On April 22, the world celebrated Earth Day. To mark the occasion, Pope Francis tweeted: “We all need to make a contribution to halt the destruction of our Common Home and to restore nature: governments, businesses and citizens – we must act like brothers and sisters who share the Earth, the common home that God has given us.”
The Holy Father has called importance to the environment since the beginning of his pontificate and through the publishing of the encyclical, Laudato Si'. May we as a Catholic community, continue to commit ourselves and our work to caring for creation to build a sustainable future for generations to come. We invite you to engage with the Laudato Si’ Action Platform to partake in this meaningful work.
|
|
The CMSM team is seeking a full-time Program Coordinator. The job description can be found here.
The part-time Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation coordinator position is still available. The job description can be found here.
Please share these opportunities with anyone who might be interested in joining the team.
|
|
U.S. Bishops’ President and Migration Chairman Respond to U.S. Government’s “Uniting for Ukraine” Initiative
On April 21, the Biden Administration announced the creation of “Uniting for Ukraine,” a streamlined process for displaced Ukrainians seeking to enter the United States. To be eligible for this program, Ukrainians must have been residing in Ukraine as of February 11, 2022, have a U.S.-based financial sponsor (either an individual or entity), have met certain public health requirements, and pass a series of background checks and security screenings. The Administration’s announcement further specified that, beginning April 25, Ukrainians seeking to enter at U.S. ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border will be denied entry without a valid visa or pre-authorization to travel to the United States.
Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, issued a statement citing the Bishops’ concern for familial support and refugee access to basic services upon arrival. The statement concludes by mentioning that the USCCB and the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia have partnered with Welcome.US on its Uniting for Ukraine initiative.
|
|
Pope Francis to 'La Nacion': I am ready to do everything to stop the war
In an interview with Argentinian daily newspaper La Nacion, Pope Francis says even if he is not planning to go to Kyiv or meet Patriarch Kirill in the near future, "there are always" ongoing efforts to arrive at peace in Ukraine. Pope Francis says he is ready to do everything to stop the war in Ukraine, and insists that the Vatican is working tirelessly diplomatically to achieve peace.
|
|
Ukraine: Pope Francis renews appeal for Easter truce
Sunday, April 24, marks two months since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The Holy Father noted that the war has grown more violent. During the Regina Coeli prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis urged everyone to pray for peace and have the courage to say that peace is possible.
“It is sad that these days, which are the holiest and most solemn for all Christians, we hear the deadly noise of weapons rather than the sound of bells announcing the Resurrection. It is sad that arms are taking the place of words.” (Pope Francis)
|
|
Religious Men serving in Ukraine
Male religious across the world have been supporting the efforts in Ukraine:
|
|
U.S. Bishops’ Migration Chairman Addresses Termination of Title 42
On April 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order terminating the use of Title 42 of the U.S. Code to prohibit certain noncitizens from entering the United States, effective May 23, 2022. Title 42 was instituted in an effort to reduce COVID-19 transmission; this policy has led to the expulsion of more than one million migrants by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since 2020, including many asylum-seeking children and families. Title 42 has overridden normal immigration proceedings and skirted due process protections, forcibly returning vulnerable individuals to places where their lives are in danger.
On April 5, Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, auxiliary bishop of Washington and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, issued a statement.
On April 25, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on any changes to Title 42, which could interfere with the termination of Title 42 on May 23. Read more here.
The Assumptionists minister to migrants in El Paso, Texas at St. Francis Xavier Parish. Their ministry is focused on meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of migrants at the U.S/Mexico border. This important work emulates their charism "to go wherever God is threatened in man and man threatened as the image of God." You can learn more about their ministry by reading this blog post or visiting their website.
|
|
Cardinal Czerny: Earth Day demands urgent action
Reflecting on Earth Day, Cardinal Michael Czerny explains why the Church and Pope Francis care so greatly about the Earth. Cardinal Czerny insists that Earth Day is "an urgent day" to commemorate due to the lack of care that humanity has for the earth.
“Earth Day is a day for remembering our belonging in this Common Home to one common family, and to remember our very serious, and I would say, increasing responsibility to take good care of this one Common Home we have." (Cardinal Czerny)
|
|
Encounter for Our Common Home Campaign
This Spring, join Catholics across the country for a weeks-long U.S. Catholic training and advocacy campaign to encounter and urge U.S. Senators to support climate solutions now for the sake of our most affected neighbors, our future, and our common home, advocating from a place of faith and reason. This is an advocacy effort in concert with the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP) activities in the United States.
|
|
Laudato Si' Action Platform |
|
The Laudato Si’ Action Platform team has been working to move forward many initiatives. We invite you to participate in their work through the following updates:
-
Please share your events and resources with the LSAP Team! The team welcomes the opportunity to feature your initiatives on the website and in blog posts, social media posts, and emails over the coming months. A form to share your events is here while a form to share your resources is here.
-
A new Tool Kit has been prepared by the LSAP Team to assist in your reflection, planning, and deepening of your commitment through this seven year journey of transformation. You can find that kit by clicking here: Laudato Si' Action Platform Tool Kit.
Many videos and support materials have been added to help you actualize your Ladauto Si' Goals. These can be found on our new LSAP webpage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
