World Fair Trade Day gives each of us the opportunity to reflect on the power we have as consumers to effect the lives of those who work in the supply chains of the products we purchase. Founded on principles designed to fight against poverty, exploitation, and climate change, Fair Trade supports farmers and craftspeople in developing countries who are economically and socially marginalized and helps create greater equity in the international trading system. It is our split second decisions we make in the stores that affect people throughout the world. Take time to view this video and ask yourself, how you can be an "agent for change" in the life of others around the world.

On May 3, we commemorate the 34th anniversary of The Challenge of Peace, a pastoral letter by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Its basic message, that "the whole world must summon the moral courage to say no to weapons of mass destruction, no to an arms race which robs the poor and vulnerable", stands in stark contrast to the decision to drop " the mother of all bombs" on a network of fortified tunnels used by ISIS in Afghanistan. Military officials said that the 21,600 pound bomb, capable of destroying an area equivalent to nine city blocks, was "the right weapon against the right target." Clearly the challenge of peace is still before us.                                 

Instruments of Reconciliation is a new campaign to amplify active nonviolence in the Catholic Church. Catholics are asked to choose one of three dates during May to share their hope for greater teaching and commitment to active nonviolence with their bishop and to invite him to affirm active nonviolence as the "nucleus of the Christian revolution" by 1) sharing and speaking about Pope Francis' World Day of Peace message broadly within their diocese, seminaries, and other ministries and 2) concretely committing to an initiative to scale-up practices of active nonviolence.

As Pope Benedict wrote, "For Christians, nonviolence is not merely tactical behavior but a person's way of being, the attitude of one who is so convinced of God's love and power that he or she is not afraid to tackle evil with the weapons of love and truth alone. Love of one's enemy constitutes the nucleus of the 'Christian revolution.'" Learn more, join in this effort - here is a sample letter, then report your action.

We are asking special prayers for the people of South Sudan and for our Sisters Barbara Paleczny and Peg Malone who are currently working there with Solidarity with South Sudan. The situation is critical as they struggle with famine in addition to the violence that has been increasing. One story that speaks to the famine is here.