Monthly Solidarity Prayer

We have just celebrated Christmas – the birth of our Lord. The words of the gospel “… because there was no place for them in the inn” (Lk 2:7) startle me. For many people, these words are still reality today: because … there was no room for them.

December holds a number of significant dates for migrants, and we have created materials to help you honor the days by standing in solidarity with migrants and refugees.

A child’s life is “for his good, for the good of the family, of society, of mankind as a whole. From this also derives the depth of the human experience of being son or daughter, which allows us to discover the most gratuitous dimension of love ….

Each day in some of our countries, we realize that no place is immune from the coarseness and palpable lowering of standards of conduct. In the midst of all this, how do we educate, advocate and act in light of these situations in our world?

As we consider Solidarity with All Creation, we are also celebrating the Season of Creation. The theme for 2019 is “Web of Life: biodiversity as God’s blessing.” We ponder how critical biodiversity is for the sake of the well-being of the whole planet, including humanity!

Human trafficking is carried out in both rural and urban areas throughout the world. People from all walks of life can get caught up in commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, domestic servitude, forced marriages, and organ harvesting of millions of women, children, and men. Almost a third of all human trafficking victims are children and over 70% are women and girls.

A common theme runs through our ministries:  Being there, first and foremost, in encouraging, empowering, and supporting girls and women. The directional statement of the 24th General Chapter culminates in the call for us to be women of peace, hope, and love in the heart of the world. Therefore, it is about both being and being there for others, especially for women who need our solidarity.

In 1987, the UN Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

“I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)

Being protected, cared for, loved are essential to the life of the human being. We need to welcome our children, with all love in our hearts, and to take good care of them, because they are for us signs of joy, blessing, grace and the presence of God in our midst.