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Throughout this month, let us be ever more purposeful in our efforts to hear the integral cries of the poor and of Earth. Loving God, "teach us new and unsuspected ways of living so that current and future generations can walk humbly in beauty, love all compassionately and live justly
in solidarity with all creation."
Please note - our next newsletter will be delivered on July 12.
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Shalom North America Contacts
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for our printer-friendly (pdf) version of the newsletter.
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Integrity of Creation
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 World Environment Day (6/5)
This year's theme is "Beat Plastic Pollution", a call to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time. How can we make changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on our natural places, our wildlife and our own health? The
World Environment Day website offers specific ideas of how we can all carry out this theme in many simple ways. Plastic - if you can't reuse it, refuse it.
Prayer resource.
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Integrity of Creation
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 World Oceans Day (6/8)
This is a day to celebrate the life-giving role of oceans and take part in stewardship events and activities in our communities from coast to coast. We are all connected to the oceans no matter where we live, no matter how far from the coast. The focus for 2018 is Preventing Plastic Pollution and Encouraging Solutions for a Healthy Ocean. Will you
stop using single use plastic bags, bottles and straws to help our ocean?
Learn more, be inspired, take action.
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Integrity of Creation
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 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Public Comment Opportunity
The Department of the Interior is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to enable oil and gas leasing in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This notice is the beginning of a 60-day public comment period that will run through June 19, 2018. The National Religious Partnership for the Environment (NRPE) is encouraging the faith community to urge the Department of the Interior not to allow oil and gas activities on the Coastal Plain and protect God's creation and the Gwich'in people. Submit comments (sample note provided), sign a petition.
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Integrity of Creation and Human Dignity
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Laudato Si' (6/18)
We commemorate the third anniversary of
Laudato Si' and the reminder that each of us is
called to care for our common home. All of humanity must understand that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach. We must integrate questions of justice in debates on environment so as to hear both the cry of Earth and the cry of the poor. Last year, in celebration of the 2nd anniversary of
Laudato Si', the Global Catholic Climate Movement launched the
Laudato Si' Pledge campaign to keep the message alive and encourage Catholic action - have you taken the pledge?
Resources for
living out Laudato Si'.
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Human Dignity and the Integrity of Creation
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 Poor People's Campaign
The
Poor People's Campaign is a 40-day "fusion" of direct nonviolent action of the poor, clergy and advocates that began on May 14. Campaign organizers point out that 50 years after King's assassination, systemic poverty, systemic racism, ecological devastation, the war economy, and Christian nationalism still persist. The campaign intends to bring these "moral failures" back to the center of public discourse. The theme for week 3 (May 27-June 2) is
Militarism and the Proliferation of Gun Violence. The theme for week 4 (June 3-9) is
The Right to Health and a Healthy Planet: Ecological Devastation and Health Care.
Learn more/get involved.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 New Vatican Document on Markets and Ethics
Considerations for an Ethical Discernment Regarding Some Aspects of the Present Economic-Financial System was approved by Pope Francis and released May 17. Reinforcing Catholic Social Teaching principles, the document reminds us that every economic activity has a moral and ethical dimension. Everything from where a family chooses to invest its savings to where a multinational corporation declares its tax residence - are ethical decisions. "No profit is in fact legitimate when it falls short of the objective of the integral promotion of the human person, the universal destination of goods, and the preferential option for the poor." (#10). Reflections on the document - America, NCR. Complete text.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 World Day Against Child Labor (6/12)
This is the day in which the plight of child laborers is highlighted with the hopes of one day being able to end all forms of child labor that may exist in the world. All over the world, child labor is running rampant, in developing countries and in many industrialized nations. It is estimated that there are 215 million child laborers in the world and half of them are engaged in extremely hazardous work. Learn more. Prayer for Child Laborers.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 Juneteenth (6/19)
Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced the end of the civil war and the end of slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation came 2½ years earlier on January 1, 1863, and many slave owners continued to hold their slaves captive after the announcement, Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African American freedom. How might we recognize Juneteenth in our culture today?
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Human Life and Dignity
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 World Refugee Day (6/20)
Today, there are over 22.5 million refugees, all hoping to find a safe community to welcome them. Canadians are responding to this need by
converting college dorms in Toronto into housing for asylum seekers. Contrarily, in the United States, the Trump administration has set an all-time low refugee admissions goal, and will most likely fail to meet it. Since President Trump took office, more than 27,000 people have crossed the border into Canada seeking asylum due to his administration's anti-immigrant policies.
Please remember to participate in the SSND advocacy campaign to urge the administration to
Welcome More Refugees, because, in the words of UN Secretary-General
António Guterres, "This is not about sharing a burden. It is about sharing a global responsibility, based not only on the broad idea of our common humanity but also on the very specific obligations of international law. The root problems are war and hatred, not people who flee; refugees are among the first victims of terrorism." Please make use of this
World Refugee Day Toolkit which includes a host of resources for reflection and action.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 Dreamers, Farm Bill, Human Trafficking
Key legislation addressing the legal status of Dreamers, policies involving hunger and nutrition programs and farming practices (Farm Bill), and support for anti-human trafficking efforts are all currently under consideration by Congress. Check out this SSND resource page to learn more and use our e-advocacy tool to take action.
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Human Life and Dignity
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 National Indigenous Peoples Day (6/21)
This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples. Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.
Learn more/resources.
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Peace and Non-Violence
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June 1 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the color of the day is orange. Across the United States, people will show their support for gun violence prevention online and on the ground in cities and states throughout the June 1-3 weekend.
Events will include rallies, marches, BBQs and more.
Learn more/get involved,
take action.
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Peace and Non-Violence
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Support Nonviolent Policy Options
Pax Christi International has released a major position paper calling the international community to support nonviolent policy options for sustainable peace. Building on the
Pope's World Day of Peace message, the work of our
Catholic Nonviolence Initiative project, Pax Christi urges the international community to invest their resources in policies that promote nonviolent approaches that have proven to be effective in reducing violence and conflict instead of spending huge amounts on wars and weapons that harm people and the planet. They propose twelve specific policy actions.
Learn more.
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The SSND International 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 - Arlene Flaherty, Ethel Howley, Jeanne Wingenter, Kathleen Bonnette, Rose Mary Sander, and Tim Dewane. Your comments, suggestions, and feedback are always welcomed. Email us at
[email protected].
Please only print this e-publication if necessary.
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