JUSTICE JOTTINGS
December 2021
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LGBTQ+ INITIATIVE
O Come, O Come Emmanuel... PLEASE!
Brad Leger, a member of the LGBTQ+ Initiative Team, offers some Advent reflections on how to counter a sense of despair by cultivating an attitude of hopefulness.
I’ll be honest. I know that the Advent season is supposed to be a time of hope and anticipation of celebrating Jesus’ birth and building peace in the world; but I really haven’t been feeling it lately. I mean, come on. Every time I turn around, there are more and more negative news reports on the LGBTQ+ front: cruel, insensitive, misinformed pronouncements and policies made by church leadership in our country concerning LGBTQ+ school and church employees and LGBTQ+ faithful in general (including the denial of sacraments). It seems to be accelerating.
Some prelates from other parts of the world continue to support the passage of laws which criminalize the actions of LGBTQ+ persons who are trying to live their lives authentically. There is an ever-rising wave of anti-transgender legislation being considered... To make matters even more discouraging and perplexing, there is the deafening silence by most clergy and leadership around these issues of violence and exclusivity.
Add to this, there are the continued contentious issues associated with the COVID pandemic, the persistent presence of racism in our country, toxic partisanship in our politics, the cruel treatment of immigrants around the world, the heightened tensions between the U.S. and China and Russia – and you get the perfect storm for disillusionment, sadness, hopelessness, and frustration.
(Read more for some signs of hope and a beautiful Marian Advent prayer…)
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ADELE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT
What Are You Carrying?
The Adele Social Justice Project (ASJP) Core Team took some time before our monthly meeting to talk about the tough parts of life we each carry. We connected on what we may be carrying as we entered into the Advent season. We read a reflection and after having some honest vulnerability we felt called to share this blog post, Day 6: "Carrying That Too." Please read it and take a chance to ask yourself what are you carrying that no longer serves you, or what does your faith call you to carry? ASJP feels called to carry Adele's passion in social justice as close to our hearts as possible.
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TORNADO VICTIMS
How You Can help
Many of us want to know what they can do to assist the people in western Kentucky and surrounding states who suffered so much loss of life and property during the recent tornadoes. WFPL, an NPR affiliate in Louisville, has put together an extensive listing of disaster relief funds. For information click here.
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WOMEN & JUSTICE
WHAT: Celebrating Adèle Past and Present - Join us.
WHEN: Sunday Jan. 9
--------(3pm EST, 2pm CST;12pm PST; 9am HST)
WHERE: Zoom
This will be a time to remember and honor Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, a woman who was an agent of change.
The gathering will include:
- Discussion about her contributions to the Marianist Family
- Time to honor Sr. Mary Louise Foley and other Marianist sisters.
- Small group discussions in the Zoom breakout rooms.
We want to focus particularly on the question:
“How can we, as Marianists, better empower women and girls
within our personal or professional lives?”
The No. American Center for Marianist Studies (NACMS) has multiple resources available about Adele (podcasts, articles, books, etc.) If you would like to learn more about her life ahead of this celebration, click here.
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ENVIRONMENT
WHAT: Winter Solstice Sunrise Celebration & Prayers for Peace
WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 21, 6:45 am
WHERE: Join us in person on at Mt. St. John in Dayton.
-----------OR use the program on MEEC’s website and join ‘in-spirit’ at a time
-----------of your choice.
HOSTED BY: Marianist Environmental Education Center.
We will observe the longest night of the year with prayers for world peace and a reflective candlelight procession through the woods of Mt. St. John.
- A bonfire in the prairie at sunrise will welcome the Prince of Peace.
- Hot beverages and a light breakfast provided.
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Christmas/Winter Seasonal Cards
--------for Sale from MEEC
Nine varieties are available, all featuring the creative efforts of local or Marianist artists, with inspirational quotes.
Guadalupe Breakthrough by Bro. A. Brian Zampier also features the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Available in packs of ten including envelopes.
Each card measures 5 1/2" X 4 1/4."
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You Can Help Reverse Global Warming
- Feeling hopeless, and maybe helpless, when thinking about climate change?
- Looking for ways you can have an impact?
===-Then join us for:
WHAT: Global Warming – You Can Make a Difference,
------- a 5-session workshop
WHEN: 5 Mondays, Jan. 10 – Feb. 7
HOW: via Zoom (link given upon registration)
The goal is to help you determine where and how you can have an impact on global warming and provide a supportive group setting to move you to action. The program is free!
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DEATH PENALTY
& RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
The Circle Process and Paths of Renewed Encounter – Two Helpful Resources
John Holden, a member of the Death Penalty Abolition and Restorative Justice Team, shares about his recent experience learning the “circle process” as a means to deeper listening, peacemaking and conflict resolution.
“In many parts of the world, there is a need for paths of peace to heal open wounds. There is also a need for peacemakers, men and women prepared to work boldly and creatively to initiate processes of healing and renewed encounter.” (Pope Francis, “Fratelli Tutti,” 225)
The last couple of years have been filled with challenging, impactful events in our world. At all levels - in our families, our neighborhoods, our countries - we would benefit from practices that help us to listen more deeply to each other. An example of such a practice is a 'circle process,' which is derived from Indigenous teachings and other wisdom traditions and is rooted in an understanding of profound interconnectedness. (Read more…)
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IMMIGRANT JUSTICE
This is an All-Hands-On-Deck Moment
for Refugee Resettlement in this Country
In the above titled article, the CEO’s of 3 national refugee resettlement agencies issue a call to all Americans to do their part to assist in resettling Afghans. Resettlement agencies you can contact to see how you can be involved:
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The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before.
So Stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running.
- Jan Richardson
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Questions, comments, or feedback for Justice Jottings can be sent to Jim Vogt
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