News Archives » News
Reflection on October’s Field Trip with OMI Novices November 8th, 2024
Contributed by Sr. Maxine Pohlman, SSND, Director, La Vista Ecological Learning Center
Novices Alfred, Michael, Eliakim and Edwin (L to R) are pictured here in Great Rivers Park by a monument
honoring Godfrey, IL’s first mayor.
Carved into stone is a Native American quote, “The Circle of Life teaches we are all the children of the Earth. May we leave the Earth a better place than what was left for us.”
This quote reflects the mayor’s life as well as the life and service of the man we were to meet next.
This park is adjacent to the Great Rivers Land Trust, the destination for our trip, as we set out to explore ecological conversion from exploitation of land to “responsible stewardship” (Laudato Si, 116) Alley Ringhausen, who has been Executive Director of GRLT for 25 years, is a living example of a responsible steward. Under his leadership, five thousand acres along the Mississippi River bluff corridor has been preserved in perpetuity, protecting a thriving ecological habitat of oak and hickory forests and unique hill prairies. Home to migratory birds like the American bald eagle and the white pelican, those acres are an invaluable asset for wildlife. Were it not for the GRLT the hill prairies and forests might only be a memory, and several threatened and endangered species, along with many others, would have lost their habitat.
Ringhausen regaled us with stories of his cunning acquisition of land which often took many years to accomplish. Reflecting on his presentation, the novices wisely noted that patience, foresight and deep commitment are hallmarks of responsible stewardship.
Finally, we returned to the Novitiate, which is a beneficiary of Ringhausen’s efforts, as more than 150 acres of there are preserved. Once again, we are grateful to OMI for longtime efforts to care for our common home.
Video: Fr. Charles Rensburg, OMI & Fr. Daniel LeBlanc, OMI On Advocacy Efforts with the UN & the Importance of Partnerships November 7th, 2024
As part of his recent visit to New York City, OMI Treasurer-General Fr. Charles Rensburg attended NGO meetings with Fr. Daniel LeBlanc (Oblate Representative to the UN).
They later sat down to discuss Fr. Daniel’s advocacy efforts with the United Nations and the importance of partnering with faith-based and civil society groups.
-
Watch the entire video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/SuTq2nh21IU
(A big THANK YOU to Fr. Valentine Talang, OMI for capturing this conversation)
Friends & Community Gather at Three Part Harmony (3PH) Farm’s Annual Fall Festival November 5th, 2024
-
- Preparing garlic for planting
-
- Preparing garlic for planting
-
- Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI prepares garlic for planting
-
- Gail Taylor, Proprietor & Farmer of Three Part Harmony & Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI find rest under a tree
-
- Janice Cooke (middle) poses with friends
Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI Gives Lecture on the “Ethics of Finance” at Stanford University October 30th, 2024
By. Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI, Director, JPIC & Chief Faith Consistent Investing – OIP Trust
 |
 |
[On October 28th, OMI USA JPIC Director, Fr. Séamus Finn, OMI lectured students on ethics and finance during a course at Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA]
The course- MS&E 148: Ethics of Finance – Explores the ethical reasoning needed to make banking, insurance and financial services safer, fairer and more positively impactful and fit for purpose in the 21st Century. This also follows the movement from shareholder to stakeholder capitalism.
The presentation explored the religious and philosophical roots of ethical practice in finance and banking and discussed particular challenges that individual countries and other major institutions operating in a global financial system face.
In addition, the presentation focused on responsibilities of shareholders in a capitalist system and how that has evolved in recent years to discussions about stakeholder capitalism and the absence of environment, workers and local communities as major stakeholders in the system.
The presentation concluded with a robust discussion on how corporate retail shareholders can be more active in exercising their ownership and integrating their beliefs and values into the decision-making process. This, of course, includes engaging corporate leaders either through proxy votes or attending their annual general meetings.
The 50-year Legacy of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) in this arena was an important part of my presentation.
Action Alert: Justice for Father Marcelo, Staunch Human Rights Defender October 24th, 2024
- Read the full action alert at LAWG’s website: https://bit.ly/4hh79YG
- Join us in calling for an immediate and independent investigation and urging action to stop illicit arms trafficking between the U.S. and Mexico.
- Check out LAWG’s action alert to learn how you can help make a difference:https://bit.ly/4hh79YG
- NEWS ARTICLE: bit.ly/3AfoL6z
