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Support Families Facing Deportation! November 6th, 2014
From November 5th through November 13th, the US Catholic Bishops are running a campaign based on the feast of St. Frances of Cabrini, the patroness of immigrants. The Bishops are urging people to call the White House to convey this message: Protect as many immigrants and their families as possible from deportation.
Learn more at: OMI USA JPIC Blog and Justice For Immigrants
Pollinator Garden Planted at the Oblate Ecological Initiative November 2nd, 2014
Celebration once the planting was completed!
The Oblate Ecological Initiative recently held a Permaculture/Hugelkultur workshop to prepare for installation of a pollinator terrace garden. The pollinator garden was then installed using the concept of Hugelcultur. The Oblate novices helped in the digging and planting.
HUGELKULTUR: What is it?
Hugelkultur is a German word meaning “mound culture”. Hügelkultur replicates the natural process of decomposition that occurs on forest floors. Trees that fall in a forest often become like sponges, decaying and providing nutrients and water to seedlings. The water is slowly released back into the environment, benefiting nearby plants.
The process includes digging a trench, placing rotting logs and branches in it, and then topping it with organic matter found in your area, like branches, twigs, logs, decaying leaves, pine needles, straw, your own compost, and finally soil.
BENEFITS
There are many benefits to hugelkultur, making it a sustainable process. Since the mound provides water for the plants there is often no need to do any watering. The mound lasts for many years, and as the wood decomposes, it turns in humus and actually retains more water. These beds can also extend the growing season by a month or so, because the decomposition creates heat that keeps the bed warmer during colder months. Another benefit it that no materials need to be purchased, since the mounds can be created from natural materials found in your area. It is a useful way to dispose of unwanted woody organic matter. You can save energy that would be used in disposing of it.
Hugelkultur is an important part of sustainable, fertilizer-free agriculture.
Please see here for a full report on the workshop and planting.
Fall Harvest Feast: 39I Michigan Vegetable Garden October 30th, 2014
Volunteers plant garlic in the grade at 391 Michigan Ave, across from the USCCB headquarters in Washington, DC.
The abundance of the 391 Michigan Avenue Vegetable Garden was celebrated in a Fall Harvest party last Saturday, 25 October at the garden itself. The pictures below say it all beautifully and thoroughly! The weather was perfect. There were about 65 people in attendance, who prayed, did a little Tai Chi, and feasted on a scrumptious four-course farm fresh vegan menu prepared by Tambra from NativeSol Kitchen, with a variety of libations.
We were blessed with a live jazz performance organized by Violet Marley that featured some familiar Bob Marley tunes as well as some original pieces from the performers themselves. Garlic was planted in abundance and some general preparations for winter were made easier by volunteering hands.
Click here to read more »
CMSM J/P Alert – October 2014 Issue October 30th, 2014
We would like to share the latest issue of the E-Newsletter of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM). If you would like to subscribe your email to receive this newsletter, please email Eli McCarthy PhD, CMSM Justice and Peace Director at emccarthy@cmsm.org
In This Issue:
- Syria / Iraq
- Palestine / Israel
- Ferguson
- Immigration
- Restorative Justice
- Climate Change
- Money in Politics
- Respect Life
- Ignatian Solidarity
- Interfaith Conference on Drones
- Ecumenical Advocacy Days
- Catholic Social Ministry
- Year of Consecrated Life
Click here to read more »
Canadian Symposium on Mining and Justice in November October 24th, 2014
The Oblate JPIC initiative in Canada has organized a symposium on mining, called “The Global Cry of the People” Symposium on Mining Extraction and Justice for Friday, November 7th and Saturday November 8th, 2014. It will be held at Saint Paul’s University in Ottawa.
The symposium is designed to create a greater awareness among Canadians about the impact of mining, and will try to create a space for Church, civil society and politicians to learn and discuss the justice issues involved.
Partners in this project include: St Paul University, Canadian Mining Watch, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, the Halifax Initiative, Citizens for Public justice, Canadian Martyrs Parish, St Joseph’s Parish, Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace-CCCB and KAIROS. The guest speaker will be the theologian Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez Merino, well-known as the founder of liberation theology in Latin America. The symposium will also feature presentations from experts, which will include Canadian politicians, representatives of the mining industry, and spokespersons with direct experience from mining communities in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Canada.
Information and the registration form, are now available by going to the OMI Lacombe website and selecting Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation/JPIC. There you will find all conference materials. You can also register here.
This symposium is free and open to all who might be interested, although a voluntary donation to cover costs will be accepted at the registration table.
For more information, please contact Leonardo Rego, OMI at jpic@omilacombe.ca
