Gratitude

 From our Ursuline JPIC Team

November, a month of Gratitude!!

 

The vast number of Americans are immigrants or descendants of immigrants and we have much to learn from the Indigenous People who were here before we arrived. So as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month and move toward our Thanksgiving holiday, let's reflect on gratitude which is so central to indigenous cultures. Let's be thankful for the earth beneath our feet, the waterways that connect us and quench our thirsts, the plants and animals that provide our food and clothing and for everyone who is part of the fabric of this country. We are all connected and we give thanks for the contributions of each and every one to this country! As we reflect with gratitude, we also recall that the 30th UN climate conference will take place this November in Belém, Brazil. It will bring together world leaders, scientists, non-governmental organizations, and civil society to discuss priority actions  to tackle climate change. COP30 will focus on the efforts needed to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C, the presentation of new national action plans (NDCs) and the progress on the finance pledges made at COP29. COP 30 Prayer At a time when so many men and women are already suffering from the consequences of global warming, touch our hearts! At a time when everyone, young and old, individuals, communities and states, must make concrete commitments, draw us into Your surge of love! At a time when all of humanity is called upon to tune up for its own future, send us Your Spirit! Amen.

All Souls Day

Today we commemorate All Souls Day, the day we remember those who have gone before us and who are now with God. Many cultures observe this time to remember and celebrate those who they loved and keep their memories alive. Today many people visit their loved ones at the cemetery or build altars to honor the dead. Some cultures celebrate at other times yet share the common theme of remembering and honoring. As we honor those today on All Souls’ Day let us pray for them and to them as we continue our life’s journey.

St. Angela Merici wrote this for those who come after her. “For understand that now I am more alive than I was when I lived on earth, and I see better and hold dearer and pleasing the good things which I see you constantly doing, and now, even more, I want and am able to help you and do you good in every way.” Just as St. Angela continues to be with us so too are those whom we have loved and known. May we always celebrate and honor those who have gone before us. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

2025 Nobel Peace Prize

Two days ago, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a woman graduate of Academia Merici, an Ursuline School in Caracas, Venezuela.

María Corina Machado was given this award for “her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy".

Wonderful example of SERVIAM -- I will serve, and working for social justice.

May our loving God protect her always!

Nobel Peace Prize 2025

Conclusion of the Season of Creation

 

From our JPIC Committee

October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, marks the formal closing of the 2025 Season of Creation. St. Francis’s great love of God’s Creation, commitment to peace, global popularity, and ecumenical and interfaith importance all combine to make him an important inspiration for the Season of Creation, one capable of keeping its focus and energy dynamic through the rest of the year. In the spirit of his feast, we share here the famous Canticle of St. Francis celebrating the wonders of God’s Creation.

Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessings.  To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, Who is the day through whom You give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor, Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair. Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, And fair and stormy, all weather's moods, by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water, So useful, humble, precious and pure. Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire, through whom You light the and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth who sustains and governs  us, producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs. Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial. Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death, from whom no-one living can escape  Woe to  those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your will. No second death can do them harm.

Fourth Sunday of the Season of Creation

 

From our JPIC Committee As this year’s Season of Creation draws to its end, the warnings from the scriptures grow stronger and more dire. They reflect and support again the sense of urgency about climate change that Popes Leo XIV and Francis, climate scientists, the young, and so many around the world have been declaring. Amos focuses attention on those who remain indifferent to the suffering of their sisters and brothers and promises them punishment. The psalmist again insists that God loves and will lift up the poor. Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, warning that the time can come when it will be too late for our conversion. We need instead to listen to Moses, the prophets of our time, and Jesus himself, the one who has indeed risen from the dead. Paul urges Timothy and us to remain faithful, living and preaching our faith through all that lies ahead. As we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis let us reignite our love and care for creation. May we always be instruments of God’s peace for all.

Third Sunday of the Season of Creation and International Day of Peace

     From the Ursuline JPIC Team

The liturgy today focuses attention first on the dishonesty and unscrupulous attitudes and practices of those caught up in the idolatry of wealth and consumption. They value their unjust financial pursuits more than their religious practices or beliefs. In the context of the Season of Creation, these include the people today who will subordinate the sacred mission of care for Creation to the economy” and the advance of their personal financial interests. It includes those who have no concern or scruples about what their economic activities are doing to the poor and to the whole web of life. And it certainly includes those who use their power and resources to spread false information and lies, to hide the truth about climate change and ecological crisis from people who will suffer most and those who could help bring about salvific change. The prophet Amos and the psalmist warn that God will not forget their actions. God has special care for the poor and power to raise them up and “seat them with princes.” In the gospel, Jesus reminds us through the parable of the unjust steward what is most important in life and what constitutes the true “good life.” Let us pray for peace and justice on the International Day of Peace.

Second Sunday of the Season of Creation - the Exhaltation of the Cross

 The 1st Sunday of this Season of Creation called us to humility before the vast and intricate web of Creation and laid out before us some of the costs of discipleship to Christ in this time of urgent global crisis.

The complex, integral ecological crisis confronting us in these times bears witness to humanity’s lack of humility in relating to the rest of Creation, our attitude of domination toward nature and the lack of attention to the challenging dimensions of discipleship to Christ.

The punishing natural consequences of those failures – the more frequent and severe fires, floods, and many other impacts of the warming of the planet – threaten the future of life on Earth in all its dimensions.

Today’s liturgy assures us of God’s readiness to forgive us and to welcome our conversion while warning us of the punishing natural consequences of sinful values and actions so visible in the sufferings of the crucified Christ. In these times we need to see them as well in the crucifying suffering of Earth and of the poor.