A Hopeful Pilgrim: Sr. Martha Ann Kirk Among Holy Land Peacebuilders

I have been invited by Friends of Sabeel North America to be part of a Delegation of Bishops and Church Leaders in the West Bank starting May 1, 2025. Women Wage Peace have invited my friend, Rev. Julie Rowe, and me to join them and about 60 groups building the People's Peace Summit in Jerusalem, May 8 and 9. See the growing hope--It's time for peace! Reflect on andplease join us signing the Mothers Call.  I have been invited to Bethlehem University where young people have contributed to Artistic Bridges, the global education project I initiated. Learn about the nature center that the children attend to learn of nature in Palestine. I will be sharing about that and encouraging more participation.  Rev. Rowe will be interviewing women building peace as part of her doctoral work.   

My reflections begin today, Palm Sunday at our church, Mission Concepcion, a World Heritage Site, we walk holding palm and remembering the stories. Manipulative people lead a crowd to violence. uncaring leaders hurt an innocent person. Yet the story which seems to end in death, ends in forgiveness and love stronger than death.

Near the Mission I biked along the beautiful river path seeing palms and remembering that almost 300 years ago the indigenous people cut these and brought them to the church to reenact the story. All creation calls us to remember. The bright green of spring is transforming the bare branches of winter along, Yanaguana, now called the San Antonio River. 

April 14, 2025  Over the years I have gotten to know Father David Neuhaus, a Jesuit in Jerusalem.  A number of times we have spoken at the Friday "Women in Black" demonstrations.  Israeli and Palestinian friends would let me hold one of their signs "We refuse to be enemies." Fr. David was interviewed by America Media, "Interview: Holy Land Christians raise their voices for the suffering people of Palestine."  We Incarnate Word Sisters remember our founding call, "Our Lord Jesus Christ suffering seeks relief at your hands."  We must listen, we must reach out where there is suffering. 

An Immersion in Permian Basin's Beauty and the Beast

The frontline community advocates in New Mexico namely Citizens Caring for the Future, Oilfield Witness, New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light, Sisters of Mercy and Franciscan Sister have been gracious to share their work, stories and hopes.  Oil and Gas industries in Carlsbad and Hobbs are the two cities heavy in Permian Basin's oil and gas fracking and drilling that we visited not to mention the unpopular OGI cities in Texas side of the Permian Basin that we also saw along this immersion trip.  Some of these Permian Basin towns, like Carlsbad, used to be an agricultural land, before the OGI flooded these towns.  The farmers gave their mineral rights allowing the businesses to conduct their fracking and drilling operations.  New Mexico sites for drilling and fracking are privately owned, state-owned and mostly federal managed by the Bureau of Land Management due to its history of land grants.

Sr. Joan Brown, OSF and Sr. Marlene Perrote, SSM want to dedicate their work in caring more intentionally for the earth.  Living together as a community homesteading, it helps to further their cause to live simply with less carbon footprint.  The guests started their journey appreciating the grandeur and the beauty of the National Carlsbad Caverns where the stalactites and stalagmites fashioned the size of 14-football field cavern.  These natural formation created various shapes of popcorn, Christmas tree, formed in over millions of years.  On another note, Carlsbad in New Mexico next to El Paso is an arid land and with a display of plastic and trash along the sides of the highway and the public lands.  The single-use plastic ban Act HB 392 was recently passed banning the single use plastics which will take effect on January 1, 2026.

In the two New Mexico towns Carlsbad and Hobbs that we visited, many drilling and pump jack sites were visible only quarter of a mile from each other in most cases. One community visited by the group is the Jefferson Elementary were the old oil well was plugged and fenced. Although, nothing is stopping the public from the toxic smell of hydrogen sulfide from the fenced once drilling site. This volative compound can make one nauseous and may cause discomfort.

Texas is nothing different from New Mexico as the biggest part of the Permian Basin is in the Lone Star state.  Next to the border of Mexico is Eunice, Andrews, Midland where a lot of the drilling and pump jacks are also working hard.  A lot of these oil and gas are surrounded by communities of houses and apartments.  

Permian Basin is the biggest methane emitter in the world.  This is being closely monitored by various organizations especially how the management of the oil and gas drilling and fracking affects the carbon footprint contributing to the world's climate crisis.  

To review Texas Bills related to care of the earth, please refer to here courtesy of Laudato Si' Movement Texas Chapter.  You can refer to the summary for the listing of the Texas bills as to whether it is impacting the nature negatively (opposed) or important in caring for the earth (support).

The frontline advocates looking at the methane and other chemicals through the thermal video/imaging camera

Reference:

The Uncovering the Permian Climate Bomb

A Primer on New Mexico Oil and Gas Law: State, Federal and Fee Lands

Statewide single-use plastic bag ban moves forward in the Legislature • Source New Mexico

HB0392

Newsletters - Oilfield Witness

Methane ‘Super-Emitters’ Mapped by NASA’s New Earth Space Mission - NASA

NASA SVS | Tracking methane with EMIT and AVIRIS-3

Fixing Methane Leaks

World Health Day: What's in your wallet?

April 7 is the World Health Day.  Divesting from fossil fuel is an economic justice tool to lessen the impact or slow down the impact of Climate Crisis.  By putting our resources to a sustainable and clean investments, we help transition our world off the fossil fuel industry and bring the resources into where the economy needs to go. This supports healthy socio-ecological and economically integrated society. The CEO founder of Green Investments Strategies considers this work as part of his Catholic faith. Sustainability is healthy.  It helps the whole world thrive not only a selected few.  When we think only of money at the expense or abuse of the nature and the vulnerable parts of society, we will soon reap the effects of our lack of virtues.  What this means is that cheap things does not mean healthy.  The ecology is created with an intelligent mechanism to return to us how we treat it with kindness or greediness.

Laudato Si Articles related to sustainable lifestyle choices and investments

26. Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms, simply making efforts to reduce some of the negative impacts of climate change. However, many of these symptoms indicate that such effects will continue to worsen if we continue with current models of production and consumption. There is an urgent need to develop policies so that, in the next few years, the emission of carbon dioxide and other highly polluting gases can be drastically reduced, for example, substituting for fossil fuels and developing sources of renewable energy. 

42. Greater investment needs to be made in research aimed at understanding more fully the functioning of ecosystems and adequately analyzing the different variables associated with any significant modification of the environment. Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another. 

183. Environmental impact assessment should not come after the drawing up of a business proposition or the proposal of a particular policy, plan or programme. It should be part of the process from the beginning, and be carried out in a way which is interdisciplinary, transparent and free of all economic or political pressure. It should be linked to a study of working conditions and possible effects on people’s physical and mental health, on the local economy and on public safety. Economic returns can thus be forecast more realistically, taking into account potential scenarios and the eventual need for further investment to correct possible undesired effects. 

191. Whenever these questions are raised, some react by accusing others of irrationally attempting to stand in the way of progress and human development. But we need to grow in the conviction that a decrease in the pace of production and consumption can at times give rise to another form of progress and development. 

192. For example, a path of productive development, which is more creative and better directed, could correct the present disparity between excessive technological investment in consumption and insufficient investment in resolving urgent problems facing the human family. It could generate intelligent and profitable ways of reusing, revamping and recycling, and it could also improve the energy efficiency of cities. 

Read expanded version of the above articles: Laudato si' (24 May 2015) | Francis

Invitation to Review Nuclear Energy Bills in State of Texas

Oil and gas industries are still the main source of energy in United States. We need to highlight that Texas has the larger part of Permian Basin while New Mexico has some parts of it. This basin is the biggest methane emitter in the world. The State of Texas is getting ready to prepare the infrastructure and systems towards being #1 in advanced nuclear technology. It has the intention to increase its production in the energy sector. The bills related to nuclear that are being proposed are here.

Is there a need for nuclear energy in the State of Texas? Is nuclear considered clean energy solution? It creates spelt as the nuclear waste. It contains radioactive chemicals that can last for thousands of years. These bills mean creating a system and infrastructure supporting a better incentives for nuclear business which can speed up the accumulation of nuclear waste that the future generations need to tackle. Where would the nuclear waste be stored? The argument is that the AI and increase in population are going to need a lot of energy. As of 2023, US Energy Information Administration reported 74% of US energy is still sourced from oil and gas, 9% on nuclear, 9% on renewable, and 9% on coal (ref: US Energy Facts Explained)

I can be hopeful that by simplifying our lifestyle, we will be able to cut down unnecessary energy consumption that is driving the forecast. However, not all are in line with this simplification in a capitalist culture. We need a cultural and moral shift to be able to move from heavy carbon-emitting energy source to a sustainable source of energy. Sustainable/renewable energy sector is growing and we need a circular energy where the clean energy also needs to consider the sustainability in usage of resources after its obsolescence.

Talking about sustainability, whether the nuclear is used for deterrence or as a source of energy, both of these will create nuclear waste requiring a careful discernment and consideration on opposing the bills or challenging the need for expansion for it. This is an invitation to Texas residents to call our legislators regarding what your position on these nuclear bills.
This is also an invitation to Pax Christi Texas Second Quarterly Social Justice Forum
"The Current State of Nuclear Threat”
Monday, April 28, 2025 Forum officially starts 7 pm Central Time by zoom
Time: Apr 28, 2025 zoom opens 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join us through onine meeting link here.

Meeting ID: 978 7131 9807

Commemorating:
2025 Anniversary of the Atomic Bomb
(80 Years later)
Nuclear Disarmament Our Challenge
Earth Day: Care for the Planet
Mother’s Day in Honor of Women

Presenter:
Archbishop John Wester, Santa Fe New Mexico
Author of
“Christ Is Our Light”
A pastoral letter addressing the
Nuclear Threat
Living in the Light of Christ's Peace:A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament:

Pax Christi USA: June 2023

We would like to hear from you.  This is an invitation to post your comment on these nuclear bills.

(This article is also posted in LinkedIn by the author)

Tree as a Symbol of Hope for Weavers of Love Community

On the birthday of Sister Elizabeth, community leaders and supporters gathered in Weavers of Love Soup Kitchen in Kingsville, Texas.  In honor of her birthday, Andy Patrick, the new CEO of the ministry and Belinda Patrick, a long time and big supporter, planted a red bud tree with the assistance of the Texas forester who inspected the depth and space allocated for the tree.  Apart from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Andy Patrick and previous CEO Mr. Jose Johnson in the event were people from various organizations and professions: Keep Texas Beautiful Kingsville Board members, Commissioner, Kleberg Judge Rudy Madrid, CHRISTUS Spohn executive Dominic Dominguez, volunteers, friends of the ministry, and Incarnate Word Sisters.

Kingsville residents will also have access to a free mobile clinic through the grant that the local judge had provided with his collaboration with various organizations.  The Weavers of Love has expanded its ministry from soup kitchen, clinic, seniors' community activity and nutrition education center, and community gardening to include food pantry, grief counselling, and free clothing.  The board is planning to also increase its soup kitchen's service days from once a week to a couple of a days a week.  

Pictures from the top left to bottom: mobile clinic with Weavers of Love CEO Andy Patrick, S. Anne Birmingham and Mrs. Belinda Patrick (left), inside the mobile clinic, tree planting, Weavers of Love's supporters with Sister Elizabeth

When the Texas redbud starts to flower, it is the first few signs that can tell the Texans that winter is over.  A secondary name to this is "Judas-tree" with a scientific name of "Cercis canadensis var. texensis".  The best time to plant this is in early spring.

Why this tree?  It is vibrant in color usually pinkish in color and sometimes magenta that flowers during March and April.   Since it is native, it serves as a food for the local insects, butterflies and animals. It is also drought tolerant with low-maintenance being native of this weather in Southern Oklahoma, Central Texas and Northern Mexico.