News Archives » Homepage News
High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Scheduled for July 9-18 July 6th, 2018
INFORMATION SHARED by Fr. Daniel LeBlanc OMI, (Missionary Oblates’ representative at the United Nations)
“We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it.” Laudato Si’ 76
The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a meeting of the Member States of the United Nations under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. The 2018 forum will be held from July 9-18. The HLPF is tasked with the central role of the follow-up and review of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development. And the highlight of the forum is the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). As part of the follow-up and review mechanism of the SDGs, the VNRs facilitates the sharing of experiences and lessons learned and challenges by the Member States with a view to implementing the SDGs. Forty-seven countries will be conducting the National Voluntary Reviews during the 2018 forum. The HLPF platform provides opportunities for partnership among the Member States. Civil society organizations, UN agencies, the private sector, academia, and other stakeholders also actively participate in the forum.
The following goals, including goal 17 (Strengthen the Means of Implementation and Revitalize Global Partnership for Sustainable Development), will be reviewed during the 2018 HLPF. The central theme for the 2018 HLPF is, “Transformation Towards Sustainable and Resilient Society.”
- Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
- Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
- Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
- Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Read more:
2018 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Goals: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf/2018
Missionary Oblates Sign Catholic Climate Declaration June 27th, 2018
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate has joined hundreds of Catholic institutions in signing the U.S Catholic Climate Declaration. The declaration reaffirms commitment to climate goals outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement.
Rev. Fr. James Brobst OMI, Vicar Provincial, was authorized to sign the Catholic Climate Declaration on behalf of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The signing is timely for many Catholics as June 2018 marks the third anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls for care for God’s Creation and protection of the poor. Jose Aguto, Associate Director for Catholic Climate Covenant in a letter to Fr. Brobst OMI, stated that “the declaration affirms our shared commitment in prayer, word and deed to meet its goals for the sake of the one human family and Our Common Home.”
To read the Catholic Climate Declaration, please visit the Catholic Climate Covenant’s website. (More signatures are still need needed. Parishes are encouraged to sign the declaration)
How Catholics are helping immigrant children separated from their parents June 25th, 2018
Around 20 to 30 new children have been attending Sunday Mass at St. Eugene de Mazenod Church in Brownsville, Tex. Parishioners pray for the children during the liturgy and then serve them breakfast.
“They want to take care of them and let them know they’re loved,” said the Rev. Kevin Collins, an Oblate and pastor of the parish. The children come from Casa Padre, the nearby shelter for unaccompanied minors.
Read the full article at America Magazine.
URGENT: Ask your U.S. Representative to vote NO! on HR 4760 and HR 6136 June 20th, 2018
(Action alert developed by USCCB Justice for Immigrants)
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are voting on June 21st to pass H.R. 4760 and H.R. 6136. We join Justice for Immigrants (JFI) and other faith groups in recommending that Representatives vote NO on both bills.
Both of these bills address DACA eligible youth, but require drastic cuts to family-based immigration and eradicate protections for unaccompanied children and asylum seekers. Here are some of our concerns:
HR 4760
- H.R. 4760 does not include a pathway to citizenship for the limited number of DACA recipients eligible for protection.
- H.R. 4760 fails to adequately address family separation and will lead to increases in child and family detention.
- H.R. 4760 heightens the asylum “credible fear” standard and will undermine existing and critical protections for unaccompanied children.
HR 6136
- H.R. 6136 fails to adequately address family separation and will lead to increases in child and family detention.
- H.R. 6136 heightens the asylum “credible fear” standard and will undermine existing and critical protections for unaccompanied children.
Visit Justice for Immigrants’ (JFI) website to send this action alert to your U.S. House members.
Here are two new resources and more in depth-backgrounders from JFI on the two bills. Also visit JFI’s DACA/Dreamer Resource page:
H.R. 6136 -One page background of some points of the bill.
H.R. 4760– One page background of some points on the bill.
Protect Immigrant Children and Families and Keep Them Together June 20th, 2018
Reflection
“And who is my neighbor?”
He answered, ‘The one who treated him with mercy.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
Luke 10: 29; 36-37
Background
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – JPIC Ministry expresses solidarity with many religious voices and communities in condemning the separation of children from their parents at the U.S/Mexico border. We support the concerns as expressed by other Catholic voices including United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that migrant children and families seeking safety must be kept together. A zero tolerance policy of separating children from their parents is not a deterrent. As people of faith, we are called to stand and protect the dignity of poor and abandoned people, especially vulnerable children and parents crossing the border.
“When the stranger in our midst appeals to us, we must not repeat the sins and the errors of the past. We must resolve now to live as nobly and as justly as possible, as we educate new generations not to turn their back on our “neighbors” and everything around us.”
(Pope Francis to Join Session of U.S Congress- September 24, 2015).
Action
Tell Congress to Stop Separating Families & Protect Family Unity. Join U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign action calling for the protection of immigrant children and families seeking safety and shelter from violence by keeping these families together.
Prayer
God: We pray for all people. We pray for those who leave their countries of origin in search for a better life for their families. Help us to stand strong in our actions of solidarity and prayers. Give courage to elected leaders to do the right thing of enacting laws that protects all immigrant children and their families. You always make something new in each one of us. With your help, let us build a better world for all people. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Five Things You Can Do to End Family Separation: https://justiceforimmigrants.org/2016site/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Five-Ways-You-Can-Help-Stop-Family-Separation.pdf
Update
On June 20, the Trump Administration announced an executive order on family separation. Together with other faith partners, we will provide an update in the coming days on whether this order ends the zero-tolerance policy on migrant families.
