’s see where we can go together on a more sustainable future for all.
Please join by visiting either the Confluence Climate Collaborative:
Blog: studiogaiaedwardsville.com/blog or
Facebook event: bit.ly/3M4qBbi or by an
Email sign up: bit.ly/3skTtnY
