Monthly Solidarity Prayer

The Directional Statement and the Shalom – Focus and Commitments, 2018-2021, continue to shape the initiatives of Shalom and the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Europe and worldwide especially since the outbreak of the pandemic.

God loves and cares for everyone, but has a special concern for children who are not able to express their suffering and usually they need others’ help to get out of their difficult situations. Let us ask Mary to pray with us so that we may see and feel the sufferings of women and children and respond to their needs.

“From the beginning until now, the entire Creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth” (Romans 8:22). Creation did not happen all at once, and it is not drifting toward Armageddon. Creation is in fact a process that is still happening!

On Sunday September 27th, 2020 Pope Francis marked the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. In his message titled “Forced like Jesus Christ to flee. Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating internally displaced persons” he addressed the needs of those who are discarded by society.

Amid crises that have shaken our world, we are awakened to the urgent need to heal our relationships with creation and each other.

‘Integrity of creation’ – when we think about this topic, especially at the time of the corona pandemic, we notice even more how closely everything that exists is connected to one another: agriculture, environmental and climate protection, mobility, and the conclusion of all reflection is that the integrity of creation must be about right and just relationships with the earth and with all creatures. We all are called to make our active contribution.

The United Nations designated July 30 as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.” As challenging as this is ordinarily, it is that much more difficult during a global pandemic.

In October 2019, the “Pan-Amazon Synod” was held in Rome. It was convened by Pope Francis with the theme “New Roads for the Church and for an Integral Ecology”. Thirty-five women (religious, missionary, lay, and indigenous) had a particular role, participation and space.

Sustainability is the capacity for the biosphere and the human civilization to coexist, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.