Catholic Global Mission Weekly Update

In this issue:

Xaverians in Thailand

Global Youth Ministry Services

Protesting Arms
Global Corruption
World Day of Social Justice
Love Is: A "Valentine"

Welcome the Needy!

When it comes to helping the poor, the marginalized and refugees, Pope Francis urged Catholics not to mimic the "Mannequin Challenge" by just looking on, frozen and immobile. Discover more.

Don't build walls, Pope Francis says

Pope Francis said on Feb. 8 that society should not create "walls but bridges" to encourage good relations among people, adding it was wrong to be spiteful and say "I'll make you pay for that." Learn more.

Xaverian Family News

Xaverian Missionaries in Thailand

Keep up with all their ministry on their Facebook page.

The GYM Experience

Lent is right around the corner. It is a wonderful time to engage in creative ways to "give up" or "make time for __________," (fill in the blank!).

We at Across Borders wish to offer you the opportunity to "give some time for" ways of connecting with us and with each other through a series of webinars. We are offering three such Webinars during Lent.

March 12th on the topic of Youth and Catholic/Muslim Dialogue. The moderator will be Fr. Carl Chudy SX

March 26th will offer input to enhance both the preparation and follow up for Mission Service Trips that many parish youth programs offer. Fr. Rocco Puopolo SX will moderate that webinar.

April 9th We are inviting you to suggest a topic which you would want us to facilitate that could aid you in better understanding Mission, Intercultural and Inter-religious dialogue.

These are meant to offer youth, youth ministers and anyone interested in youth ministry some practical and time-tested ways of engaging in Inter-religious Dialogue and Youth Service Projects and more!!! If you would like to take part in these webinars, email Fr. Rocco Puopolo SX to receive more information as well as indicate the topic you would like us to present for that third webinar.

Conforti Institute

Peace Protesters disarm military jets bound for Saudis

Rev Daniel Woodhouse, a Methodist minister from Leeds, and Quaker activist Sam Walton were released on bail, pending charges after breaking into BAE's Warton site. The pair were arrested at BAE Systems' airbase in Warton, Lancashire, in the early hours of Sunday 29 January after entering BAE Systems' Warton site in order to disarm warplanes bound for Saudi Arabia. Learn more.

The Global Picture on Corruption

A deeply corrupted world. This is the impression you get reading the Corruption Perception Index 2016, a survey carried out by Transparency International which analyses the levels of corruption country by country... This year's results highlight the connection between corruption and inequality , which feed off each other to create a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth. Learn more.

Regarding inequality: "Education in Africa profits billionaire bleeding hearts ." Read more.
Let's hope! "Elections: dominant story of Africa in 2017" Learn more.

World Day of Social Justice- Feb. 20, 2017

Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability. Discover more.

Creator God,

All around us, we can plainly see

The injustices that plague our world.

Help us envision a more just world,

One that is possible, a world You call us to.

We can see the poverty

That diminishes life in so many ways.

Help us envision the human flourishing

That is the affirmation of your gift of life.

We can see the intolerance

That wounds our communities.

Help us envision the solidarity

That binds us together as one human family...

By: Jane Deren

Download the complete Prayer for World Social Justice Day here.

Love Is: A Valentine's Day/Week Artistic Reflection

Click on the image to see presentation

Nothing is more practical than

finding God, than

falling in Love

in a quite absolute, final way.

What you are in love with,

what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.

It will decide

what will get you out of bed in the morning,

what you do with your evenings,

how you spend your weekends,

what you read, whom you know,

what breaks your heart,

and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in Love, stay in love,

and it will decide everything.

The Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe SJ (1907-1991)

Superior General of the Society of Jesus,

Co-Founder, Center of Concern

XAVERIAN MISSION NEWSLETTER

Travel the world with the Xaverian Missionaries. Learn about "Symphonies of Peace" in Japan and miracles of healing in Bangladesh. Read the loving tribute to Fr. Larry Crosara SX and about the ordination of the first Sierra Leone-born Xaverian Missionary. Discover Global Awareness and catch up on the latest world and USA Province news. Read it here.