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Missionary Oblates join faith groups to take action to end long-standing embargo on Cuba March 16th, 2016
Missionary Oblates joined diverse faith organizations in issuing a joint statement urging Congress to take action to bring an end to the Cuba embargo.
The faith leaders statement reads;
“We have listened to the call of our partner faith communities in Cuba, with whom we have worked for many years on humanitarian issues, on disaster response, and in sister church relationships. Uniformly and consistently, they have told us that the embargo brings no benefits to the faith community in Cuba. In fact, it makes life more difficult for church members and the Cuban people more broadly. They would like a full normal relationship, in which they can visit and learn from us, and we can visit and learn from them. They recognize that our two governments have differences, and issues that must be resolved; they are eager to see those issues discussed in the context of normal, respectful relations.”
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate are present in Cuba and just among a handful of Catholic missionaries allowed to do church work. With improved relations between the United States and Cuba, Oblates are hopeful that pastoral ministry to the Cuban people will increase in the near future.
Renewing Our Ministry: Pope Francis in the United States October 6th, 2015
IN-FLIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FROM SANTIAGO DE CUBA TO WASHINGTON D.C.
Papal Flight
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
During his visit to Cuba Pope Frances met many people, delivered several speeches, and celebrated the Eucharist with thousands of people under a burning and overwhelming sun. On the flight from Cuba to the U.S., he took questions from reporters. Read the complete speech here…
WELCOMING CEREMONY
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
South Lawn of the White House, Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Pope Francis spoke to a gathering on the South Lawn of the White House and began by introducing himself as the son of immigrants, saying he was happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families. Pope Francis also expressed support for President Obama’s proposal for an initiative to reduce air pollution, pointing out it is a problem that can no longer be left to a future generation. He also echoed the call for religious liberty. Read the complete speech here…
MEETING WITH THE BISHOPS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Cathedral of Saint Matthew, Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, 23 September 2015
In an address to several hundred U.S. bishops at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, the pope reminded them of their responsibilities as shepherds. He again raised the issue of immigration, praising the Church’s advocacy activities on the issue. He also praised efforts to fulfill the Church’s mission of “education in schools at every level and in the charitable services offered by your numerous institutions.” “We need to let the Lord’s words echo constantly in our hearts,” said Pope Francis. He quoted scripture from Matthew saying, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, who am meek and humble of heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls” (Mt 11:28-30). Read the complete speech here…
VISIT TO THE JOINT SESSION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Thursday, 24 September 2015
As the first pontiff to address the U.S. Congress, Pope Francis’ message touched on many issues, including hot-button ones like immigration, the effects of unjust structures, the death penalty, abortion, the arms trade, and religious extremism. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to address the Joint Session of Congress in “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. Read the complete speech here…
VISIT TO THE CHARITABLE CENTER OF ST PATRICK PARISH
AND MEETING WITH THE HOMELESS
GREETING OF THE HOLY FATHER
St Patrick in the City, Washington, D.C.
Thursday, 24 September 2015
The pope spoke at St. Patrick in the City, later sharing lunch with low-income and homeless people at a nearby Catholic Charities facility. He quoted from the book of Matthew saying: “I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you helped me.” Read the complete speech here…
MEETING WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Friday, 25 September 2015
As the fifth pope to address the United Nations, Pope Francis is his speech to the assembly emphasized concern for the poor and those fleeing political and economic oppression and the need for political inclusion. He touched on traditional Catholic concerns such as the sanctity of life and spoke on the need to protect the environment, stating that “the misuse and destruction of the environment are also accompanied by a relentless process of exclusion.” Read the complete speech here…
MEETING WITH THE PERSONNEL OF THE UNITED NATIONS
GREETING OF THE HOLY FATHER
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Friday, 25 September 2015
At the United Nations Pope Frances praised staff, calling them the “backbone of this Organization”. He thanked them for their welcome and expressed gratitude for the work done to prepare for his visit. Read the complete speech here…
INTERRELIGIOUS MEETING
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Ground Zero Memorial, New York
Friday, 25 September 2015
During his visit to Ground Zero to commemorate the victims of the 9/11 attack, Pope Francis stopped for a moment of silence at the reflecting pool and greeted some of the families of victims. An address and prayers at a Multireligious Meeting followed this for Peace, where various religious communities also offered prayers and reflections. Read the complete speech here…
MEETING WITH CHILDREN AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Our Lady, Queen of Angels School, Harlem, New York
Friday, 25 September 2015
At Our Lady Queen of Angels School in Spanish Harlem where many of the students are from immigrant families and non-Catholics, Pope Francis spoke of dreams and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., saying Dr. King’s dream was that people could have equal opportunities. “His dream was that many children like you could get an education,” the pope said. Pope Francis prayed the Hail Mary with students and they invited him to inspect their science projects highlighting environmental themes. Read the complete speech here…
VISIT TO DETAINEES AT CURRAN-FROMHO PRAYER VIGIL FOR THE FESTIVAL OF FAMILIES
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
B. Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
Saturday, 26 September 2015
At a prayer vigil for the Festival of Families, Pope Francis thanked the families who were willing to share their life stories. He thanked them for their witness and called the family the living symbol of the loving plan of which the Father once dreamed. “To want to form a family is to resolve to be a part of God’s dream, to choose to dream with him, to want to build with him, to join him in this saga of building a world where no one will feel alone, unwanted or homeless” he said. Read the complete speech here…
MEETING FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Independence Mall, Philadelphia
Saturday, 26 September 2015
The Pope met with members of the Hispanic community and immigrants at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park saying, “when governments respect human rights and freedoms, especially the right to religious liberty, they benefit from their citizens’ respect and care for others.” He urged that the “ringing words” of the US Declaration of Independence proclaiming equality and that all men and women are endowed by their creator with “inalienable rights” are powerful words that should be “constantly reaffirmed, re-appropriated and defended.” Read the complete speech here…
LD CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Philadelphia
Sunday, 27 September 2015
At Philadelphia’s largest correctional facility Pope Francis met with about 100 inmates and individually shook the hands of each one. He encouraged the inmates to get their lives back on track, saying this time in their lives can only have one purpose, “to give you a hand in getting back on the right road, to give you a hand to help you rejoin society”. Read the complete speech here…
MEETING WITH VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia
Sunday, 27 September 2015
At St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Pope Francis met with five adults who suffered abuse as minors. He began by saying, “Words cannot fully express my sorrow for the abuse you suffered. You are precious children of God who should always expect our protection, our care and our love.” The Pope listened to the sex abuse victims’ testimonies, talked with them both as a group and individually, and then prayed with them. Read the complete speech here…
GREETING TO THE ORGANIZERS, VOLUNTEERS AND BENEFACTORS
OF THE WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Philadelphia International Airport
Sunday, 27 September 2015
Before his departure from Philadelphia, Pope Francis formally met with organizers, volunteers and benefactors involved with the World Meeting of Families at the Philadelphia International Airport. He thanked the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, civil authorities, organizers, and all volunteers and benefactors who assisted in ways “large and small”. He also thanked the families who shared their witness during the Meeting, saying, “It is not so easy to speak openly of one’s life journey! But their honesty and humility before the Lord and each of us showed the beauty of family life in all its richness and diversity.” Read the complete speech here…
Religious Leaders Support Normalization with Cuba May 4th, 2015
Photo credit (see below)
Thirty U.S. religious organizations signed onto a letter to Congress urging an end to the decades-long embargo with Cuba. The Rev. William Antone, U.S. Provincial, signed on for the Missionary Oblates USP. The letter refers to the long-standing ties of many of the faith organizations to religious bodies in Cuba, and cite their call for normalization of relations and an end to the embargo.
Photo credit: Krasivaja at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Lift the Ban on Travel to Cuba, Argue Prominent Senator and Congressman November 17th, 2009
Congressman Howard Berman and Senator Richard Lugar wrote an Op-Ed for the Miami Herald today arguing that the ban on visits by Americans to Cuba be lifted.
Legislation to abolish restrictions on travel to Cuba has been introduced in both chambers of Congress. This Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing examining the rationale for the travel ban
For some time now, The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has urged Congress to pass legislation that would end travel restrictions to Cuba and encourage more contact between Cuban and American citizens.
Read the Berman/Lugar Op-Ed here.
Support Legislation to Remove Travel Restrictions to Cuba February 10th, 2009
The Oblate JPIC Office joins the US Catholic Conference of Bishops in supporting recently introduced legislation that would allow travel between the United States and Cuba.
Click here to read more »
