Our response to injustice calls us to personal and social transformation
We see spirituality and justice as one and commit ourselves to live this out in all our relationships. Systemic evils deprive people of their intrinsic rights and working to help restore these rights is the work of justice.
Living Justly
In Pope Francis I newest apostolic exhortation on the call to holiness in today’s world, a section entitled “The Great Criterion” speaks to the inextricable link between spirituality and justice. Realizing that Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood have sought to recognize this link and live it out, there is an urgency to offer his text for everyone’s prayer and renewed self-offering to the call to live justly. Here are some passages distilled from that text.
Rosalie Carven, CSJ
Passages entitled “Fidelity to the Master
“In the 25th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel (vv.31-46) Jesus offers us one clear criterion on which we will be judged. “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
“If we truly start out anew from the contemplation of Christ, we must learn to see him especially in the faces of those with whom he, himself, wished to be identified. In this call to see him in the poor and suffering, we see revealed the very heart of Christ, his deepest feelings and choices, which every saint seeks to imitate.”
“Given these uncompromising demands of Jesus, (it is the Christian’s duty) to acknowledge and accept them in a spirit of genuine openness . . . without any “ifs or buts”. Can holiness somehow be understood apart from this lively recognition of the dignity of the human being?”
“For Christians, this involves a constant and healthy unease. Biblical understanding is about more than simply performing certain good works. It also means social change. For later generations also to be released, clearly the goal has to be the restoration of just social and economic systems, so there can longer be exclusion.”
Information From the Office of Justice Peace and the Integration of Creation
February 21, 2019
Today is United Nations International Mother Language Day
According to the UN, “When languages fade, so does the world’s rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and expression — valuable resources for ensuring a better future — are also lost. At least 43% of the estimated 6000 languages spoken in the world are endangered.”
Catholic Church’s Crisis of Credibility
Faith in Public Life is hosting a Facebook Live Panel Discussion on Feb. 21 at 12:30pm. They expect a robust conversation with John Gehring of Faith in Public Life, Rev. Tom Reese, SJ of Religion News Service, Kerry Robinson of Leadership Roundtable and Jeanné Isler, Parishoner at St. Augustine’s in Washington, DC. You need a Facebook account to watch. https://www.facebook.com/FaithinPublicLife/videos/679675375783192/
Relationship with Congress
Network Lobby has advised the members to make sure Congress knows you. Our efforts our under way, with our Dear 5% letter and congregational enrollment card. Collectively, we have 22 representatives of congress, nearly 5%. We are sending each of your Congresspersons the letter and enrollment card to their DC office and one of their district offices. As much as we can, the district office cards will be hand delivered in order to make contact with their staff. Contact Susan Wilcox, jpic@csjbrentwood.org if you would like to deliver the card to your representatives district office. Know that our intention is to follow up with particular issues of interest to the congregation. Read the letter here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d4b1F0EB3G3-zz8IL2qt2l_3-0ljHgG7mZVYdJhn_UI/edit?usp=sharing
Pax Christi Metro New York
Pax Christi is inviting all to a Press Conference and Rally on Thurs. Feb. 28 on the steps of NYC City Hall in support of the Rodriguez resolution to Move the Money from War to Our Communities. Read more here https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Mk7pWiW8y5TibhAlFsvTRyO4HR9L4wz/view
LCWR Region 2 JPICs (Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation)
Collectively, LCWR Region 2 JPIC Coordinators are making a priority of the NYS Climate and Community Protection Act. If you live in NY, please contact your NYS Senator and urge them to support this bill. Read more here. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/s7971/amendment/a
Yes! Magazine
Complimentary copies of Yes! Magazine were distributed at Combined Committee Weekend in order to encourage subscribing. Yes! is a solutions based magazine and many of the initiatives featured such as cooperatives are funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The winter issue also featured several Catholic sisters. The JPIC office has 5 copies left. Contact Susan Wilcox at jpic@csjbrentwood.org if you would like one of the copies. https://www.yesmagazine.org/