VeryTopShalom News North America  

An instrument of hope, formation, and action

concerning priority matters of social justice.

In This Issue
Feast of St. Francis
Living Planet Report
Global Biodiversity
Respect Life Month
Migration Policy
World Teachers' Day
Day of the Girl
Indigenous Peoples/Columbus Day
World Food Day
Eradicate Poverty
UN at 75
Day of Nonviolence
Nuclear Weapons
Pope Francis' New Encyclical
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October/2020
         
  
 "Peace, justice and the preservation of creation are three absolutely interconnected themes, which cannot be separated and treated individually . . ."   
Laudato Si' (92) 

Thank you for all you do to promote peace, justice and care of creation in the SSND spirit of Shalom. May the resources in this newsletter help you in your efforts.  
 
  
Shalom North America Contacts
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Integrity of Creation              

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (10/4)     
"Francis, go repair my house; you can see it is falling into ruins," Francis of Assisi heard these words from the cross in a neighboring abandoned church. He and a few friends restored the church building and later on Francis realized he was called to do more when he met several lepers along the roadside. He listened to them, hugged one of them and this changed the focus of his life. Afterwards he traveled to the far east to meet with a Muslim Sultan for the beginnings of inter-faith dialogues. Today, his namesake Pope Francis is calling us to repair the planet, our common home, as we hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Download Catholic Climate Covenant's 2020 Feast of St. Francis program.

Feast of St Francis Video Reflection 
Feast of St Francis Video Reflection
Feast of St. Francis 2020 
Feast of St. Francis 2020
 
 
Integrity of Creation              

2020 Living Planet Report        
In the 14th century, Dominican priest and theologian Meister Eckhart wrote, "Every Creature is a WORD OF GOD." Given how all of creation - every creature - is encoded with the Spirit of the Living God, how do we understand the extreme loss of biodiversity on our planet in the last 50 years?   The 2020 Living Planet Report shows an average 68% fall in monitored populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish between 1970 and 2016. Biodiversity matters; it is a measure of overall ecosystem health. Learn more, read report summary.

The Living Planet Report Canada
The Living Planet Report Canada
Living Planet Report 2020 | WWF
Living Planet Report 2020 | WWF
 
       
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Integrity of Creation           

UN Global Biodiversity Report  
In 2010, leaders from 196 countries gathered in Japan and laid out a 10-year plan to conserve the world's biodiversity, promote sustainability, and protect ecosystems. Ten years later, of the 20 goals put forward, none have been realized - only six have been "partially achieved." The report synthesizes evidence of the growing biodiversity crisis and the urgent need for action and highlights pathways that could lead to sustainable living in harmony with all of nature. Learn more, read report.     
 
5th Global Biodiversity Outlook
5th Global Biodiversity Outlook
Biodiversity in Crisis
Biodiversity in Crisis
 

Human Dignity             

October is Respect Life Month       
Every life is sacred, from the moment of conception until natural death. Every person is made in the image and likeness of God, and so each and every person has inherent dignity. This year's Respect Life month theme is, 'Live the Gospel of Life,' inspired by the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's encyclical, The Gospel of Life.  Consider this thoughtful reflection on the upcoming election and dignity of life concerns by Cardinal Blasé Cupich, view USCCB respect life month resources here.  
 
CST 101 | Life and Dignity of the Human Person 
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
On Truly Being 'Pro-Life'  
On Truly Being          'Pro-Life'
 
 
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Human Life and Dignity              

JFI Migration Policy Webinars     
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the USCCB Justice for Immigrants Campaign, the Department of Migration and Refugee Services is hosting a series of webinars exploring some of the current hopes and challenges of trying to influence immigration-related public policy. Webinars will be held each Wednesday at 2:00 PM (Eastern) from September 30 - November 12. Learn more, register for webinars
 
Human Life and Dignity          

World Teachers' Day (10/5)          
This year's theme is "Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future." The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly added to the challenges faced by already over-extended education systems throughout the world. Now more than ever, we must work with teachers to protect the right to education and guide it into the unfolding landscape brought about by the pandemic. Learn more, prayer resource.  
 
A day in the life of a teacher during the pandemic
A day in the life of a teacher during the pandemic
 
         
Human Life and Dignity              

Day of the Girl (10/11)   
The annual observance highlights the gender inequality facing girls along with inspiring stories of courage and ingenuity. This year's theme is "My voice, our equal future." View Eve Ensler's TED Talk, Embrace Your Inner Girl. Learn more with this JPIC reflection and action resource, "Little Girl, Arise!": Promoting the Dignity of the Girl-Child. Prayer for women and girls.   
 
Human Life and Dignity               

Indigenous Peoples/Columbus Day  
On October 4th, Canadians honor the memory of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. In the United States, there are efforts to transform Columbus Day (October 12) to Indigenous Peoples Day. In the words of Pope Francis, "It is essential to show special care for indigenous communities and their cultural traditions" (Laudato Si', 146). To learn more, read this SSND reflection and action resource, "Human Trafficking and Historical Trauma in Indigenous Communities."  
 
A Conversation With Native Americans on Race 
A conversation with     Native Americans        on race
The Standing Rock resistance and our fight for indigenous rights  
The Standing Rock resistance and our fight for indigenous rights
 
 


 
Human Life and Dignity              

World Food Day 
World Food Day organizers are calling for global solidarity to help all populations, and especially the most vulnerable, to recover from the COVID-19 global health crisis, and to make food systems more resilient and robust so they can withstand increasing volatility and climate shocks, deliver affordable and sustainable healthy diets for all, and decent livelihoods for food system workers. Learn more, take action.  
 
World Food Day 2020 
World Food Day 2020
Food Heroes 
Food Heroes
   
Human Life and Dignity               

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (10/17)   
The focus this year is on the challenge of achieving social and environmental justice for all. The growing recognition of the multi-dimensionality of poverty means that social and environmental justice are inseparably intertwined. Social justice cannot be fully realized without aggressively rectifying environmental injustices at the same time. Learn more: Child Poverty Canada, America's Children, COVID-19 Child Poverty
 
2020 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 
2020 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
UN SDG1 : NO POVERTY  
UN SDG1 : No Poverty
 
 


    
Peace and Non-Violence              

United Nations' 75th Anniversary   
The UN is marking its 75th anniversary at a time of great disruption for the world, compounded by an unprecedented global health crisis with severe economic and social impacts. COVID-19 is a stark reminder of the need for cooperation across borders, sectors and generations. Our response will determine how fast the world recovers, whether we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and how well we handle the climate crisis, pandemics, inequalities, new forms of violence, and rapid changes in technology and in our population. Learn more, take the UN75 survey, read the preliminary UN75 Report
   
Pope Francis' UN Address, September 26,2020 
Pope Francis' UN Address, English Translation, September 26,2020
   
Peace and Non-Violence              

International Day of Nonviolence (10/2) 
The UN General Assembly established this day as an occasion "to disseminate the message of nonviolence through education and public awareness" and "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and nonviolence." The date was chosen in recognition of Mahatma Gandhi whose birthday is October 2.  Gandhi was a leader of India's independence movement and a pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of nonviolence. Learn more. Take time to reflect on this SSND Gospel Nonviolence and Just Peace corporate stance, and this  SSND International Solidarity Reflection prayer resource.  
 
Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World 
Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World
 
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Peace and Non-Violence              

Webinar - Nuclear Weapons an Absolute Evil?   
The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies is offering a webinar, Are Nuclear Weapons an Absolute Evil, on October 5 at 6:30 pm (Central) featuring Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami (Nagasaki), President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Japan.  He will offer personal reflections on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as well as his perspective on the moral and policy challenges of pursuing a world free of nuclear weapons. Learn more, register. Read - Former World Leaders Urge Ratification of Nuclear Arms Ban Treaty
 
Peace and Non-Violence              

Webinar - On Pope Francis' New Encyclical (10/5)  
On Sunday, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis will release his encyclical on human fraternity and social friendship, Fratelli Tutti. On Monday (10/5) at 12:30 pm (Eastern), Georgetown University's Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life will host a virtual dialogue on the themes of the encyclical and Pope Francis' call to recognize that we are all brothers and sisters, a call that is more important than ever during this time of a global pandemic, economic crises, and a U.S. presidential election. Learn more/register here.    
              

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. 

Shalom LogoShalom 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.

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