September 22, 2022

The changing of the seasons is an ample and opportune moment to contemplate the wonder of God’s creation. The ecumenical Season of Creation kicked off on September 1 and continues through October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis encouraged people to “listen to the voice of creation” while the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development posted a liturgy guide from Fr. James Hug, SJ (Spanish version here). As the weather cools and leaves change, let us take a moment to marvel at the beauty God has created in our common home.

Member Feature

The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate The JPIC office of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate has released their annual Laudato Si’ Action Plan Report. The report contains a variety of recommendations the OMIs are using, ranging from transportation ideas to parish gardens, as they continue the process of ecological conversion in their congregation.

News

Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development Reorganizes The Dicastery for Integral Human Development, the mega-dicastery which consists (in part) of the old Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace announced a reorganization on September 14. According to their announcement: “After the first five years of experience, thanks to a thorough evaluation, and with the Roman Curia’s new constitution Praedicate Evangelium, the DPIHD is newly missioned and reconfigured….” That mission is presented in a brief document here.

Laudato Si' Action Platform Being Evaluated In a letter to its conference distribution list, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development announced that the Laudato Si’ Action Platform was being evaluated and would be rethought in various ways over this fall. As part of this change, John Mundell was appointed as the new director of the Action Platform.

How the Poor People's Campaign is making 'good trouble' The Sisters of Mercy have partnered with the Poor People’s campaign and helped advocate and promote events for the Poor people’s campaign such as the Moral March on Washington. They have worked together on a multitude of events to bring awareness and “dedicate themselves to serving people who are made poor and to addressing the root causes of systemic injustices.” Read more about the PPC and the Sisters of Mercy here.

Cuban dictatorship expels superior of Jesuits from the island On September 13, 2022, Father David Panteleon, a superior for the Jesuits and president of the Cuban conference of religious, was removed from the island when his residency permit was not renewed. The Spanish news agency EFE reported that the Cuban dictatorship wanted Pantaleon to control the critiques and political comments of the Jesuits in Cuba but Pantaleon refused. Read more here.

Catholic church burned, priests and religious sister kidnapped in war-torn Cameroon On September 16, 2022, there was an attack on a Catholic Church in which unknown gunmen set fire to a church kidnapping a religious sister, five priests, and two laymen. Cameroon has been in a civil war since 2017. The Catholic Bishops have released a statement demanding their release and have also stated that attacks on Catholics have been increasing there. Read more here.

U.S. bishops hold National Migration Week amid migrant crisis   The U.S. Bishops have invited Catholics to participate in Migration Week and the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (Sunday, September 25). Beginning September 19 throughout the week will be a time to reflect on the lives and circumstances of immigrants and refugees. In a statement by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops “Immigrants are not faceless numbers - but human persons…they are our brothers and sisters”. The Bishop's responses come from the movement of immigrants to the northern states by senators in response to the crisis in the south.  Read more here.

Upcoming JPIC Events

Dealing with Immigration Denials from CLINIC: A four-part webinar series on dealing with legal denials of immigration benefits, starting September 8 and running through September 29 Bread Not Stones Action Days from Pax Christi:  September 19-23 - Legislative Visits September 24 - Day of Public Action September 25 - Parish Outreach Confronting Environmental Racism from the Franciscan Action Network A four part webinar series moving to different cities around the US, starting September 8 and ending December 8 Laudato Si’ Promoters Meeting Online, September 22, 2022 Register here Putting our Faith in Action: Voting to Protect our Common Home from the Catholic Climate Covenant Webinar, September 28, 2022 at 1pm ET Register here Justice Reimagined Awards and Celebration from Catholic Mobilizing Network In-person award banquet, October 10, 6:30pm, Washington DC

Contact CMSM JPIC Dr. David Rohrer Budiash, Director of Programs & Managing Editor, Review for Religious Visit us online: cmsm.org/justiceandpeace

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