JUSTICE JOTTINGS
June 2023
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MSJC EVENTS &
SPECIAL REFLECTIONS
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THIS PRIDE MONTH, LEAD WITH LOVE |
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Reflection by Brian Halderman, Team Member of MSJC's LGBTQ+ Initiative
This past week the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ lobbying organization declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ people. Never in the over 40 year history of this organization has such a declaration been made. Over 525 bills were introduced in state legislatures around the country this year to attack the LGBTQ+ community. The transgender community was particularly under attack with over 200 of those bills targeted at gender affirming care, transgender athletes, pronoun refusal, among others. While June is traditionally set aside as a month for Pride celebrations, there is not much to celebrate here. While I will mark Pride this month, I attend not to celebrate, but rather to stand up, to be visible and to speak out. Inspired by the original protestors at Stonewall we must resist the bigotry and hatred that now permeates our culture.
I am struck by how much of this hate and bigotry is wrapped in the mantle of religion. How can followers of Jesus interpret the path of love, acceptance and encounter as rejection, hatred and bigotry?
If there ever was a time when we needed allies, now is the time! How are you standing in defiance of such bigotry? Celebrating Pride is not just for LGBTQ people, but for all of us. As people of faith who differ in perspective we hopefully can agree that Christ is a way of LOVE. Therefore we must remind our LGBTQ friends and family that they are beloved children of God. We need visible allies, more than a social media post but folks willing to advocate on our behalf. To speak out, to write letters, to lobby state legislators, school boards, corporate organizations and so many other entities that are codifying hatred in their laws and policies.
What is an ally to do?
Here are a few ideas:
- Educate yourself about LGBTQ individuals and their diversities and intersectionalities
- When you are invited in by an LGBTQ person to their reality respond with acceptance and love
- Be visible and present. Show up at events that celebrate the community and protests when they are necessary
- Use pronouns and inclusive language appropriately
- Write letters and lobby legislators and school board representatives to encourage legislation and policies of inclusion
- Publicly offer prayers of intention for the LGBTQ communities during mass and other prayer experiences
- Advocate for deeper inclusion within the Church
There are a number of helpful resources to learn more about being an ally. Check out this comprehensive guide from HRC. Outreach provides a number of helpful articles to educate yourself about LGBTQ concerns within the Church or with a Catholic, Christian perspective.
Ultimately the call to allies this Pride Moth is rather simple, in all things LEAD WITH LOVE.
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Did you know that our Death Penalty Abolition Team (circa 1998) is MSJC's longest standing issue team? Can you name this Marianist Sister who is a member of our Death Penalty Abolition/Restorative Justice Team, seen here in 2013 with death penalty abolitionist, Sr. Helen Prejean? Respond here!
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MSJC REFLECTIONS & RESOURCES |
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Refugees: You Can Help! Event Reflection by Fr. Ted Cassidy, Team Member
Our team decided to present to the Marianist family, and anyone else who was interested, practical ways refugees and immigrants can be helped. On June 7, we held a Zoom call and presented a program of the US State Department and Homeland Security Department called Welcome Corps. This program allows any group of at least five people who want to sponsor a refugee to be assisted in doing so. The team showed a very good video explaining the whole process during our event. We also shared an explanation of the difference between refugees and immigrants, and the various ways that individuals can participate in helping them re-settle in our country. One participant in the Zoom call has discovered how she will be able to welcome an immigrant into her home. Please check out more on the program and how you can help below!
The Immigrant Justice Team wishes to help Marianists around the country to discover ways to both aid our government to adjust its laws regarding immigration, and also to directly help and support immigrating persons in practical ways. We are especially interested in helping small faith communities or parishes to become more welcoming places to refugees and immigrants. Please reach out here if you want to learn more.
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New Youth/Young Adult Resource - Journey in Ecological Conversion
Download Wholemakers, a 10-session curriculum on integral ecology for use in high schools, college campuses and small groups. Created by and for young adults, it weaves together climate science with insights from Catholic tradition. Thanks to Matt Naveau (Integral Ecology Team and Queen of Apostles Community (QAC) Dayton) who was part of the national consortium of young adults giving input and vetting ideas for this groundbreaking resource produced by Catholic Climate Covenant & partners. Email Sr. Leanne ljablonski1@udayton.edu to share ideas for using this resource throughout our Marianist family and share through our Marianist Family Encounters Project.
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Summer Season Prayer & Reflection Resources
For the Love of Creation, is a Canadian initiative bringing together faith bodies and faith-based organizations to mobilize education, reflection, action and advocacy for climate justice.” Several resources:
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Self-care as Creation Care: A contemplative creative arts journal workbook to support you or a small group in an intentional and restorative relationship with yourself as a part of Creation. Three prayerful guided meditations: Here on this Land meditation for centering and reconnecting with nature and your own spirit, Outdoor (or window) meditation to help connect your senses with the rest of creation. Roots meditation uses the imagery of trees.
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Take a Sacred Pause: features Gkisedtanamoogk, an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper who invites us to a simple practice using the words Sense, Appreciate, Connect, Respect, Express, Delight (SACRED) to guide our discovery of how to be in a loving, respectful relationship with creation.
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BEYOND MSJC OPPORTUNITIES |
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MLC-NA Lay Assembly: Register and Attend MSJC Workshops!
The Marianist Lay Community of North America is hosting it's Lay Assembly this summer in St. Louis! The theme is Encounter, Embrace, Engage and the keynote speakers include Fr. Bryan Massingale and Tony Alonso. MSJC Issue and Project Teams are scheduled to give 6 workshops and one prayer throughout the weekend:
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Adele Social Justice Project -- Young Adults and the Marianist Family: ASJP Reflecting on Past, Present, & Future Engagement
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Death Penalty Abolition and Restorative Justice -- Building and Strengthening Community through Circle Process
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Integral Ecology -- Embracing the Challenge of Climate Change: a Marianist Call to Dialogue, Reflection and Action
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Integral Ecology -- Environmentally Sustainable Meetings & Lifestyles
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LGBTQ+ Initiative -- Let's talk about the T in LGBTQ+
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Racial Justice -- Facilitating Difficult Conversations
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Women & Justice -- Prayer Celebrating the Feast Day of Saint Mary Magdalene
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