October 27, 2022

The war in Ukraine lingers, and the human cost is immense. In his angelus message on October 2, Pope Francis said, “The course of the war in Ukraine has become so serious, devastating and threatening, as to cause great concern.” With Russia now hinting that they are prepared to use nuclear weapons in the war, peace-making efforts are more essential than ever. Sixty years after Pope St. John XXIII called for the banning of nuclear weapons in Pacem et Terris, it is a call that remains as relevant as ever. Let us pray that peacemaking efforts will defuse the threat of nuclear war. 

The USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development issued a letter in support of the EQUAL Act. In part, the letter says: “The USCCB has long advocated in favor of less severe sentences for non-violent drug offenses, expressing our concerns regarding mass incarceration and racial disparities in the criminal legal system.”

The Equal Act (H.R. 1693) passed the House of Representatives in late September and has since been given over to the Senate.

Jesuits Endorse Commission To Establish Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Native American Boarding Schools

The Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology has endorsed The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States Act (available here). This follows previous work on addressing their congregation’s involvement with boarding schools for Native Americans.

Bishop Chairmen Issue Reflection on World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

On the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation each year on September 1, Pope Francis invites the Church to pray for the care of creation. The World Day of prayer is the start of the month-long season of creation which focuses on the care of creation. During this month we are called to work to care for our common home. Archbishop Paul. S. Coakley created a reflection for the World Day of Prayer that can be found here.

Catholic church burned, priests and religious sister kidnapped in war-torn Cameroon

On September 16, 2022 there was an attack on a Catholic Church in which unknown gunmen set fire to a church kidnapping a religious sister, five priests, and two laymen. Cameroon has been in a civil war since 2017. The Catholic Bishops have released a statement demanding their release and have also stated that attacks on Catholics have been increasing there.

Read more here.

Ukraine: Missionary priests hoping to open healing center in Kyiv

Fr. Pavlo Vyshkovskyi, OMI and the rest of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate are creating a relief center for those who need spiritual and psychological assistance as the war in Ukraine takes its toll on the people. Fr. Pavlo originally urged the younger oblates to leave as anything could happen but they opted to stay and help those who were in need. The oblate community decided to truly accompany the communities that they were involved in to provide the support and relief they could offer. Pope Francis recently encouraged the Oblates to continue their charism in the work that they do with the people being afflicted by the war

Read more here.

The Letter: Laudato Si’ Film

In the years following the release of the Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si’ in 2015, four voices were invited by Pope Francis to dialogue about the effects of environmental change. These four voices come from Senegal, the Amazon, India, and Hawai’i. The documentary aimed to give voice to those who haven’t always been heard on this issue, and covers their trip to Rome for an unprecedented dialogue with the Pope. 

Watch the documentary here, and find out more about the film here.

Confronting Environmental Racism from the Franciscan Action Network

• A four part webinar series moving to different cities around the US, starting September 8 and ending December 8

USG/UISG: JPIC Promoters Formation Workshop 2022

• 28 November to 2 December: The workshop, intended for new JPIC Promoters, will be in the spirit of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform and the 59th anniversary of the encyclical of St. John XXIII Pacem in Terris. Preview the program here, and register here.