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Saint of the Day

Saint of the Day

Justice and Peace News

Approaching Election Day as Peacemakers
As faith leaders we need to ensure our congregations that we will all work to ensure that every vote is counted and that our streets are peaceful–no matter the outcome of the election or what happens in the aftermath of Nov. 3rd.

Last week, the Mennonite Central Committee(a valued partner with Interfaith Immigration Coalition, of which FAN is an active member) sent out a newsletter with a reflection on peacemaking and civil discourse as we approach Election Day. We believe in their message: “We cannot build up God’s kingdom while tearing each other down. Only by finding ways to work together will we succeed in creating a better world-one brave step, one bold relationship, one small act of peacemaking at a time.” We offer these resources and build on them in a spirit of peace.

Resources for peacemaking and nonviolence:

Ultimately, voting is just a first step, and no matter what happens on November 3rd and in the days after we still must advocate for those on the margins. May we all strive to be peacemakers.

 

As the Eagles of the Desert prepared for a search this past weekend, a friend sent this beautiful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

to S Maria Louise Edwards. The artist wishes to be known as La Corua.

To learn more about her, click here.

Sister Maria Louise said, “Her image of Our Lady brought to mind the numerous times the Aguilas have found human bones in the Arizona and Californian deserts, where hundreds of migrants die every year.” She added, “Since Aguilas began in 2012, they have rescued the lives of more than 80 people, recovered the remains of more than 90 people, and received more than 6000 contacts for help.”

Sister Maria Louise explained that, “In this image, Our Lady’s tears turn to roses that rain down blessings on the deceased. As she sorrowfully collects this migrant’s bones, it made me wonder how alone he must have felt when he died. Our Lady’s presence is a comforting reminder that not even a sparrow falls to the ground that God doesn’t know. At the same time, I keep trying to understand why there isn’t a greater outcry over the injustice of this unnecessary loss of life. Those who die in the desert are certainly the voiceless of our time.”

La Corua writes, “Sonoran Arizona remains America’s migrant graveyard… I continue to find ways where I can honor all those who gave up everything for a better life. It is my intent to show here that we can only hope they are being received into a better place than those they knew in their home countries or in our deserts.”

Since 2017, the Chinese government has placed an estimated 1.8 million predominantly Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in detention camps, prisons, and factories in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region resulting in wide-spread forced labor involving Uyghur workers across the region and in other parts of China. The Felician Sisters of North America has joined over 200 organizations including investors, civil society organizations, and trade unions to endorse a Call to Action, which calls for apparel brands to stop sourcing from the region due to the near certainty of forced labor. The Call to Action also calls for a plan for disengagement of all business relationships with a connection to this Region during a one year period. Brands and retailers must fulfill their corporate responsibility to respect human rights as defined in international frameworks including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Thank you to the Detroit News for posting this photo of our Felician Sisters Felicity, Francis and Shelley (along with Takaari and Skylar) participating in a public rosary on the plaza outside the Basilica of Ste. Anne de Detroit in southwest Detroit to pray for peace and for an end to the sin of racism:
https://www.detroitnews.com/…/pray-peace-and-e…/3171300001/…

Aguilas del Desierto,

by S Maria Louise Edwards, CSSF

In 2019, thanks to the direct contribution of Aguilas del Desierto, either through searches or by serving as a conduit for communication between ‘coyotes,’ family members and authorities, 27 migrants were rescued alive. That’s an average of two lives saved each month.

Felician Sisters Changing the World with the Community of Sant’Egidio
A painting near the dining room

The Community of Sant’ Egidio is an “international public association of the laity” of more than 60,000 lay people active in more than 73 countries throughout the world.  The Community was founded in 1968 by ndrea Riccardi, an Italian historian, professor, politician and activist.

During her term as minister general, SM Celestine Giertych was in communication with the Sant’Egidio Community and made arrangements for the sisters in the Generalate to house two families of refugees before the renovation project began.
 The Generalate community provided a safe environment where they could begin to recover from the horrors of war.
The Sant’Egidio community located a farmer who was willing to take this family in and provide housing and employment on their property. The sisters tearfully bade farewell to them and gifted them with a crucifix for their new home.

The second refugee family consisted of two teenage girls who were being hidden from their Muslim uncle who attempted to sell them into marriage to terrorists.  Both families stretched the sisters’ understanding of different cultures and religions and opened their hearts to all in need.

General councilor S Margaret Marie Padilla began volunteering her time on Friday evenings at the Sant’ Egidio Community Center in the Trastevere area (the oldest section of Rome). Sister Margaret assisted with distributing clothing to the members of the Gypsy Community in Rome. She became such a familiar figure at the Community Center, that she was recognized and acknowledged by those who benefited from her service wherever she traveled by bus, tram, or subway.

 S Jusciêda Maria Araύjo Menezes joined Sister Margaret on Friday evenings at the Community Center.  Sister Jusciêda continued her service at the Community Center.  The poor around the Vatican greet Sister Jusciêda as Madre.

After being set up to house the homeless, the palace was dedicated and blessed by Pope Francis. Sister Jusciêda volunteered to serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Since the hope was to have women religious and seminarians involved in this ministry, Sister Jusciêda invited members of the Generalate community to assist her in serving breakfast on the weekends.

Thus far, S Elaine Marie Frigo, SM Anita Bienia, SM Carlotta Myszka, SM Dominika Kazimierczuk, and SM Renée Kurczaba have volunteered their time to minister to the poor.  According to Sister Renée, the most important aspect of this ministry is one of presence. She explained, “Most of the sisters do not speak Italian, but the poor around the Vatican are from several European countries and some of them speak English. However, the gift of presence transcends language.”