SPRING TOGETHER on the journey SPIRIT 1

Transcription

1 SPIRIT SPRING 2015 TOGETHER on the journey SPIRIT 1

2 On the cover: Millions turned out to welcome Pope Francis on his visit to the Philippines earlier this year, including families served by Unbound. About Unbound: Unbound is an international nonprofit founded by lay Catholics grounded in the Gospel call to put the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable first. We build relationships of mutual respect and support that bridge cultural, religious and economic divides. We invite all people of goodwill to join us. SPIRIT 2

3 Finding a kindred spirit in the pope of the poor Shortly after he was elected in March 2013, Pope Francis made a seemingly casual statement to a group of reporters; Oh, how I would like a poor Church, for the poor. Now, two years later, those few simple words have proven to be the mission statement of this papacy. Francis is the first pope from the western hemisphere and the first from what, in modern terms, is considered the economically developing world. His life in Argentina as a priest and bishop brought the future pope to the awareness that Christ is profoundly present among and within the poor of the world. That same insight stirred the hearts of Bob Hentzen and Jerry Tolle when they were young missionaries serving in places like Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras. There they learned that the materially poor and those with resources need one another. That awareness ultimately led them to start the organization we now call Unbound. It should come as no surprise, then, that the words of Pope Francis have resonated so powerfully within the Unbound community. In him we see a kindred spirit and one whose appreciation for the giftedness and dignity of the poor matches our own. We also see in Francis a leader who calls people of faith to have the courage to reach out beyond their places of worship to build bridges of peace and understanding. His words, Let us meet one another doing good, have inspired us as Unbound goes forth to engage people of goodwill both within and outside the faith-based world. SPIRIT 3

4 Pope s message INSPIRES families in Philippines Pope Francis visit to the Philippines earlier this year marked an important moment for the Filipino people. Families from Unbound programs participated in various ways. Several hundred attended the pope s closing Mass. Many traveled in small groups to San Sebastian Basilica and walked together about 3 kilometers to the Mass site at Luneta Park. Some waited 10 hours or more for the Mass, much of that time in the rain. Marie Angelica, a 17-year-old sponsored youth and Unbound scholarship student, was among an estimated 6 million people who attended the closing Mass or lined the papal motorcade route Jan. 18. I want to attend the Mass of Pope Francis because he is the people s pope, she said. People like us are close to his heart. I want to know more about him and learn from him, and to share the things that he will teach us today with other people who could not come here. Helen Nipa, mother of sponsored youth Sharralyn Nipa, wanted to hear the pope s thoughts on systemic corruption and its Helen Nipa, second from right, wipes tears from her eyes as she and a group of mothers talk about the papal visit. SPIRIT 4

5 relationship to poverty. Earlier the pontiff said corruption diverted resources from the poor and called for leaders with integrity. Helen said that while it s up to Filipinos to create change in society, Pope s Francis presence inspired her. When Pope Francis talks, I feel strength, she said, wiping away tears. I ve been crying. In remarks at the presidential palace, Pope Francis talked about the importance of families and youth in creating change. A fundamental role in the renewal of society is played, of course, by the family and especially by young people, he said. The families, youth and local staff from Unbound are ready to meet the challenge. Cleo is a 19-year-old student sponsored through Unbound. She and other youth in her group agreed that young people should stand up for others in poverty and help give them courage to fight for their rights. When you are poor, you are alone, Cleo said. The justice that they need is not given to them in the right way and not equally. So much of what Pope Francis talked about in the Philippines is at the center of Unbound s work and is reflected in our mission and core values. He called for supporting children, the elderly and families and never letting them feel isolated or abandoned; protecting human dignity so Marie Angelica and Cheauvenette were among the youth representing Unbound at Pope Francis closing Mass in the Philippines. each person is able to fulfill his or her potential and contribute to society; respecting the environment; fostering cooperation between followers of different religions; and bringing peace to the south of the country with just solutions that respect the rights of all, including indigenous peoples and religious minorities. Jason Tungul is a livelihood officer for Unbound s Quezon program. He said the pope s message focusing on mercy and compassion resonated with the families and staff of Unbound. All the things he said at the Mass, his vision is with us, Jason said. It s like he is one of us in Unbound. Youth from Unbound huddle under a tarp to escape the rain before the closing Mass. SPIRIT 5

6 LIVING TOGETHER in thankfulness and peace There is no shortage of news reports about places in the world where religious turmoil erupts into violent conflict. Stories about communities where people of different faiths live together in harmony are harder to find but not in the Unbound world. We are privileged to witness such stories on a regular basis. In Unbound s projects throughout the world there are hundreds of communities where people of various religious traditions not only live together without tension but often develop strong friendships. One such community is in Zamboanga City on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, a region with a long history of both Catholicism and Islam. While Zamboanga has, over the years, known considerable terrorist activity caused by extremists from outside the area, the Muslim and Christian families that form Unbound s project there have a deep commitment to living together as witnesses for peace. That commitment is born, in part, from the awareness of community members that, for those in poverty, religious prejudice is a luxury they cannot afford. Families in the Unbound program have learned that their best chance to raise themselves out of poverty is to work together with their neighbors. In the process, they have gained a deeper appreciation for one another and a deeper respect for one another s faith traditions. SPIRIT 6

7 For the past 12 years the Muslim and Christian families of Unbound in Zamboanga have celebrated their friendship with an annual day of thanksgiving held in November. The occasion draws hundreds of families from throughout the region and begins with members of the two groups holding their own traditional religious services. The Muslims offer a Duwa-a (solemn prayer of thanksgiving), while the Catholic families celebrate Mass. Following the respective prayer experiences, the families come together for a common feast with traditional foods. Then, since music is such an important part of the fabric of life for Filipinos of every faith and background, they enjoy performances featuring the talents of sponsored children. Alan Partosa, coordinator for Unbound s Zamboanga Project, put the Thanksgiving celebration in perspective. This celebration reminds us that there are lots of things that we need to be grateful for, and that is the gift of individuals and their families and sponsors. Being in the Unbound program reminds us that we are part of a bigger community. More than 2,000 families of diverse faiths participated in the 12th Annual Thanksgiving Day celebration hosted by Unbound s Zamboanga program. SPIRIT 7

8 1 Elmwood Ave. Kansas City, KS NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID UNBOUND FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED SPIRIT 8 PASTORS WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR PARISHIONERS Every pastor wants a healthy, vibrant community that lives out the rest of the week what they celebrate on Sunday. Having parishioners who truly go forth to love and serve the Lord begins with opportunities to put faith into action. Inviting an Unbound priest to your parish for a weekend gives the members of your parish a proven way to grow in their own faith while helping others. It is no wonder that, in a recent CARA* survey, an overwhelming majority of pastors endorsed Unbound sponsorship as a blessing for their parishes. To find out more, call us at (800) or visit *Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate