October 16, 2017 - Reflection for 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Tell God's Glory Among the Nations sing to the Lord, all you lands. Tell his glory among the nations; among all people, his wondrous deeds." (Ps 96: 1-3) "Sing to the Lord a new song: This Sunday is WORLD MISSION SUNDAY. I find it fitting that the Responsorial Psalm invites us to give glory to God among all people. I have childhood memories of Mission Sunday celebrated in my parish church. A missionary was usually coming to preach at all Liturgies asking for funds for the missions, but also telling us stories of faraway places where the name of Jesus was not yet known. Outside the church, a missionary displayed art pieces for sale from all over the world. In the afternoon, a movie with some missionary theme was open to everybody in the parish hall. It was when watching "Damien of Molokai" one year that I believe God touched my heart, and the seed of my missionary vocation was planted. O how I wished to go to Molokai and help him! For this reason I find it very appropriate that this week's first and second readings speak of call: "I have called you by your name giving you a title, though you knew me not." Isaiah encourages Cyrus to be aware of this reality in his life. That brings me to ask myself and all of us: am I aware of God calling me by name to still be a missionary, many years later, here where I am today? Our Catholic faith teaches us that "Mission is at the heart of the Christian faith. The Church is missionary by nature; otherwise, she would no longer be the Church of Christ." (Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2017) The invitation, then, is to be aware that we are all in mission, called to proclaim in words and deeds "the transformative power of the Gospel. The Gospel is Good News filled with contagious joy, for it contains
and offer new life: the life of the Risen Christ who, by bestowing his life-giving Spirit, becomes for us the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE." (WMD2017) How humbling to remind ourselves and believe that for this we are called by name every day...and how important it is to reflect on "our responsibility as believers in a world marked by confusion, disappointment and frustration and torn by numerous fratricidal wars that unjustly target the innocent." (WMD2017) What is my responsibility then? Paul was impressed with the Thessalonians and very grateful for the way they were living out their belief in Jesus... "We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1Thes 1: 1-5B) Can we be like the Thessalonians? Maybe we can pray that like them we can witness the power of the Spirit in whatever we do. For myself, I hope to remember it next time I walk the halls of Congress or join a rally in the streets of DC. Let us pray that we keep in mind that "Mission reminds the Church that she is not an end unto herself, but a humble instrument and mediation of the Kingdom. A self-referential Church, one content with earthly success, is not the Church of Christ, His Crucified and Glorious Body. That is why we should prefer 'a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security'" (WMD2017) Maybe by remembering this we will be able to "repay to God what belongs to God." Mt. 22:21 Sr. Maria Orlandini, OSF FAN Director of Advocacy Suggested Action: This week, as you prepare for Sunday Liturgy, read the: Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2017: click here Suggested Petitions: That we hear the call of Christ to be joyful missionaries wherever we are, we pray... For all missionaries around the world who have made a commitment to announce the Gospel with their lives, that they may feel supported by our prayers and generosity, we pray... Prayer: Vancouver Diocese Lord, our God, help us to walk with you on the pathway to the beatitudes and to live out your mission in today's world. Bind us to all men and women of our time so that together we may bring the Good News to the end of the earth. Open our hearts and our Christian communities to the needy, the afflicted, the oppressed. May we radiate the Living Christ
and transform our lives in the hope of the Resurrection. This prayer we make to you who is the living God, now and forever. Amen Sultan and the Saint to Premiere on PBS in December As you know, the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) has been working for the last year and a half to promote The Sultan and the Saint film, the powerful depiction of Muslim-Christian peace as told through the story of St. Francis of Assisi and the Sultan of Egypt. Due to exuberant feedback and numerous requests for the film to be more widely distributed, an idea was developed to have members host "viewing parties" when the film airs on PBS in December. This unique moment allows for us to further engage more people and communities in peaceful, inter-religious dialogue. We want you to be a part of it! The wait is finally over! Our patience has been rewarded with the announcement from Public Broadcasting System (PBS) that the film's airing will be December 26th at 8 pm. There will be a "Check Local Listings" advisory, but most PBS stations will air it at this time. Please continue to check your local listings at PBS.org. We realize the day after Christmas may not be the best time to host a viewing party, but we suggest recording it and hosting the party at a more convenient date. Also, PBS sometimes airs things multiple times. The FAN staff, along with our partners from Unity Productions Foundation (UPF), JustFaith, and the Catholic Round Table have been working to develop tools and resources for you to use in the planning of your event. Once you register your party, you will receive a discussion guide and organizer packet from UPF. You can even apply to receive a $250 mini grant to help support your viewing party. Click this link to register your Viewing Party. We are so excited about the culmination of this project. We want to have at least 500 viewing parties in all 50 states. Click this link to sign up as a Viewing Party Host.
As Clean Power Plan is Repealed, Focus Shifts to OFF Act Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a full repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which addresses climate change by drastically cutting carbon pollution from power plants. FAN released a statement expressing our disappointment. In September this year, U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) introduced a bill to move America off fossil fuels called, appropriately, Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act ("OFF Act"). The bill sets truly ambitious goals for the country that reflects the urgency of the situation we're in. You can read more here: OFF Act FAQ Basically, the bill will transition the U.S. to 100% renewable energy by 2035, while protecting vulnerable workers and impacted communities. Right now, this bill may seem to set an unrealistic goal, but the climate crisis we face demands ambitious action. We need every member of Congress to step up and cosponsor this legislation. The House of Representatives is on recess this week, which is a great opportunity for in-district meetings or actions. We urge all FAN members to contact their representatives about cosponsoring the OFF Fossil Fuels Act (HR 3671). Food and Water Watch has put together this great advocacy toolkit, which contains links to the current list of co-sponsors, sample emails and phone scripts to help you when talking with your legislator.
Register Today for FAN's Annual Cardinal McCarrick Award Benefit The staff and board of the Franciscan Action Network are very excited to be planning our annual Cardinal McCarrick award event for Thursday, November 16th, 2017 at 6pm in St.Francis Hall, Washington, DC. The Cardinal himself will join us as we honor Unity Productions Foundation (UPF), the Muslim film production company which brought The Sultan and the Saint to life. Our collaboration with UPF over the last year has been a true blessing. We have been able to help bring the films' message of peace through encounter to Muslims and Christians alike all over the country. Tickets are $100/person with a discount available for vowed religious. Registration is open on our website. If you can't make it to DC for the event, we invite you to sponsor the event by sending a congratulatory ad. For more information contact Janine Walsh.
Take Action: More Ways to Advocate for TPS Last week, we mentioned the Justice for Immigrants toolkit developed to educate and advocate for those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This week we share with you another toolkit from Interfaith Immigration Coalition. Right now, we are facing a heartless campaign to tear families apart and devastate communities by arresting and deporting moms, dads, and young people who have lived in the United States for years. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) was created to provide protection to those in the United States when it is unsafe for their return home. They are our neighbors. Tearing them apart from their families is wrong. The IIC toolkit has several ways for people to take action including postcards that can be printed and sent to elected officials, a local resolution tracker, and a sample script for calling your members of Congress. We invite communities across the nation to host an interfaith vigil as a way to amplify the voices of those with TPS. There are resources on the IIC website to help you plan. Affirmative Action on DOJ Chopping Block
According to a report in the New York Times this past August, the Justice Department's civil rights division plans to investigate and possibly sue colleges for admissions policies that it determines to be intentionally racially discriminatory. Civil rights advocates know that affirmative action and other inclusivity policies have positively impacted not only oppressed populations but the entire higher education system overall. Losing affirmative action would set a dangerous precedent. While not perfect, affirmative action and similar policies serve as a starting point to remedying the centuries of deep rooted white supremacy and oppression in our country. As part of our ongoing effort to atone for America's original sin, FAN has partnered with other non-profit organizations on a petition that demands the Department of Justice (DOJ) end their attack on affirmative action and civil rights now. Sign now to raise our collective voice and denounce these clear efforts to roll back civil rights and protect white privilege. Join FAN in Promoting #NoMuslimBanEver Day of Action
On October 10, 2017, the Supreme Court was set to hear legal challenges to the Muslim and refugee bans enacted during the early days of the Trump Presidency. This hearing has been postponed and may or may not be rescheduled. In the meantime, a coalition of faith and civil rights organizations has launched a grassroots awareness and mobilization effort to bring attention to the issue. Our efforts will culminate in a day of action on October 18th, the day the new Muslim ban is set to be implemented Please join us in saying #NoMuslimBanEver! 1. Visit www.nomuslimbanever.com to learn more about the campaign's principles, messages, and how you can get involved. 2. Host an event in your local community to raise awareness about the Muslim and refugee bans. You can find ideas on how to organize events and key dates in this interfaith toolkit. 3. Once you have your plans in place, please register your event here to reach a wider audience. 4. Share downloadable graphics with your networks; put them up as profile pictures; and spread the word on social media.
5. Spread the word about the #NoMuslimBanEver campaign with these click to tweet messages. Together we will continue to stand up for the dignity and rights of refugees, Muslims, and others. National Migration Week Webinar This Week Justice For Immigrants will be holding a webinar on October 19th at 1pm ET /10am PT to discuss the details of National Migration Week 2018. This year's theme is Many Journeys: One Family. JFI will also be releasing a National Migration Week 2018 toolkit for advocates, so stay tuned for more information. To join this week's webinar by video click: bit.ly/nmwebinar or dial in at (267) 279-9000 and use PIN 895283#. Donations Requested for Solar Equipment for Puerto Rico Like many of you, the staff of FAN has been praying for those in Puerto Rico who were devastated by Hurricane Maria. Last week, we were sent information about a Brooklyn-based organization, El-Puente, who also works in Puerto Rico which has set up a fund to pass through donations needed to supply small solar energy equipment to Puerto Rico households. We invite those members who feel compelled to donate to consider this project, as it offers a way to care for our fellow brothers and sisters as well as the environment. Here is the message from El Puente: In the midst of the monumental damage caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, almost none of the 3.5 million people on the island have access to electricity. Power for the approximately one million households is not likely to be restored for many weeks or months.
The only short-term prospect for getting electricity to people to handle their basic daily needs is solar energy. Households can use small 1KW or 2KW solar generators, as well as solar lanterns and solar chargers for cell phones. These needs are not being addressed by the various relief efforts now beginning to get underway, which are of course focused on getting diesel fuel to generators for hospitals and other large institutions, as well as the humanitarian needs for clean water, shelter, and food for the population. Over the past two years, a group of organizations in Puerto Rico and the U.S., including El Puente, the Institute of Competitiveness and Sustainable Economics (ICSE), and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, have been working together to reform Puerto Rico's woefully inadequate electric system. Our organizations are now coming together to provide and deliver initial shipments of small solar equipment to meet immediate needs of as many people as possible. The initial deliveries will allow us to test a supply and distribution network that can be expanded over time, and for which we hope funding and participation will increase. Because El Puente and ICSE are strongly rooted in Puerto Rico with long-term networks of businesses and residents, we are in a position - in extremely difficult circumstances - to take delivery of equipment and set up a distribution system. Suppliers for the first round of shipments have been identified. ICSE is also working with the respected Heart 9/11 group out of New York City which has established operations in San Juan. Financial support is needed immediately to pay for purchase and transportation of supplies. Checks can be sent to: El Puente Puerto Rico Emergency Solar Energy Fund 211 South 4th St. Brooklyn, NY 11211 Or just donate on the web. Here's the website. http://elpuente.us/news/hurricane-relief-puerto-rico - click the box for Puerto Rico Emergency Solar Energy Fund Mission Statement Inspired by the Gospel of Jesus, and the example of saints Francis and Clare, the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) is a collective Franciscan voice seeking to transform U.S. public policy related to peacemaking, care for creation, poverty, and human rights.