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Stand With Refugees on June 20 June 14th, 2019
According to the United Nations (UN), more than 68.5 MILLION people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Since 2000 the UN has recognized June 20th as World Refugee Day to honor the courage and resilience of those forced to flee threats of persecution, conflict, and violence.
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 national and international level through organizations like Catholic Relief Services, Jesuit Relief Service, Catholic Charities and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Justice for Immigrants).
Visit Justice for Immigrants’ website to read more about the U.S. Bishops’ campaign to support immigrants and refugees and download their 2019 World Refugee Day toolkitto learn more about the observance and for community engagement ideas.
Preparing for the 2019 Amazon Synod June 14th, 2019
Fr. Roberto Carrasco, OMI
The Pan-Amazonian Synod will be held in Rome in October 6- 27, 2019. The theme for the Synod is “Amazonia: New Paths for the Church and an Integral Ecology.”
Fr. Roberto Carrasco, OMI, a Peruvian Oblate studying in Rome had an opportunity to participate in the last year’s preparatory event for the synod: https://www.omiworld.org/2018/10/08/beginning-new-ways-for-oblates-to-be-missionaries-peru/ (Originally posted on OMI World)
More documents related to the 2019 Amazon Synod:
Read full Preparatory Document (English)
Frs. Tony Rigoli, OMI & Emmanuel Mulenga, OMI Reflect on Oblate Mission in New Orleans June 10th, 2019
In April the OMI JPIC Committee gathered in New Orleans, LA at the historic St Augustine Catholic Church for the first meeting of the new year. The group meets 2x a year to review and share progress on JPIC’s work. Discussions centered on JPIC’s core areas of work.
The group also listened to Fr. Tony Rigoli, OMI (International Shrine of 
St. Jude) and Fr. Emmanuel Mulenga, OMI (St. Augustine Church) reflect on Oblate arrival in the 1800s and ministry to the people of New Orleans, LA through the years.
Thanks to Br. Joey Methé, OMI, for assistance with editing the podcast.
CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast (9.30 mins)
Update: House Passes Legislation to help Dreamers and TPS Holders June 6th, 2019
On June 4, the U.S House of Representative passed H.R 4 or American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. This bill if signed in law would offer permanent legal protection to “Dreamers” and those covered by the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programs in the United States. It would also provide a pathway to citizenship for qualifying Dreamers, TPS holders and those covered by DED. Faith communities including the U.S Catholic Bishops Conference have supported and welcomed the passage of American Dream and Promise Act of 2019.
Report from the 18TH UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues May 23rd, 2019
Hundreds of Indigenous Peoples from across the globe gathered at the UN Headquarters, New York, for the Eighteenth Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) held from 25 April to 2 May. The theme for the 2019 UNPFII is “traditional knowledge: generation, transmission, protection.” The UN describes the indigenous peoples as the inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of dominant societies in which they live. The UNPFII was established in the year 2000, by a UN resolution with the mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health, and human rights.
According to a report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the estimated 370 million indigenous peoples who reside in approximately 90 countries are among the most marginalized peoples in the world. The report noted that indigenous peoples are often isolated politically and socially within the countries
where they reside by the geographical location of their communities, their separate histories, cultures, languages, and traditions.
To safeguard the human rights of the indigenous peoples, therefore, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution in 2007 on the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration provides a comprehensive framework of minimum standards of economic, social, and cultural well-being and rights of the world’s indigenous peoples. Again, in 2016, the UNGA adopted a resolution declaring 2019 a Year of Indigenous Languages.
Read more:
UNPFII: https://bit.ly/2V2B6Rp
International Year of Indigenous Languages: https://bit.ly/2PzyCbH.
Reports on Indigenous Peoples Rights: https://bit.ly/2ZK8UG7
