Sharing Christ Across Cultures and Faiths
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The Global 10th Anniversary Celebration of Laudato Si
Our Biblical text for this year is Isaiah 32:14-18. The prophet Isaiah depicted a desolate creation without peace due to the absence of justice and the fractured relationship between God and humanity. This description of devastated cities and wastelands eloquently highlights the fact that human destructive behaviors have a profoundly negative impact on the Earth.
Our hope Is That Creation will find peace when justice is restored. There is still hope and the expectation for a peaceful Earth.
In a biblical context, to hope does not mean standing still and being quiet, but to act, pray, change, and reconcile with Creation and the Creator in unity, through metanoia (repentance), and solidarity.
The US Catholic Bishops Call for Gaza Relief
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops is asking all parishes in the US to contribute to Gaza Relief. The United Nations IDP Council rated Gaza a famine zone recently, although we know this continues for many reasons. The Xaverian Missionaries, through Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, would like to assist in reaching out. The following QR Code for the Venmo account of the shrine may be used.
Fatima Days 2025 for the Jubilee of Hope
In the Church’s interfaith movement, one of our unique opportunities is our interfaith solidarity, religious and secular dialogue, and collaboration. We began this work in 2013 by gathering secular humanists and spiritual leaders at our conference center in Coatbridge, Scotland. We continued this work in 2015 by convening a similar conference at Rutgers University in New Jersey, with secular and religious voices seeking common ground. For the last eight years, we have gathered a MeetUp group of religious and secular friends once a month. Search here on our website for a recap of these events, church teaching on understanding the culture of unbelief, and blog posts and articles written for further study. Our conversations now take place directly on Zoom without using Meetup. Contact missionmedia@xaverianmissionaries.org for more information.
LISTENING TO THOSE WHO LEFT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
In America the landscape of the Catholic Church is changing dramatically, as is all religious communities and institutions. The new mission of the Xaverian Missionaries seeks to engage with our Catholic tradition to all outside of the church, Christianity, and even religion itself. The departure of those formed in the Catholic faith is felt in every parish. Disaffiliated families make up the majority of Catholic communities throughout the country.
We listen to those who left the church and sacramental practice with loving empathy.
We root ourselves in these departure narratives, learning about their world and how they walk in it.
We gain deeper insight into the needs, longings, and desires of young people and others. In dialogue with our tradition, we can change our pastoral maps and parish cultures, beginning in Catholic families.
Catholic Interfaith Solidarity
Check out the latest resources and opportunities for Catholics and others to share our lives, faith, and friendship with people of other faiths and traditions. Click here. Other resources for interfaith dialogue may be found here.
