National Migration Week, January 2-8, comes at a time when the topic of immigration reform is on the minds of many Americans. The week’s theme – “Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice” – reinforces the values that should be a part of both the discussion of the issue and the changes that will be proposed....
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Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace, has been selected by Pope Benedict XVI as the theme for his annual mesage for the World Day of Peace. His letter follows previous messages emphasizing protecting creation, fighting poverty and building the world community as essential components for creating a peaceful world. We are reminded that the Holy...
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The group Sojourners has taken a Christmas classic and added a very appropriate message to the tune of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” I’m sure you could sing it in your head as you read. Have yourself a peace and justice Christmas, Set your heart a-right. Flee the malls and focus on Christ’s...
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December 2nd marks the anniversary of the deaths of Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, Ursiline Sister Dorothy Kazel and lay missioner Jean Donovan, modern day martyrs for living the gospel message of love and solidarity with the poorest people of El Salvador. View this video produced by Maryknoll to better understand their...
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December 1st is World AIDS Day, a day to remember those who have died from AIDS, those who carry the burden of AIDS or HIV and their families, and those who work to prevent the spread of this disease. One of the most involved and compassionate groups is Catholic Relief Services, who share the...
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Purchasing Fair Trade coffee offers us a great opportunity to enjoy a quality product and know that we are directly supporting the work of coffee growers themselves. As our world becomes more interconnected, we have a growing awareness of how our individual actions can impact others across the globe. For more information, check out the...
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As the election rhetoric heats up, it might be a good time to reflect on what values we bring to the democratic process. The Civility Covenant offered by Sojourners gives us much to consider. The Civility Covenant states: 1. We commit that our dialogue with each other will reflect the spirit of the scriptures,...
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As we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th, we have the opportunity to commit ourselves to living out the values of this great saint through the pledge named in his honor.  The Catholic Climate Covenant challenges us in the following message: All across our country, Catholics are taking...
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I have recently received news about the Cooper House from Beyond Shelter’s Lisa Rotvold. Since so many people have asked about how things are going there, I thought I would share her entire letter: Thanks for checking in. I think overall things are going pretty well at Cooper. We have learned a lot from...
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The Pax Christi Minnesota State Assembly will be held at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, Crookston, September 25, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Bishop Thomas Gumbleton’s keynote address, “Choosing Peace in Today’s World: Nuclear Disarmament,” will focus on questions related to peace and nuclear weapons. Retired auxiliary bishop of the Detroit archdiocese, Gumbleton is...
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