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Statement on Nat’l Roads Dev. Project, Kalimantan, Indonesia: Delivered to the Asia Dev. Bank (ADB) by Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI October 14th, 2021
While recently visiting Tewksbury, MA, Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI had the privilege and opportunity to have a conversation with Fr. Lucien Bouchard, OMI who spent over 25 years on the island of Borneo (Kalimantan) where the Oblates have maintained a missionary presence since 1977.
(Click here to read more about Fr. Lucien Bouchard, OMI)
Their discussion informed this written statement, which Fr. Séamus delivered to a session of the Asia Development Bank meeting here in Washington., DC on October 13, 2021.
Related story: Borneo’s last remaining pristine rainforest under threat from proposed Infrastructure Project funded by Asian Development Bank
National Migration Week 2021 September 20th, 2021
Join the U.S Catholic Church in celebrating National Migration Week which takes place from September 20-26: https://catholiccurrent.org/popular-topics/migration/
World Day of Migrants and Refugees
- Read Pope Francis’ message for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, under the theme Towards an ever wider “We.”
Oblate Mission with Migrants & Refugees
- With the support of U.S Missionary Oblate, a Pakistani family finds a new home. Click here to read the story.
20th Anniversary of 9/11: Oblates Participate in Interfaith Prayer Service September 14th, 2021
Oblate Frs. Séamus Finn & Jim Brobst Participate in Local 9/11 Interfaith Prayer Service
USP JPIC participated in the PAX Christi co-sponsored interfaith prayer service at the Church of the Brethren in Washington, DC on September 11th. Frs. Jim Brobst, OMI & Séamus Finn, OMI represented the JPIC office, which has been a member of Pax Christi USA for many years.
The opening statement was delivered by Scott Wright and Jean Stokan, both former Pax Christi USA National Council members.
Opening statement:
Many of you were in New York City on 9/11; in the months and years that followed, some of you traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo.
In the days immediately following 9/11, my family and our three-year-old daughter took the train to New York City. We spent the entire day accompanying family members of the victims in Washington Square and Union Square. Everywhere you could see little altars, with vigil lights, flowers, pictures of loved ones, and messages scribbled on poster board: “Have you seen my father? My brother? My daughter?” They were on the 71st floor, the 32nd floor, and wearing this or that…
As people of many faiths, and people of good will and compassionate hearts, we share a common hope for Peace, Salaam, Shalom. May we do everything in our power to protect human life, welcome refugees, challenge militarism across the globe, and recommit ourselves to nonviolence, knowing that violence and war are always a defeat for humanity.
In the days immediately following 9/11, Rep. Barbara Lee cast the only vote in Congress against going to war in Afghanistan. Pivotal to her decision was attending a memorial service where a clergy member said: “As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore.”
Photos from the service are located at this Flicker Site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/13182639@N02/albums/72157719868156715
The 2021 Season of Creation runs from Sept. 1-Oct. 4 September 1st, 2021
Season of Creation invites us to contemplate the theme, “A Home for All?”
Photo courtesy of Niko Photos, Unsplash
A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God is the theme of this year’s Season of Creation, which will be an opportunity to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together.
During the Season of Creation, Catholics join the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home to renew the Oikos of God.
To help with your personal reflections, Earthbeat @ National Catholic Reporter, will run a featured series every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the Season of Creation. Visit this page for their At Home in Creation Series.
Find additional resources at these links:
- Season of Creation Watch a video that explains…what is Oikos? https://youtu.be/h9YPN84q3S8
- Laudato Si’ Movement
- Laudato Si’ Action Platform
- Catholic Climate Covenant
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – JPIC Tips for living sustainably – download brochures in English & Spanish
- World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation – Prayer Service
Friends of the Oblates Preserves Receives Award @ Illinois State Fair August 25th, 2021
(Photo L-R): Bill Rathmann, DNR Director Colleen Callahan, Sister Maxine Pohlman, Robert White, Connie Rathmann, Sandy Budde, Bill Zimmerman
Illinois State Fair at a Glance:
- The Illinois State Fair is an annual 11-day festival celebrating agriculture, farmers and related industries
- First celebrated in 1853 in Chicago, IL, the fair is now in its 158th year.
- The fair has moved to Springfield, IL and is held nearly every year with few exceptions (it was canceled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic)
- Average attendance is around half a million, climbing to nearly 1 million in 2012 and 2013 and dropping back down to about 500,000 in 2019.
- Corn-dogs-on-sticks, a popular edible treat at U.S. fairs is said to have originated at the Illinois State Fair
