Artistic Bridges by Brainpower Connection in the Incarnate Word Village

This project is a collaborative efforts of Incarnate Word Sisters JPIC, UIW, UIW Brainpower Connection, Village at Incarnate Word, and Charter for Compassion. 

Children all over the world are encouraged through their guardians, parents, teachers and mentors to bring their artistic expression to share to the whole world.  People across the world will be able to know what the children feel, think, and see through their artistic expression.  Give the children the voices and let them be heard through this medium. 

CHRISTUS Heritage Hall @ 4707 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
CHRISTUS Heritage Hall Map in the Incarnate Word Campus

https://charterforcompassion.org/what-we-do/support-kids/artistic-bridges/artistic-bridges.html

Awareness on Death Penalty, Vigils, and Prayer

Join the vigils related to the upcoming executions.  If you have not supported yet this cause, this is an invitation to look into the story.  You may still be thinking whether to call Governor Abbott and the Board of Pardon and Parole, give yourself a space for the innocent man.   Read all the recent evidences.  People can have biases, and what is presented now may bring the truth to the case.  We did not know a lot of the sciences that are being used in crimes and health these days such as DNA, genetic genealogy, and even medicines which were not known to be deadly to infants and human beings are being discovered that need to be looked into.  How are we cultivating truth, peace, and justice?

Support stopping execution to Mr. Robert Roberson.  Support ending death penalty.  

 More: 

Vigils – TCADP
Catholic Mobilizing Network: Support stopping of execution of Mr. Roberson

San Antonio Eco-Study Tours @ Talking Tree Farm

 

Death Penalty is a Homicide in Our Name

On December 10, 1948, different representatives from all regions of the world drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the General Assembly resolution 217 A (III).  Since then, all countries and regions aim to protect the human rights as a standard.  

Given the World Day Against Death Penalty on October 10, it is a practice that people pause and reflect about the current practices in the world  United States has capital punishment as part of its law.  China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Singapore are the top countries that executed people in the world and United States is the top 5 in 2022.  Death penalty is a very old part of the justice system.  It has been codified as part of the law as early as eighteen century BC.  

United States of America is a civilized nation consists of people with good education and advances in science and technology.  This country is also working on many aspects of Justice and Peace on all angles with gun violence, human trafficking, war, and drugs.  There are loopholes but still there is a freedom of speech that makes this journalism, social media, and other communications from the public spaces possible given the policies and regulations around it.  Let us take a look to assess the justice and peace that this country is upholding and practicing. 

One of the key aspects of justice is to be able to give the rights of the people.  United States being educated and a source of innovation has the big opportunity to transform society must look into the laws that are not serving the generation of today.  

According to Human Rights Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

"No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, unhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

Mr. Robert Roberson with TDCJ Number 999442 born on November 11, 1966.  He is scheduled to be executed on October 17, 2024.  He is sentenced to death for the murder of his two-year-old daughter Nikki for a shaken baby syndrome.   The retired assistant chief detective Brian Wharton, now an ordained minister in United Methodist Church, testified for the prosecution and helped send Mr. Roberson to death row in 2003.  Mr. Wharton now doubted his case and feared that justice was not served.  A top pathologist of 46 years of experience testified that the child suffered from severe undiagnosed pneumonia and doctors treated her with high dosage of medications for which now is considered fatal especially for children.  There were other illnesses that the child was suffering such as unexplained breathing apnea, and other medical symptoms such as coughing, vomiting, diarrhea week before her death. Based on these, the justice system is putting someone's life for death penalty with doubts.

Our system of justice must look for the root causes so that we can truly restore the peace and justice to those that are lacking what they truly deserve.

For those who are religious, ponder Matthew 25:40,42-43

 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,[g] you did it to me.’...for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,... I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 

Jesus Christ already died for all and forgave all who put him to death.  Luke 23:32-34

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Why are we still killing people even after so many advancements of life, science, and technology?  What are we missing?  Should we be working towards progress where we are cultivating life-giving opportunities and healing spaces where everyone's life is treated with dignity, and human rights are truly respected.  We are killing people by paying someone to execute the people who may or may be innocent.  God is merciful from the Old Testament (Gen 18:26-33) to New Testament (Luke 5:35-38).

We are transcendental people, we are always improving and transforming.  This is an invitation to reflect what improvement and transformation are we being called to be.  Let us ponder on making our world a true just and peaceful world where we can thrive from womb to tomb.

---------------------------

From TCADP (Texas Coalition Against Death Penalty):

"On Saturday, October 12, 2024, join TCADP supporters in San Antonio for breakfast and a presentation by Donna Coltharp, an Assistant Federal Public Defender with the Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas. Prior to joining the CHU, Donna was on the faculty of St. Mary’s University School of Law. She will share what is involved with defending clients accused in capital murder cases. This event will take place from 8:30-10:00 a.m. in the conference room of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, 2718 West Woodlawn Avenue, San Antonio 78228. RSVP to Mardi Baron at mardibaron@gmail.com."

Please check the TCADP for more details and updates on these events.

@University of Incarnate Word's Student Engagement Center October 10, 2024 11:00am-1:00pm

Want to talk to us about Death Penalty Abolition?  Come and visit us in University of Incarnate Word's Student Engagement Center in the first floor on October 12 from 11:00pm-1:00pm.  Your can learn more about the issues.  The representative from TCADP will also be there.

Read More Here:

Stop the Oct. 17 execution of Robert Roberson, an innocent father  (innocenceproject.org)
16 Events (and counting ) throughout the U.S. for World Day Against the Death Penalty - Catholic Mobilizing Network (catholicsmobilizing.org)
TCADP October 2024 Newsletter: An extraordinary visit to death row – TCADP
TCADP
Fratelli tutti (3 October 2020) | Francis (vatican.va)
Pope Francis closes the door on the death penalty in ‘Fratelli Tutti’ | America Magazine
Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations
Executions - Catholic Mobilizing Network (catholicsmobilizing.org)
Death Penalty (eji.org)Pope Francis Pens Preface to US Death-Row Chaplain’s Book on Death Penalty| National Catholic
Register (ncregister.com)
The Issue - Restorative Justice

Season of Creation (Week 5 Reflection)

Scripture of the Week:

James 5: Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, … our gold and silver have corroded and that corrosion will be a testimony against you.

Mark 9: “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your names, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ … will surely not lose their reward.”

Reflection:

Jesus appreciates the people who are working in His name.  There is no competition but collaboration towards a common purpose.  Considering the environmental effects that the various people and countries across the global are being reaped regardless of whether this person belongs to one organization or another, as long as we are doing this for the love of God.  He will surely be increasing their knowledge and faith.   We need each other all around the globe to be able to implement solution in countries with support needed for those who are underdeveloped and not able to fund themselves to fix the devastating effects of natural disasters.

The people will not surely lose reward as "the Lord is gracious and compassionate... The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." (Ps 145:8-9).

Laudato Si this week:

Article 190  There is no value that can be placed upon the environmental protection as it is not based on benefits and costs.  The reality is that some of the companies look at increasing the bottomline and profits more than anything else.  They do not bother to stop and ponder on the cause of environmental disasters and consequences of anthropogenic actions, neglecting the needs of our brothers and sisters especially the underprivileged.  This is not a magical solution to the problem.  What we are facing is not about increasing in productivity and output from businesses but to be mindful of how these all affect the world.

Article 198  The politics and economists are in competition with each other.  Those in the power and interested nothing but financial gain are the usual concerns where the vulnerable people's needs are rejected and the care for environment is ignored.  How can we work towards a supportive society where power and influence are used so that integrity of all are upheld and natural rights are protected?

Article 206  The lifestyle is a way to advocate for the right products that reduces environmental degradation. The consumers have a part in choosing the right matter so that they take the social responsibility as part of their role to care for our common home. 

Article 222  The ability to be happy with little is part of the prophetic and contemplative lifestyle whether we do not buy endlessly without consideration to the limitations on resources.  We become satisfied with the idea of sufficiency and moderation.  Accumulation of things for pleasure and domination will not give us happiness.

Prayer Intentions

We pray that our community and nation will be responsible in caring for the needs of the creation which includes the environment and especially our underprivileged brothers and sisters.

We pray for all so that we can all respect and support the prophets of our time and we also can take a prophetic role in caring for Creation towards a sustainable and contemplative lifestyle that does not violate the dignity of the most vulnerable and those who are not able to speak for themselves.

Let us pray to the Incarnate Word.

All these in Jesus name, Amen.

___________________________________________

Watch the vblog on Sustainable and Advocacies Practices: Sustainable Practices (Laudato Si, Business and Personal)

Weaver's of Love ministry providing free clothing to underpriviledged adults, children, toddlers, diabetes shoes, community garden, soup kithen (not in the photo), and group support.

Learn More:
Laudato si' (24 May 2015) | Francis (vatican.va)  
Homily Helps September 2024 (Cycle B) | Catholic Climate Covenant
Laudato Sí Action Platform Commitment - Presentation Sisters (pbvmunion.org)

Blessings of the Animals @UIW Grotto

 

Season of Creation (Week 4 Reflection)

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B (September 22, 2024)  Scripture passages:

Wisdom: The wicked say: Let us beset the just one because he is obnoxious to us; …. Let us see whether his words be true; … With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. … Let us condemn him to a shameful death; … God will take care of him.

Psalm 54: The Lord upholds my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O Lord, for its goodness.

James 3: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.

Mark 9: Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, that one shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 

Reflection:

This week's Gospel talks about stewardship.  Jesus invites us to be in the service of others.  Jesus exemplifies a life of being the last with unity to God's Divine Will.  He prays, reflects, and take actions. He serves the poorest, abandoned, and washes his apostles' feet.  He teaches the ignorant so everyone can live a life with dignity.

This week's Laudato Si:

Article 90: Living beings have dignity with unique worth while human beings who have responsibility given our ability to care and destroy the species and therefore the planet.   Some have much properties without awareness or intentions of distributing these to those who may be in need while some in dire poverty have no means to get out of their situations, being left at the extraordinary mercy of others.  There are those who see themselves as more superior than others and have no intent of changing habits or contributing to good causes. 

Article 144: The global market has opened the flood of products available to people of different origins and affecting everyone's culture.  This globalization came from making the product available to all given the mobility of the people over a period of time.  While there is a beauty and need to respect each culture for its own right for people to understand themselves from within and without given the symbols and practices that identify them.  The world is cared for with respect with its dynamism and flexibility.

Article 161: The pace of consumption can determine the waste that we produce.  The current unsustainable lifestyle can cause the catastrophic weather and unbearable consequences of these natural disasters.  We can look at our accountability before the people who are reaping the effects of these disastrous climate and natural disastrous ocurrences.

Article 208:  All of us have the ability to care for others by letting go of our self-centeredness and self-absorption.  It is not about neglecting oneself but thinking of others including our natural environment so that our world becomes sustainable. 

Article 212: These sustainability efforts are calling us towards goodness that brings change to the world that is to spread the common goods to all.

Prayer Intentions:

We pray for using our wisdom and faith to reduce our consumption according to our needs and pass it on to our children and others so others can care for our Mother Earth.  We pray to the Lord...

We pray for the well being of all people especially for the children and future generations so that by these actions of defending basic necessities to clean air, water and climate, we will be able to bless them with livable future.

Let us pray to the Incarnate Word.

All these in Jesus name, Amen. 

Learn more:

Laudato si' (24 May 2015) | Francis (vatican.va)  
SoC Advocacy Activity Guidelines 2024.pdf - Google Drive
Events — The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative (fossilfueltreaty.org)
Earth Day 2024: Planet vs Plastics | Sustainability Magazine
EN September.pdf - Google Drive
Homily Helps September 2024 (Cycle B) | Catholic Climate Covenant
Sustainability Live Climate Week @ NYC on September 24: Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC - One Day to Go | Sustainability Magazine

Click the image below to enlarge or read the newsletter (with this link).

S.O.S. - Los bosques en Perú están ardiendo

"Señor, tómanos a nosotros con tu poder y tu luz,

para proteger toda vida,

para preparar un futuro mejor,

para que venga tu Reino

de justicia, de paz, de amor y de hermosura."

(Fragmento de la Oración cristiana con la creación,

tomada de la carta encíclica Laudato Si'

del papa Francisco)

Saludos, querida familia CCVI.

Bien sabemos que en el Perú (como en otros países de América Latina) se están registrando una serie de incendios forestales en 22 regiones, ocasionando la muerte de 15 personas y más de 1 876 damnificados.

Las causas aún son materia de investigación, sin embargo, debemos recordar que a inicios de este año el Estado Peruano promulgó la Ley 31973, también denominada LEY ANTIFORESTAL, la cual promueve la deforestación y desconoce derechos de las comunidades indígenas. Hay mucho interés en que estas zonas naturales y protegidas sean reducidas a cenizas para facilitar el trabajo de empresas transnacionales y extractivistas. Incluso ya se conoce que muchas de estas áreas afectadas ya están concesionadas (ya tienen dueño).

Los peruanos y peruanas ya hemos iniciado acciones de protestas en varias ciudades. Tanto en Lima con iniciativas informativas y de denuncia; en Huaraz con la participación actividades de campesinos y jóvenes; así como en Chimbote con un plantón para concientizar a la población en la ciudad (jueves 19).

Otra acción a nivel nacional es la recolección de firmas para unir nuestras voces en contra de la Ley Antiforestal (derogarla) y hacer un llamada al Gobierno Central y a los Gobiernos Regionales en tomar en serio esta situación y articular con la sociedad para mitigar y prevenir incendios forestales.

➡️ Llena el formulario para apoyar con tu firma AQUÍ ⬅️

Ante esta grave situación que afecta nuestra ecología y vida, l@s invito a acompañarnos con sus oraciones e intenciones para iluminar y exigir a nuestras autoridades en atender integralmente este problema. Así también por las muchas familias afectadas. Y, de manera especial, por quienes se encuentran trabajando por controlar y extinguir el fuego (bomberos, voluntarios).

Es importante seguir manteniéndonos informad@s y ver de qué otras formas podemos seguir apoyando.

Agradezco su tiempo y esfuerzo en cada comunidad donde se encuentran, por hacer presencia viva del Evangelio y el amor de Dios en estos desafiantes contextos.

Muchas gracias.

Dony Avalos Avila

JPIC-CCVI Perú

Coordinador

Season of Creation (Week 3 Reflection)

Faith and Works

James 2: What good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works? … If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?

It can be easy to say that we have faith or to say we have faith when everything is going well.  However, when there are things that seemingly hard, dark, and unclear, that is when the faith can really show.  The faith, even though unseen and seems no clarity on where the road is going or what the road entails, you have the best discernment and know that by faith God is helping us to go through what could be impossible, and what could be something that has not been done or has not been overcome in the past.  We are called to reflect on our lifestyle, habits and our neighborhood's whereabout.  How is your lifestyle addressing the needs of the ecology and society?

This Week's Laudato Si:

Article 158 (highlight): It is our poorest brothers and sisters whose basic human rights and dignity are not mostly being met, or not being met.  It is situation like this upon which we are invited to ponder on where our solidarity is with humanity and our love for our Creator to make the common goods available for all (1 Cor. 12:7-12, Rm 8:28).  In the present condition of global society where injustices abound and growing numbers of people are deprived of basic human rights and considered expendable, the principle of the common good as it is also mentioned in Evangelii Gaudium.  The people can find effective means of making these rights accessible to all. 

Article 201 (highlight): With the believers in the world, we can be more effective in having a healthy dialogue in tackling the environmental issues.  The cooperation of people from different sciences to address the demands of the ecological crisis is needed in facing deliberate steps and take actions with "patience, self-discipline, and generosity."

Article 205 (highlight): As human beings, we can still take appropriate actions that people can still long for  good, true and beautiful reaching out to make dignity possible for all.

Article 208 (highlight): In order to identify the value of every parts of creation, we can be concerned by the needs of the others by taking concrete actions.  Every actions we take creates an impact to the world around us if we only surpass the individual mindset that destroys our concern for others.

Article (211 highlight): Ecological citizenship helps us to reflect on what we can do in order to be transformed and have  renewed mind towards correcting bad habits, educating ourselves on what can be done.  Some of the practical examples given in this articles are: avoiding the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse, cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living beings, using public transport or car-pooling, planting trees, turning off unnecessary lights, or any number of other practices. 

Prayers for the Faithful

1. To help care for our common home by caring for our community and neighborhood.  

2. To change our lifestyle so that we can decrease or stop the habits that can only harm the world and live on what is truly life-giving lifestyles.

What products in your grocery list contain plastic containers?  

Which are plastic-neutral?  

Which products have less carbon footprint?  

Are you able to make some of the products from your home?    

Do you use disposable products (utensils, plates, papers, napkins) in your meals and events?

Instead of going into the gym that consumes electricity, why not enjoy nature with fresh air if you have still have the luxury of fresh air in your neighborhood?

Read More:

Homily Helps September 2024 (Cycle B) | Catholic Climate Covenant

Laudato si' (24 May 2015) | Francis (vatican.va)

Laudato Si - Simplify your Life

Resources - Laudato Si' Action Platform (laudatosiactionplatform.org)

laudato-si-discussion-guide.pdf (usccb.org)

Oración Bilingüe Virtual - Movilidad Humana

Amigas y amigos,

Te invitamos a un especial encuentro de oración en línea, bilingüe, este 26 de septiembre a las 6 p.m. hora en Chimbote y Lima (Perú), y a las 5 de la tarde en Ciudad de México (México). Mientras continuamos nuestro itenerario en el Tiempo de la Creación (del 1 de septiembre al 4 de octubre) y nos acercamos al Día Mundial de los Migrantes y Refugiados (último domingo de septiembre), unámonos como comunidad en Perú, México, Estados Unidos y más allá. Este será un momento para la reflexión, oración y solidaridad con todas las personas que buscan refugio y un hogar. Tu presencia enriquecerá nuestro compromiso compartido con la justicia, paz y cuidado de nuestra casa común.

Fecha: 26 de septiembre
Hora: 6 p.m. (Lima) y 5 p.m. (Cd. México)
Plataforma: Zoom

Esperamos orar contigo.

Online Bilingual Prayer: Human Mobility

Friends,
We invite you to a special bilingual online prayer gathering on September 26 at 6 P.M. Central Time. As we continue our journey through the Season of Creation (September 1 to October 4) and approach the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (last Sunday of September), let us come together as a community from Peru, Mexico, the United States, and beyond. This prayer will be a time for united reflection, prayer, and solidarity with those who seek refuge and a home. Your presence will enrich our shared commitment to justice, peace and care of creation.

Date: September 26
Time: 6 PM Central Time
Platform: Zoom

We look forward to praying with you.

Season of Creation (Week 2 Reflection)

On this second week of Season of Creation, we reflect on the global impact of climate change, the water supply, right to life with dignity, social love that encourages culture of care. 

Psalm 146:8
The Lord sets the prisoners free;8     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down.
    the Lord loves the righteous.

Mark 7:32-35 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 

This Week's Laudato Si:

Article 25 (highlight): The effects of climate change are affecting environment, social, political, economic systems around the world especially the vulnerable people without financial reserves, legal protection, and physical safety.  The developing countries are mostly impacted by the climate change due to their dependency on the natural resources that are highly vulnerable with the natural disasters and severe weather conditions.  As a result, the people and animals impacted by the climate change are forced to migrate to a place of refuge.

Article 28 (highlight): The availability of water for drinking, land crops, vegetation and water-dependent industries is critical for the life's sustainability.  There are parts of the world where water is inaccessible while there are parts of the world where there is an abundant supply of water.

Article 43 (highlight):  Right to life and happiness is for everyone.  The throw-away culture has impacted the mindset about the value of human life.  It is always to be treated as indispensable rather than treating life as conditionally irrelevant.

Article 231 (highlight): A better world can be made possible by social love where this exists in various human relational aspects life: political, economic and cultural.  The culture of care can spread in all aspects of life where charity has a place in all of these dimensions as well.  We are called to include our actions in these spaces as God's invitation for us to relate with these for our maturity and sanctification.

Prayer Intention:

"That each of us will work together to heal Mother Earth in our own ways, using our own gifts and talents to help her nourish and protect us better, let us pray to the Lord …"

We are invited to ponder how we can integrate our spirituality in all the dimensions of life as all of these are affecting individually and collectively in the way we are consuming and producing for making life and happiness possible.

This morning of September 8, on the feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother Mary, we had the Archdiocese of San Antonio celebrated the Season of Creation.  People were grateful for Archbishop Gustavo for celebrating the Annual Mass for the season followed by the pilgrimage.  It was 1.5-mile walk pondering the many ways that the people can reflect, pray and act on the Care of our Common Home due to the environmental degradation.  

Learn More:

"Laudate Deum": Apostolic Exhortation to all people of good will on the climate crisis (4 October 2023) | Francis (vatican.va)

Laudato si' (24 May 2015) | Francis (vatican.va)

Homily Helps September 2024 (Cycle B) | Catholic Climate Covenant

Season of Creation

Care for Creation | Archdiocese of San Antonio (archsa.org)

Season Of Creation 2024 | Catholic Climate Covenant

Caring for Creation Mass and Pilgrimage - El Camino de San Antonio Missions (caminosanantonio.org)

From the Season of Creation San Antonio Archdiocese Pilgrimage

Season of Creation (Week 1 Reflection)

It is the Season of Creation once again where people all over the world are intentionally praying, pondering, having a conversation, and taking action together.  It started with ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I in 1989 when the church leader designates September 1 as the start of the World Day of Prayer and ends on October 4 which is the Feast of Saint Francis. We invite you can join us in praying for the Creation and collaborate with each other for anything that shows how you are good stewards of God's kingdom.  Reflecting the selected articles from Laudato Si, reflect on the ways that you are called to advocate and practice for the healing of our planet.

Selection from Catholic Climate Covenant with our summarized, reflection questions for your contemplation. 

Sept 1: We pray…

• For this World Day of Prayer for Creation and the start to the global ecumenical Season of Creation: may we be doers, and not hearers only, of honoring and respecting God’s first act: Creation.

• That we are to daily honor God, our neighbors, and all of creation, as "wise and intelligent people" who live on God’s creation.

This Week's Laudato Si

Article 68 (highlight):  The creation operates in balance.  There is production and consumption. This is part of the laws of nature.  It operates in a healthy way only if we give it a space to grow, ripen, rot or decompose and be used again in ecosystem.  Just as God rested on the seventh day when God created the universe/and cosmos, every parts of creation need rest for a reason.

Reflect the relationship that you have with others in creation.  What kind of food do you use for your daily food?  How is it package?  Where does it come from?  Did it come from traditional or mass farming?  Did the producer use organic fertilizers as opposed to comercialized fertilizers that can yours?  The Bible is teaching us that anthropocentrism is about all man's way at all cost but as you can see, God is please with what God created everything and human beings are stewards of all of these.

Genesis 29-30  And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” 

Article 208 (highlight): We can show concern for things that are beyond us.  There is an attitude of indifference where we do not concern ourselves with what is happening to our brothers and sisters including the other parts of nature surrounding us. 

Reflect on how you are currently consuming reasonably according to your needs.  How to mitigate the disregard for other creatures?  How are you going to be more mindful to put limit on how you use the natural reasources?

Article 231 (highlight): Social love and culture of care will connect our lives more socially, politically, economically and culturally so that our spirituality is more integrated.  Our relation can mature towards a responsible and systemic charity for regeneration and renewal of our commitment to care for our common good where we have concrete actions on our social responsiblity.

Reflect on ways that that you can incorporate regeneration part of the culture, to have a renewal and systemic change to heal the creation.  What are the laws that can be passed to stop single use plastics on food?  What are the laws that can be used for plastic utensils usage to be stopped so that people would use real utensils, real plates or sustainable?  How is the farming in your area?  Are the fertilizers destroying the quality of soil after a harvest?  

Are there organic alternatives to what you are using right now?

Mark 7: [Jesus responded to the Pharisees and scribes], "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me … teaching as doctrine"

Learn more here:

• Laudato Si: Laudato si' (24 May 2015) | Francis (vatican.va)
• Season of Creation 
• Catholic Climate Movement Liturgy Guide for Season of Creation: Homily Helps September 2024 (Cycle B) | Catholic Climate Covenant
  
• Individual and Systemic Actions
• Webinar on Connecting Faith and Action
• The Pathway to Ecological Citizenship and Spirituality by Catholic Climate Covenant

Agua en México

El Ing. Roberto es una de las personas con mayor conocimiento de los sistemas hidráulicos en México. Él fue representante de la Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA) para Guanajuato, y actualmente es director general de la Junta Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (JUMAPA) de la ciudad de Celaya (México).

 

Quedan invitadas e invitados para este miércoles, 19 de junio a las 7:00 pm hora CDMX

La liga del Zoom: https://christushealthvideo.zoom.us/j/97774884347

 

Nuestra esperanza es que este espacio nos ayudará a responder mejor ante esta problemática en el país. Por favor, invita a toda persona que podría favorecerse con la plática.

 

Laudato Si ongoing training

We are exploring three goals from the LS platform (one goal per session):

• Ecological education
• Ecological spirituality
• Response to the cry of the earth

The entire process is aimed at strengthening existing knowledge and building commitments from the personal to the collective in response to the reality we live in as the city of Chimbote, Peru.

Formación en Laudato Si

Estamos desarrollando 3 objetivos de la plataforma Laudato Si (un objetivo por sesión):

• Educación ecológica
• Espiritualidad ecológica
• Respuesta al clamor de la tierra.

Todo el proceso se orienta a fortalecer saberes previos y construir compromisos desde lo personal hasta lo colectivo frente a la realidad que vivimos como ciudad de Chimbote, Perú.

Reparation

In response to the cry of the excluded—as a member of the Base Team of the Church Axis Search Brigade, we helped receive between 800 and 1000 members of collectives of families searching for disappeared persons (on May 9 and 10) at the Servidores de la Palabra facilities in Cuautitlán, State of Mexico. The goal was to unite the 200+ collectives nationwide.

Reparación

En respuesta al clamor de los excluidos - como miembro del Equipo Base de Eje Iglesias, Brigada de Búsqueda, ayudamos en la recepción  entre 800 y 100 miembros de colectivos de familias buscadoras de personas desaparecidas  (9 y 10 de mayo) en las instalaciones de Servidores de la Palabra en Cuautitlán, Estado de México. El objetivo fue unir a los 200+ colectivos a nivel nacional.

Saving Life is a Social Action

I have been working as a chaplain resident in one of the hospitals in San Antonio.  I have seen a lot of lives saved, lives struggling, and lives that are unfortunately cannot be medically saved anymore.  The body certainly has limits and there is a point where all the resources possible and applicable have already been consumed and applied. 

On a different side of the spectrum of the society is a story of lives lost as a capital punishment.  As of October 1, 2023, there had been 2,266 convicted to death row with 1588 men and women already executed since 1970s in United States.

This month of June, United States have three death row inmates pending for execution with one inmate with execution stayed.   Bank robbery leading to death by a mentally ill Oklahoma citizen, citizen from Jefferson City Missouri convicted for murder of a couple using submachine gun which the inmate still denies, teenage Texas citizen convicted to death row for rape and murder a teenager in Bandera County using his grandfather's rifle, a citizen from Oklahoma for murder of a stepdaughter of a woman he was having relationship with.  There are stories behind these men.  Rifles, submachine guns, and pistol.  We are still at war with human emotions and even escalated by the use of tools used for killing.   We know that emotions can be harmful.  How do we protect ourselves from this?  We need values and beliefs that can safeguard us from ruining our humanity.  Humans can either be dangerous or flourishing.  

Revenge, after revenge.  Death after death.  An eye for an eye.  A tooth for a tooth.  This is the rule of the land.  Sad.

If you would like to end these sad stories, change the policies and the system.  Death penalty does not work.  It is the emotions and values that drive us to our behavior.  Our values can help us shape and control our mind and heart.  There is an invitation to put the nation's resources to mental health, formation, and renewals where minorities, underprivileged, vulnerables, and those in need so that health resources are available, accessible, and advocated for.  There is an invitation to create an environment where good foundation on values, resources, and systems are made available to all.  What does good foundation entails?  The wound carries the trauma generation after generation.  If we stop the trauma in this generation, the trauma ends here.  Sometimes society only thinks about the people who are a direct face of the criminal but what about the people who had to carry the execution, the people who had to manufacture the lethal dose?  What about the people who had to sign the paper so that the lethal dose will be applied?  What about the people who had to inject the lethal dose?  What about the people who have to turn on the switch for the execution chair?  What about the people who had to carry out all the preparations, the procedure, and the post procedure?  We do not talk about these people.  These people need peace as well.  Participating in killing of someone carries a memory.  We are part of that system though indirect.  Unless you write a letter to stop the execution, then it means a person has willingly allow this system to persist.

This is an invitation for you to call and write your governors and State Board of Paroles to commute the death sentence and make a lasting impact in the justice system.  Give the penitent work to do and make them a contributor to the society's renewal.  Why would anyone avoid jail?  Why would anyone strive to be good?  What should a citizen do to be good?  Surround yourself with quality counsellors, spiritual advisers, and mentors who can carry you through in life.

Executions - Catholic Mobilizing Network (catholicsmobilizing.org):

1. Wade Lay - Execution Stayed (June 6, 2024) Oklahoma 

2. David Hosier - Execution Pending (June 11, 2024) Missouri

3. Ramiro Gonzalez - Execution Pending (June 26, 2024) Texas

4. Richard Rojem - Execution Pending (June 27, 2024) Oklahoma

President John F Kennedy said, "...we should also do our part to build a world of peace where the weak are safe and the strong are just... we are not helpless before that path, (we are) competent and unafraid.  We must labor on, not in a strategy of annihilation but a strategy of peace..."  What is your strategy of peace?  Work towards true peace that comes from reflection, introspection, and collaboration and not inciting fear.  More on President John F. Kennedy's World Peace speech on June 10 here: JFK on World Peace, 10 June 1963

Get involved in making true peace possible through restoration and healing and end an archaic system that promotes fear, and hatred such as death penalty.  Please inform yourself, reflect, and take actions:

More reading, and reflection:

The-Ripple-Effect-Mrabet.pdf (texasafterviolence.org)

Death penalty can be hard on those who carry it out - The Pulitzer Prizes

Catholic perspective: REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH PENALTY AND CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING (uiw.edu)

For Critical Thinkers: Should the Death Penalty Be Legal? - Death Penalty - ProCon.org 

Take Action:

Texas Death Penalty Facts – TCADP

Executions - Catholic Mobilizing Network (catholicsmobilizing.org)

Take Action - Amnesty International

Take Action - Death Penalty - ProCon.org

Do Nothing does not change anything.

Peace.