Monthly Solidarity Prayer

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Mt 5: 9). The countless works of peace, of which the world is rich, bear witness to humanity’s natural vocation to peace. In each person, the desire for peace is an essential aspiration and coincides, in a sense, with the yearning for a full, happy and successful human life.

The feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita on February 8, and the World Day Against Trafficking in persons on July 30, call us to take responsibility for raising awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.

World Environment Day is on June 5, with the theme: “They (the rainforests) were fine before us, now they need us,” inviting us to save the rainforests of the world by less consumerism and protecting “the lungs of our planet.”

Shalom 2018

“Deep faith and high courage urged Mother Theresa to risk already meager resources to satisfy needs wherever she was called. In her spirit, we respond to God’s call expressed in our times.  …we exclude no one from our concern, but we are especially sensitive to youth and women and are impelled to prefer the poor.”  (You Are Sent, C. 24)

Today, more than any time in history, people are leaving their countries and cultures of origin. They are leaving to escape repressive and violent regimes. They are leaving because of the threat of genocide. They are leaving because of destructive climate change. They are leaving because they have no food, no shelter, and no jobs.

The centrality of Gospel nonviolence and just peace is fundamental to our charism and living out the mission, particularly in light of the times in which we live. Every day we hear of war, terrorism, social violence, and trauma that affect us and our brothers and sisters around the world.

The trade in human persons constitutes a shocking offense against human dignity and a grave violation of fundamental human rights. … Such situations are an affront to fundamental values which are shared by all cultures and peoples, values rooted in the very nature of the human person.