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May we have the moral courage to speak up. May we have the passion to show up. May we have the empathy to keep up. May we have the humility to look up...for, "as leaders of justice, like the stars, you will shine forevermore."
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S. Patricia Chappell, SNDdeN, Pax Christi USA
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Shalom North America Contacts
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Integrity of Creation
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Laudato Si' Calls Us
On May 24 we commemorate the fourth anniversary of the publication of
Laudato Si', which challenged us to become aflame with
zeal to care for our common home. For SSND, the messaging of
Laudato Si' reminds us of a quote from
You Are Sent, "As the desire of Jesus that all be one becomes more fully our own, our striving for unity embraces all humanity and the whole of creation." We invite you to spend some time this month
reflecting on Laudato Si'. May it inspire you and all of us to action, so that ours will "be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life." (207)
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Integrity of Creation
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Take Action to Address Climate Change
Pope Francis published
Laudato Si' in advance of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference. In it, he drew special attention to the importance of international negotiations and global climate action for the common good. He wrote, "Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, above all on the part of those countries which are most powerful and pollute the most." The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering H.R. 9 the
Climate Action Now Act. If passed, H.R. 9 would acknowledge the U.S. commitment under the international Paris Climate Agreement to reduce carbon pollution and require the President to develop and submit to Congress a plan on how to achieve this goal.
Learn more,
let your voice be heard.
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Integrity of Creation
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Endangered Species Day (5/17)
Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions they can take to help protect them. Resources for education, reflection, prayer and action can be found in this
Faith Community Engagement Toolkit from Creation Justice Ministries. Resources for the classroom including (science and art lesson plans) can be
found here.
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Meet Some of the World's Most Endangered Animals |
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Human Life and Dignity
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Bishop Testifies about Border and Immigration Matters
Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso testified before Congress on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration on Tuesday. His testimony included a number of recommendations such as: addressing smuggling and trafficking networks, using regional approaches to address root causes of migration, improving border processing policies, supporting alternatives to detention programming for families and ensuring efficient due process for those seeking asylum. Read full testimony here. Let your voice be heard - urge administration to welcome asylum seekers.
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Human Life and Dignity
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World Fair Trade (WFT) Day (5/11)
WFT Day is an inclusive worldwide festival of events celebrating Fair Trade as a tangible contribution to sustainable development, especially the economic empowerment of small producers, gender equality in workplaces and responsible production practices. Learn more about
Fair Trade, the
10 principles that Fair Trade Organizations must follow, and where you can
purchase Fair Trade Products.
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Fair Trade empowers women |
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Human Life and Dignity
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Mothers' Day (5/12)
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Human Life and Dignity
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International Day of Families (5/15)
The theme for this year's International Day of Families is "
Families and Climate Action: Focus on SDG13."
We pray for all families as they work to develop a culture of care for the earth and all life - those who struggle to live with restraint in our consumeristic society, and those who are most viscerally affected by climate change and environmental degradation. "Another task for the family is to form persons in love and also to practice love in all its relationships, so that it does not live closed in on itself, but remains open to the community, moved by a sense of justice and concern for others, as well as by a consciousness of its responsibility towards the whole of society" (Synod of Bishops' Message to Christian Families [1980], 12).
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Human Life and Dignity
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World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (5/21)
Three-quarters of the world's major conflicts have a cultural dimension. Bridging the gap between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development. The equitable exchange and dialogue among cultures and peoples, based on mutual understanding and respect and the equal dignity of all is essential for reconciliation among peoples and peace among nations. Learn more about what cultural diversity is and why it matters. Prayer resource. Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and prayer observed by Muslims around the world begins on Sunday, May 5 - learn more.
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Peace and Non-Violence
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Remembering the Holocaust - A Call to Conscience Today
April 28-May 5 has been designated
Holocaust Remembrance Week. We invite you to take time to reflect on this brief video which calls us not only to
remember, but also
to act to stop prejudice and genocide today. For resources to teach about the Holocaust
click here. Prayer resources can be
found here.
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Lessons from Auschwitz: The power of our words - Benjamin Zander |
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Peace and Non-Violence
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Path of Nonviolence: Towards a Culture of Peace
On April 4-5, the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and Pax Christi International's Catholic Nonviolence Initiative hosted a workshop titled "Path of Nonviolence: Towards a Culture of Peace." Participants (including Ann Scholz, SSND) examined root causes of violence, hope for peace and reconciliation, and paths to conversion to nonviolence. The event continues the work of a 2016 conference in Rome on "Nonviolence and Just Peace." Their reflections will be shared with the Holy Father, with the hope for a possible encyclical that will address these issues and challenges. Learn more.
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Peace and Non-Violence
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Global Days of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS)
Did you know that some experts believe that a 10% reduction per year and per country of the resources invested in the arms and defense sectors, if redirected, could enable the achievement of the main elements of all the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals? The aim of GDAMS (4/15-5/9) is to convince governments to invest less money on the military and more on health care, education, employment and addressing climate change.
Learn more,
take action.
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Peace and Non-Violence
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U.S. Pulls Out of Arms Treaty
President Trump effectively "unsigned" an international arms sales agreement last Friday, moving to withdraw the U.S. from the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The agreement sets global standards for regulating transfers of conventional arms, from rifles to tanks and airplanes. It also requires nations to ensure the weapons they export do not end up being used for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or terrorist acts. The treaty, known as the ATT, has been in effect since late 2014. The U.S. signed on to the agreement but never ratified the treaty. Read more.
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U.S. to leave International Arms Trade Treaty |
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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
tdewane@ssndcp.org.
Please only print this e-publication if necessary.
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