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JUSTICE JOTTINGS
August 2023
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MSJC EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES | |
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Listen to the NACMS and MSJC 25th Anniversary Podcast Episode!
This special episode is a joint production between NACMS and MSJC's 25th Anniversary Planning Committee. This podcast is a recording of a Zoom conversation that took place between MSJC Director Sarah Gray and three people who were present at MSJC's foundation: Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI; Jim Vogt; and Fr. Ted Cassidy, SM. These three Marianists reflect on the origins of MSJC, its accomplishments over the years, and how it has been a model of collaboration in the Marianist Family.
Listen below on NACMS's website or search for Sharing our Marianist Stories and select the most recent episode wherever you listen to podcasts. This is the first episode in a two part series so look for a second one coming out in the fall!
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Save the Dates!
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Wednesday September 27th - 8pm ET | 7 PM CT | 6 PM MT | 5 PM PT | 2 PM HT -- Join with the MSJC Immigrant Justice and Integral Ecology Teams as we spend an hour in prayer and reflection for Creation. We'll explore the gift of water and call to justice in response to climate change impacts on waterways and refugees. Zoom Registration will post on the MSJC site in mid-September.
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Join MSJC volunteers, supporters, and donors for some fun on October 10th at 2 PM HT | 5 PM PT | 6 PM MT | 7 PM CT | 8 PM ET for our Virtual 25th Anniversary Celebration. All are welcome! Add to your calendar using this link.
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Assembly Recap
We saw so many of you at the Lay Assembly in St. Louis this summer and loved it! MSJC was ecstatic to provide 6 workshops, a prayer, and to celebrate our 25th Anniversary with Assembly participants. If you attended the Assembly and one of our workshops, the website below has all the resources and next steps that MSJC teams wanted to share. These resources can also be reviewed and used by anyone who did not get a chance to the attend the Assembly or one of our specific sessions. Check them out below:
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If you missed our Lay Assembly Presentation check out our slideshow above. You might see a familiar face or many! We were honored to share this slideshow as part of our 25th Anniversary Celebration at the July Lay Assembly. | |
MSJC REFLECTIONS & RESOURCES | |
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Coming Out - Reflection by Malia Webb
Everyone has parts of their identity that aren’t apparent on the surface. We can choose to hide aspects of our identity in some spaces and amplify other aspects in other spaces. We all modulate how visible parts of ourselves are, even if those parts are very important to us.
One of those parts of me is that I’m Catholic.
I love being Catholic, even setting aside the purpose, hope, and strength that I derive from God’s love. I can walk into any Catholic church in the world and feel right at home. I cherish the deep and rich history of Catholicism. I am inspired by its saints and by the teachings of Christ. I love deciphering biblical stories depicted on the walls of our churches. I love that even when I
am in mass where I do not understand the language, I can follow the entire service. I love the Eucharist. I love that Catholicism calls me to sainthood and is the means by which I deepen my relationship with God. I love that no matter where I am, I can find a fellow Catholic and feel seen.
Another of those parts of me is that I’m bisexual.
I love being bisexual, even setting aside the fact that men are hot and women are hot and nonbinary people are hot. I am constantly learning about myself and others. The Queer community is vibrant and dynamic, and it advocates for itself joyously. I love learning Queer history and am inspired by the generations who have come before me. I never feel the urge to alter pronouns while singing a love song. I love mutual recognition with another Queer person, a shared secret and understanding. I love the way the Queer community challenges me to be a
better person and inspires me to attain new heights of freedom. I love that no matter where I am, I can find a fellow Queer sibling and feel seen... [Read more here!]
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What I'm Reading: A Journey Toward Cultural Humility - Reflection by Team Member Libby Harbaugh
Last month, I had the great privilege of attending the MLCNA gathering in St Louis alongside many friends, colleagues and new friends in the Marianist family. Like probably many other attendees, I have not stopped thinking about and pondering my own role in Fr. Bryan Massingale's engaging call to action to the Marianist family to work for a more equitable, sustainable and diverse Church. Maybe you weren't able to attend, but you, too, have the desire to step out of your comfort zone into the growth zone and consider your role in this work, too. This summer, I've been reading Heart: A Journey Toward Cultural Humility by Dr James L. Knight, and I could not recommend it more. Dr James Knight is an educator, coach, consultant, author, speaker and equity and inclusion strategist, currently living in Cleveland, OH, where he works at St Edward High School.
This interactive workbook has been described as "a workout for your soul, and Fr James Knight is your personal trainer." Throughout the lessons, Dr Knight requires that you look inward and outward, sitting quietly and engaging humbly, to move forward, together. Considering Dr Knight's concepts in the context of our work as people of faith, specifically in the Marianist charism, provides even more motivation and intentionality to the tools and skills developed throughout. Dr Knight's book "provides both important information and an easy-to-follow roadmap to keep us on the right path." Once you get into it, I don't think you'll be able to step away for long! No matter where you are in your journey with diversity, equity and inclusion work, I truly believe this book will lead all readers to a new "light bulb" moment.
Maybe you'd rather choose a different place to start or continue your own DEI work! We invite you to look at this list of resources to find a channel that feels best to you!
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There are two strong women collaborators to celebrate in September, Venerable Marie Thérèse de Lamourous and St. Phoebe.
September 14th is considered by many as a “Day of Celebration” of Marie Thérèse de Lamourous. This day is an opportunity for us to remember her life and the gifts she brought to the Marianist Family in the foundational years.
While Fr. Chaminade was in exile, Marie Thérèse effectively conducted services, taught catechism, and visited prisoners. She provided pastoral counseling and guidance. Later, she operated the House of Mercy for former prostitutes, and also founded the lay faith communities, or Sodalities, which ultimately became the lay branch of the Marianist Family. She did not work alone as she knew the value of collaboration. Marie Thérèse, like many women today, empowered other women to learn job skills and to hold on to their faith during a time of crisis. And yet our Church and world still often overlook the strength, gifts, and contributions of women. If you or your community would like to prayerfully explore how to respond by recognizing the work and ministry of Marie Thérèse de Lamourous, please see this linked document created by the Women & Justice Team.
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Additionally. the Feast of St. Phoebe is on September 3rd. Phoebe was a woman of great courage and deep love. She answered God’s call to minister to God’s people during the earliest days of the Church, when persecution against Christians was strong. She earned the trust of Paul, who depended on her to handle communications with the ecclesial community in Rome. In the Letter to the Romans, St. Paul commends Phoebe to the church in Rome, introduces her as a deacon (diakonos) of the church at Cenchreae, and asks that they “receive her in the Lord” (Romans 16:1-2a). If you would like to find out more about a modern day movement of Catholics in the active discernment of our Church about women and the diaconate, visit this site: https://discerningdeacons.org/
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DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION & RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | |
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Call on Congress and the President to End the Federal Death Penalty
Earlier this month, the Department of Justice handed down a death sentence for the person responsible for the killings at a Pittsburgh synagogue in Oct 2018. The case marked the first time that federal prosecutors have sought and won a death sentence during the administration of President Biden. Sadly, the appeals process will likely drag on for years, repeatedly reopening wounds for each person impacted by this hate crime, and gaining notoriety for the racist anti-
Semitic perpetrator as a martyr for others who think like he does. For more on this case, see this statement by Catholic Mobilizing Network. See also the earlier message from Pope Francis, about his intention for September 2022.
The case highlights the need for passage of the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act (H.R.4633 / S2299). Each of us can call on our members of Congress to sign on to the bills as cosponsors, or at least commit to supporting them when they come up for a vote. We can also call on President Biden to take executive action. Please join your voice to say clearly -- as the Catechism of the Catholic Church does -- that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” To learn more and to take action, go to the following websites:
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BEYOND MSJC OPPORTUNITIES | |
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In San Antonio or nearby? You're invited to attend a special event at the University of the Incarnate Word to abolish the death penalty!
When: Tuesday, October 10
What: The University of the Incarnate Word, Catholic Mobilizing Network, and other local partners will collaborate to observe "World Day Against the Death Penalty." Three main events are planned for the day. Participants can sign up for any of the following: First, at 11:30, participants will join local organizations and groups who mobilize when an execution is scheduled in Texas by holding a public vigil at San Fernando Cathedral. UIW will provide transportation from the Broadway campus to San Fernando or participants can meet the group downtown. The bus will return to UIW by 3:00 p.m. Second, at 6:15, participants will enjoy an informal buffet meal at the UIW Student Engagement Ballroom. Finally, at 7.p.m., the evening program featuring an educational panel will begin.
Read more details and register below!
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Please join us in prayer and action for all those affected by the devastating wildfires on Maui, including many people and places connected to the Marianist Family.
Donate here to support our beloved Maui ʻohana:
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Questions, comments, or feedback for Justice Jottings can be sent to us at [email protected].
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