Shalom News North America
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An instrument of hope, formation, and action
concerning priority matters of social justice.
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Climate Report
COP27
The Letter
Plastics
One Planet, One Family
Faith & Food
Black Catholic History
Educating Girls
Day of the Poor
Helping Ukrainians
Violence & Women
Gun Violence
Nuclear Restraint
Spiritual Exercises
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Dear Friend,
In the encyclical Laudato Si’ Pope Francis emphasizes that the social and ecological challenges of our day are interrelated (integral ecology). As you read through this newsletter, and the social and ecological concerns it highlights, consider how these concerns are related to the Laudato Si Goals and SSND becoming a Laudato Si Congregation.
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Shalom North America Contacts
(If the newsletter images are not loading properly, click here to view as webpage. Click here to download a pdf version of newsletter.)
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UN Climate Report Warning
Countries around the world are not living up to their commitments to fight climate change, pointing Earth toward a future marked by more intense flooding, wildfires, drought, heat waves and species extinction, according to a new report by the United Nations. Just 26 of 193 countries that agreed last year to step up their climate actions have followed through with more ambitious plans. Only an urgent system-wide transformation can avoid an accelerating climate disaster. The report looks at how to deliver this transformation, through action in the electricity supply, industry, transport and buildings sectors, and the food and financial systems. Learn more, read the report.
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COP27
The United Nations Conference on Climate Change, called COP27, will take place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, November 6-18, 2022. COP27 provides a very important opportunity for governments, civil society, and other critical stakeholders to meet, collaborate, and come to agreement on efforts to better reduce emissions and address the climate crisis. COP27 holds a special significance because of its focus on the African subcontinent, home to some of the world's poorest countries, who are particularly ill-equipped to handle environmental disasters. You can follow the proceedings of COP27 at https://media.un.org/en/webtv. Throughout COP27, free 45-minute online classes will be offered on a range of climate change topics. Click here to learn more and register for the class that interests you.
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The Justice Coalition of Religious, which represents over 200 congregations of women and men religious at the United Nations, have put together a truly excellent resource guide for COP27 – click here to view. On November 7 at 10:30 am (Central), you are invited to join the Catholic Religious COP27 delegates and people of faith from around the world in an online prayer service for fruitful dialogue and inspired responses to the climate crisis. Click here to register for the prayer vigil.
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Human Dignity & Integrity of Creation |
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The Letter
"The Letter: A Message for Our Earth" is a new documentary film that tells the story of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si'. Filmmaker Nicholas Brown says, “We're telling Laudato Si' but through the eyes of the people who live it on the front lines.” Arouna Kandé, a climate refugee from Senegal, represents the voice for the poor. Chief Dadá from the Amazon-Brazil brings the voice of the indigenous and the forest. Ridhima, 14 years old from India, is the voice of the youth, and Greg Asner and Robin Martin, scientists from Hawaii, are the voice of the wildlife. Learn more here. Click on the image below (on the left) to watch the trailer and the image on the right to watch the full film (for free). Groups interested in hosting a screening of the film can register here and receive resources to help organize the event.
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Most Plastics Are Not Recycled
The vast majority of plastic that people use, and in many cases put into blue recycling bins, is headed to landfills, or worse, according to a new report from Greenpeace on the state of plastic recycling in the United States. The report indicates that the amount of plastic actually turned into new things has fallen to new lows of around 5%. That number is expected to drop further as more plastic is produced. As stated in the Greenpeace report, “Will we allow companies to continue to promote the failed, toxic plastic recycling myth or will we demand a pivotal change that dramatically reduces the production of single-use plastics?” Learn more.
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Human Dignity & Integrity of Creation |
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"One Planet, One Family" Campaign
In response to the reality that upward of 100 million people could be pushed into poverty by 2030 if accelerated actions to limit climate change aren't taken, Catholic Relief Services has launched a new climate action initiative – One Planet, One Family. The effort seeks to educate Catholics more about climate change, how it is severely impacting people today and is expected to only worsen in years to come without substantial reductions in heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions and steps to enhance resilience to a changing climate. It is part of the wider Caritas Internationalis "Together We" multiyear global campaign asking Catholics to take actions to combat poverty and conserve nature in the spirit of integral ecology and solidarity that are key themes in Pope Francis' encyclicals Laudato Si' and Fratelli Tutti. The campaign provides prayers alongside tools and resources to lobby elected officials for more aggressive climate responses. Read more about the campaign. Check out these resources for reflection, awareness building, and engagement. Take the campaign pledge.
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Faith, Food, and the Environment
With climate change, an ongoing pandemic, war and rising food prices, the need to build sustainable and just agricultural and food systems in the U.S. has never been more urgent. Join the Catholic Climate Covenant and Catholic Rural Life for a webinar discussion (11/3 at 1 pm Central) on ways farming methods can be in a balanced relationship with creation and how agriculture can help cultivate economic sustainability. Learn more/register here.
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November is Black Catholic History Month
The story of Black Catholics in the United States is about communities tenaciously clinging to faith amidst great hardship. This history is celebrated annually by highlighting the contributions of Black and African American Catholics to U.S. history and contemporary society. The decision to designate November as Black Catholic History Month reflects the reality that several important dates to Catholics of African descent fall within the month. Learn more.
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The tradition of Black American Catholicism lives on in various sainthood causes. Potential Black American saints include Julia Greeley, Sister Thea Bowman, Pierre Toussaint, and Father Augustus Tolton among others. Learn more here. Click the link below to watch the new film about Sister Thea Bowman.
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The Education of Girls
In 2021, with less than 10 years until the Sustainable Development Goal 4 target deadline of 2030, the G7 heads of state set and endorsed a pair of global objectives on girls’ education to be achieved by 2026 in low- and lower-middle-income countries: Objective One - 40 million more girls in school; and Objective Two - 20 million more girls reading by age 10 or the end of primary school. A recently issued baseline report finds that achieving objective one will be difficult but is achievable, while achieving objective two will be much more difficult. Read report. These two objectives focused on the most marginalized and vulnerable girls who are being left furthest behind as a result of poverty, disability, conflict, displacement, and natural disasters. They were intended to be stepping stones to the 2030 targets of universal primary and secondary completion and minimum learning proficiency for all. Learn more.
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World Day of the Poor (11/13)
“For your sake, Christ became poor.” This is the theme of the sixth World Day for the Poor on Sunday, November 13, 2022. Pope Francis asks us to reflect on our lifestyle choices and increase our efforts to accompany the poor among us. He says, “This is precisely what solidarity is: sharing the little we have with those who have nothing, so that no one goes without. The sense of community and communion as a style of life increases and a sense of solidarity matures.” Read Pope Francis' full message here. Download a prayer resource from the Caritas Social Action Network here. Urge the U.S. Congress to take action here.
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Help for Ukrainians
The US Catholic Bishops Office of Migration and Refugee Services is launching a new initiative to support displaced Ukrainians – Welcome Circles. A welcome circle is a group of 5-20 people who come together to provide wraparound support for the family and provide orientation to their new community in keeping with the federal Uniting for Ukraine program. Download informational flyer. Welcome Circles have already begun in Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Seattle. Click here to learn more and sign-up for one of the several upcoming November information sessions.
The Canadian government is issuing new savings bonds to raise money for Ukraine. At major banks, Canadians will be able to purchase (Ukraine) Sovereignty Bonds, which will mature after five years with interest. Money raised will be channeled through the International Monetary Fund to the government of Ukraine for basic operations (e.g. pensions, utilities). No limits have been set. These bonds will also be opened to other countries. Canada is the first country in the world outside of Ukraine to offer a bond for purchase in support of Ukraine.
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Eliminate Violence Against Women Day (11/25)
In establishing the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 1999, the United Nations chose the date November 25 to honor the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by government leaders. The most recent global estimates show that the prevalence of violence against women has remained largely unchanged over the last decade with one in three women subjected to physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. View infographic, read report. War is intimately linked to violence against women (see video below). Click here to learn how years of war and conflict in Syria have affected violence against women and girls.
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Speaking Out Against Violence Toward Women
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Addressing Gun Violence in Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has put into effect a nationwide freeze on the sale, purchase, and transfer of handguns within Canada – and people cannot bring newly acquired handguns into the country. The national handgun freeze is part of the government’s comprehensive plan to tackle gun violence. Canada has already banned over 1,500 types of assault-style firearms and has strengthened gun control laws to expand background checks. Bill C-21, which is being debated in the Canadian Parliament, proposes further measures to fight gun smuggling and trafficking, and provide law enforcement more tools to investigate firearms crimes. Learn more.
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Catholic Organizations Urge Nuclear Restraint
The School Sisters of Notre Dame joined 28 other Catholic organizations in sending a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden this week urging him to show great restraint and to do everything in his power to de-escalate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine – to seek dialogue with Russia, and to take immediate, concrete steps toward nuclear disarmament. Click here to read the full statement. We invite you to use the SSND Voter Voice Tool to send your own personal message to President Biden.
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Shine a Blue Light for Human Rights
Many major Canadian landmarks will shine bright blue across Canada on December 10, 2022 to celebrate International Human Rights Day, in solidarity of the fundamental principles of human dignity that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms. Landmarks include: the CN Tower in Toronto, Niagara Falls, and the Peace Bridge connecting Windsor with Detroit, among other sites. Join in the movement by making plans to have your building or community’s landmark lit blue for Human Rights Day on December 10.
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Spiritual Exercises for Justice Seekers
Apathy is not a virtue. But it is an understandable reaction to a world plagued by a changing climate, ongoing violence, and the constant spread of hate and discrimination. With so many constantly evolving problems, where can we turn to sustain ourselves in the work for justice and the common good? We conclude our newsletter inviting you to make use of these five Ignatian spiritual exercises as profiled by Eric Clayton in US Catholic. Peace to you.
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The SSND Shalom Network witnesses to the Gospel with audacity and hope as we collaborate to build just relationships and respond to the urgent needs of our times. |
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Shalom News North America is an e-publication of the Shalom North America Contacts (SNAC) of the School Sisters of Notre Dame - Barb Paleczny, Colleen Kammer, Ethel Howley, Mary Carter Waren, and Tim Dewane. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcomed. Email us at tdewane@ssndcp.org.
Please only print this e-publication if necessary.
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