Monday, October 13, 2025

Incarnate Word Sisters and Social Justice

    Sisters with students at Espada Mission School which they founded in 1915. 

The booklet Incarnate Word Sisters and Social Justice can be read here https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:195d5ac1-12e8-437c-9653-c69d7a7afe41  

The University of the Incarnate Word College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences was awarded a grant, Humanities Research for the Public Good, a part of the Council of Independent Colleges “Connecting Independent Colleges with Their Communities through Undergraduate Research,” 2021-2022. This project has been generously supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. 

Dr. Laura Cannon, Associate Professor of History, and Social Justice and Peace Concentration Coordinator, with Donna Guerra, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Director of Archives and Records Management, led student researchers, Jude Drouillart, Oliver Soliz, and Andrew Perkins. Dr. Arturo Chavez and Sister Martha Ann Kirk, Th.D. were also a part of the Public Humanities Grant team
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Friday, October 3, 2025

Celebrate God’s Creation! A Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Saturday, October 4, 2025, 6 p.m., Our Lady’s Grotto

Bring your animals, live and stuff! We gather next to the Headwaters at Incarnate Word, a nature preserve and one of the last undeveloped forests in San Antonio, 53 acres where the San Antonio River begins and native peoples have lived for over 12,000 years. We commit ourselves to the Laudato Si Action Plan caring for our common home. Hosted by the UIW Communication Arts Department and the Incarnate Word Sisters Justice, Peace, and Creation Office. 

Contact: Dr. Darlene Carbajal dcarbaja@uiwtx.edu and Sr. Martha Ann Kirk kirk@uiwtx.edu(210) 829-3854


Thursday, October 2, 2025

Peace Day at University of Incarnate Word on October 29

“Atomic Coverup,” a Film Screening, a part of Banned Books Week at University of Incarnate Word (UIW).

Oct. 8 – Film Screening and Discussion (2:45 – 5:15 pm, UIW Library Auditorium)

Atomic Coverup: Censorship and Disinformation since Hiroshima. Discussion afterwards led by Dr. Paul Lewis and his Philosophy class on the Atomic Bomb. Contact: pmlewis@uiwtx.edu

 

A group of children's hands painted with paint

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Women Connecting Globally—young and old!

Women Connecting Globally is a growing community of students, educators, and friends who encourage each other in creativity, leadership, sustainability, and friendship.  They work in circular structures listening to each other, compassionately building solidarity, and promoting human flourishing. They are inspired by emerging communities promoting nonviolence, compassion, and peace.

Young women 14 to 24 are invited to online gatherings frequently. We encourage you in your country or city to be together as we join old friends and make new ones. While the gatherings will be predominantly in English, people can read the translation in all main languages. Local communities are encouraged to do service projects together connecting them to global goals. Read an article in Global Sisters Report, “A Little Child Shall Lead Them Building Bridges of Art and Hope.”  See the exhibit books of Artistic Bridges with young people in Guatemala, Mexico, Palestine, Uganda, Ukraine, and the U.S. participating.

The next gathering, considering how we develop our gifts and share our gifts will be Saturday, Oct. 11, 8 to 10 am US Central time. Please register here then come to the University of the Incarnate Word Gorman Building 115 or join online. 

Persons who remember Women’s Global Connection, 2001-2019, will bring encouragement.  Register to join us but also register if you would like news of the growing movement.  

 

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Create Peace on Earth by 2030. 

Join the Peace Games series staring Oct. 15.  Come to Wednesday sessions with people in different parts of the world, 11 am to 1 pm, or make plans to have another time with a team from the University of the Incarnate Word or others in San Antonio from colleges and universities or the city community. The Peace Center at Northwest Vista College is a partner in this. Get more information about the global movement and register here to be a part of local teams.

 

Gather For Good: Guatemalan “Little Angels of Mary” Fun and Fundraising

Oct. 25, 6 – 8 pm, CHRISTUS Heritage Hall, the Village of the Incarnate Word (with online option) $25 donation

Join us for an evening of community, culture, and compassion in support of Little Angels of Mary, a nonprofit serving children and families in rural Guatemala. Enjoy delicious appetizers and refreshments, hear inspiring stories of hope and resilience, shop beautiful handmade crafts by Guatemalan artisans, support life-changing education and nutrition programs. Every moment we share helps build brighter futures for children in Guatemala.

In an area where 69% of the children have been malnourished, Edwin Mendoza and Darlene Jasso, past UIW students, are saving and transforming lives with their literacy and nutrition programs so that children will grow normally and not be stunted. Learn about the Little Angels of Mary community. If you can help plan and host or would like to buy tickets, please send your name and email to Darlene Jasso djasso@littleangelsofmary.org

 

The Atomic Bomb, a Philosophy Class

Oct. 27, 3 – 4:15 pm. 

Join Dr. Paul Lewis and his Philosophy Class which has been grappling with issues of the Atomic Bomb. Contact: pmlewis@uiwtx.edu

 

Global Youth Conference: Compassionate Leadership for Action and Impact

Oct. 28, 29, 30.  Join our Charter for Compassion colleagues to learn and to share. Go to as much or little as you like. Try to be together in your country or city for the Global Youth Conference. Register here. In May 2025 UIW and St. Anthony Catholic High School students and teachers with their friends at Holy Cross Lakeview in Uganda and Palestine presented in the Compassionate Action conference on “Creating Artistic Bridges”.  See their international presentation and get ready for other fine presentations at the Global Youth Conference.

 

Peace Day 2025, Incarnate Word’s 39th year of Learning about Justice Which Builds Peace

Oct. 29, 9 to 4:30 pm, UIW Student Engagement Center  2051-2052 and on Microsoft Teams Need help?  Join the meeting now  Meeting ID: 211 816 708 454 4 Passcode: dP9sU9Xt


Details and times are coming, but look forward to 

Pax Christi and the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative

Learn from those who have been involved internationally, nationally, and locally in Pax Christi the organization that started when French and German Catholics realized that they had been in three wars in 70 years killing each other. Why was this and what could be done in the future to prevent violence?  The Catholic Nonviolence Initiative is a global movement dedicated to promoting active nonviolence as a core principle of the Gospel. It aims to integrate nonviolence into all aspects of Church life and empower Catholics to embrace this path of love and truth. The initiative is guided by Pope Francis' vision and supported by a network of over 100 organizations worldwide. 


“UIW Ended Global Starvation”

Watch UIW TV Newscast, March 25, 2045, with Dr. Trey Guinn and Sr. Martha Ann Kirk and learn how the Cardinals accomplished their ambitious goal of ending global starvation. More and more of them joined the movement Peace on Earth by 2030 led by internationally acclaimed David Gershon. Their lives started to be transformed, and they were transforming the world around them. What is needed to build peace on earth is abundant. What is needed to end global starvation is only 3% of the US military budget.  Be a part of this.

12 noon – 1 pm. Lunch  The Student Dietetic Association sponsored by Dr. Heather Frazier will both nourish us and educate us on food that is healthy for us and healthy for the planet.

3 pm – 4:15 pm  Jim Harrington: Writing for Peace and Justice in Texas and in Turkey.

  Dr. Jim Harrington will share on his two new books The Texas Civil Rights Project, How We Built a Social Justice Movement  and Erdogan's Civil Death Project: Persecution of the Hizmet Movement in Türkiye 

Texas civil rights icon Jim Harrington recounts his lifelong fight for equality, winning major reforms for farmworkers and disabled Texans and helping build a movement for social justice. Over the following fifty years, he built one of Texas’s key civil rights organizations and played an essential role in many of its greatest victories.

Toward the end of the last century, the Hizmet Movement emerged in Turkish society as a major proponent of civil society. “Hizmet,” also known as the Gülen Movement after its spiritual teacher Fethullah Gülen, achieved prominent recognition for its educational and multicultural work in Türkiye and elsewhere in the world.
His care about social justice in his own country has led him to the Hizmet (Service) Movement and writing with Coskun Yorulmaz  Erdogan's Civil Death Project: Persecution of the Hizmet Movement in Türkiye. 


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Stop by the exhibits in the Student Engagement Center Concourse:

Sign the petition  “Anti-nuclear weapons, Mayors for Peace Campaign initiated by the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Learn of how we are Creating a Camino of Peace and Compassion and help do that.

Tired of one shooting after another in our country?  Learn from MOMS DEMAND SAVE GUN LAWS.

And more . . .


We are grateful to all of the contributors and exhibitors for these programs, especially Darrin Dunbar and his staff in the SEC, the UIW Office of Communication and Marketing, and Lorena Cestou, GRA for Service Learning.



Poniendo los pies en la tierra

Compromiso con Migrantes siendo presencia real y tangible en el mundo de hoy

Casa del Migrante, San Agustín, Chihuahua


Escrito por: Hna. Miriam J. Bannon

Las Hermanas Rosantina Garzafox y Lucha Aguilar, junto con Marta Eugenia Aguilar, hermana de Sor Lucha, actualmente colaboran en la Casa del Migrante, San Agustín, Chihuahua. Se sumaron al ministerio migrante hace aproximadamente cuatro años (2021). Forman parte del equipo de voluntariado de la Casa San Agustín. El actual equipo lo forman 7/8 personas.


Ubicación
La Casa del Migrante San Agustín, en sí, se encuentra situada en el sur de la ciudad, a unos doscientos metros de las vías del tren. Fue propiedad de la Orden de los Sacerdotes Agustinos y cedida a la Arquidiócesis de Chihuahua. El domicilio es Calle Ladrilleros 5101, Colonia Ladrilleros.



Facilidades de la Casa
La casa cuenta con dormitorio para mujeres, dormitorio para varones con sus respectivas secciones de regaderas y sanitarios, un salón grande que sirve para usos múltiples y comedor, cocina, oficinas, enfermería, área de lavaderos exteriores y espacios de juegos.

Los dormitorios cuentan, cada uno, con aproximadamente 15 literas y además, en el área de los patios, cuenta con una pequeña casa con cocina/comedor, sala, habitación con 4 literas y baño. Esta casa se usa también cuando es requerida por situaciones especiales de alguna familia migrante.  


Los Migrantes Vienen de Paso
La Casa del Migrante San Agustín es considerada como casa de alojamiento de paso, por lo que los migrantes en su mayoría, llegan, reciben atención, dotación de ropa limpia, se bañan, descansan, desayunan, comen, se les entrega su kit de viaje y reinician su marcha hacia el norte vía el tren o en el transporte que pueden, incluida marcha a pie, hasta Ciudad Juárez. Las personas que lo requieren se hospedan por 2, 3 días generalmente, aunque hay otros (pocos) que permanecen por hasta un mes.



Son de Diversos Países
Acuden aquí, diversos grupos de migrantes: guatemaltecos, salvadoreños, ecuatorianos, venezolanos, cubanos, hondureños, colombianos, haitianos, mexicanos, etc.

Flujos Migratorios 2025
Los flujos migratorios, han disminuido notablemente. A partir de enero 2025 con las políticas migratorias del Sr. Trump, el flujo hacia el norte, es mínimo, tal vez de 3 a 8 personas por semana y el de retorno igual, muy poco. Comenta Sor Lucha: “El flujo diario y/o mensual de los mismos es muy variado. Hay días en que tenemos aproximadamente 80 (lo máximo) y otros tres/cuatro, oscilando según las temporadas climáticas. Este año, 2025, el flujo ha disminuido notablemente a tal grado que hay días en que no se recibe a ninguna persona, y lo común es que la mayoría los migrantes que se reciben, ahora vienen de regreso y no tanto de ida hacia Estados Unidos. Pareciera también que, en algunas de las demás casas de alojamiento para migrantes, ahora también reciben a personas nacionales desplazadas por los maleantes mexicanos en diversas zonas del país.”

Red de Contactos
La Casa del Migrante San Agustín tiene muchos contactos a nivel local, estatal, nacional e internacional. En la ciudad existen otras dos casas del migrante y organizaciones, tanto  de gobierno como  de la sociedad civil que prestan servicios para personas refugiadas y migrantes en Chihuahua: ACNUR (Asistencia humanitaria, orientación para refugiados y solicitantes de asilo en México), OIM (Orientación a población migrante para acceso a derechos en México y retorno voluntario asistido a país de origen), INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración, departamento de regulación migratoria) Comisión Estatal de Derechos Humanos, Subprocuradora de Protección a Niñas, niños y adolescentes distrito Morelos, Instituto de Defensoría Pública del Estado, Hospital Central, Hospital General, Centro de Salud San Felipe, Hospital Infantil de Especialidades, Centros de Atención psicológica y  emocional por estrés y/o violencia, Acceso a la Justicia, y Servicios Consulares, Cáritas de Chihuahua. 

El sostenimiento de la casa es a base de donativos muy variados, ya sea en efectivo o en especie: ropa, alimentos, muebles, comida, etc.; donantes sobre todo de la ciudad.

“Llamadas para que el amor de Dios como se manifiesta en la Encarnación sea presencia real y tangible en el mundo de hoy” 


Afirma Sor Lucha...
“Tratamos de vivir esto, haciendo de todo lo que se va necesitando, todo en el marco de sus derechos, sea preparación de desayuno y comida, aseos, revisión de medicamentos, preparación de “kits” para migrantes, inventarios de despensa, de artículos de higiene personal y de ropa que se recibe en donación. 

En medio de estas actividades, atendemos y escuchamos a las personas migrantes que llegan a la Casa: escuchar, alentar, consolar, servirles, comunicar esperanza y confianza en el Dios de la vida, en un mundo de hermanas y hermanos, orientarlos a las oficinas o servicios que requieran y escuchar, escuchar, amar. Considero que, hasta ahora, todas hemos recibido más de lo que podemos dar.

El Papa Francisco en su mensaje para la Jornada mundial del migrante y del refugiado, ha recordado que: “cada forastero que llama a nuestra puesta es una ocasión de encuentro con Jesucristo, que se identifica con el extranjero acogido o rechazado en cualquier época de la historia. Nuestra respuesta se podría articular en torno a cuatro verbos: ACOGER, PROTEGER, PROMOVER E INTEGRAR”. Esto es lo que intentamos vivir.

Experiencias Fuertes
Comparte Sor Lucha: Quiero comentar dos experiencias fuertes que vivimos, puesto que escuchamos historias de todo tipo, unas llenas de esperanza y otras, la mayoría, muy dolorosas. El año pasado recibimos un grupo de 57 migrantes de ambos sexos, rescatados en la Comunidad de Búfalo, cerca de Cd. Jiménez, Chih., por la Guardia Nacional. Nueve de ellos eran infantes. Los secuestradores eran narcotraficantes, los despojaron de sus pertenencias y solicitaron datos de sus familiares en Estados Unidos o en sus países de origen para pedirles dinero. Los migrantes fueron secuestrados en los dos autobuses en los que viajaban. La Guardia Nacional pudo decomisar a los maleantes, cuatro vehículos y mucho material bélico. Los narcos huyeron.

En otra ocasión se recibió nuevamente un grupo de 86 personas secuestradas por narcotraficantes. En ese grupo venían niños. Algunos comentaron que tenían ya dos meses detenidos, pues nadie podía pagar por ellos.

El Porqué de la Migración
Explica Sor Lucha: Lo que hemos escuchado, comenta las hermanas, sobre las situaciones de los migrantes en sus países de orígenes son variadas: cuestiones políticas, desalojos sufridos de sus tierras y hogares debido al crimen organizado, falta de fuentes de trabajo y salarios muy bajos, y la ilusión del “sueño americano”.

Actitudes de Mexicanos hacia Migrantes de Otros Países
En cuanto a lo que comentan los migrantes sobre las actitudes de los mexicanos hacia ellos, es variado. Muy doloroso y triste la situación del abuso por parte de los narcotraficantes y estafadores hacia ellos, al igual, que un fuerte porcentaje de servidores públicos de inmigración que, sobre todo en los estados del sur, (Tabasco, Chiapas, Oaxaca) que los denigran. Sin embargo, los comentarios sobre las personas de los centros de migrantes que los reciben son muy positivos. 

Sor Lucha concluye que la actitud es variopinta, tanto del personal que trabaja en el gobierno de México a todos niveles, como de la población en general. Ha escuchado que en algunos lugares los rechazan porque piensan que les quitarán sus empleos o porque parecen delincuentes. Las políticas migratorias que Estados Unidos exige a México, son unilaterales. Los migrantes desean establecerse allá y los regresan a nuestro país a esperar sus citas con el personal migratorio de allá, citas que generalmente se programan para varios meses de espera. En la Ciudad de Chihuahua algunos migrantes buscan y obtienen empleos temporales para obtener algún dinero para continuar su marcha al norte. Por otra parte, el gobierno de México es duro tratando de cerrar la frontera sur para evitar el cruce a USA. 

“Agradecemos primeramente a Dios la oportunidad de poder acompañar y prestar un pequeño servicio a nuestras hermanas y hermanos migrantes en esta querida ciudad de Chihuahua, Chih. México, como hermanas ccvi, uniéndonos a la pastoral de la Movilidad Humana, área de la C.E.M. Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano que tiene como objetivo: “atender, acompañar, acoger, asesoras a las personas que se encuentran dentro del fenómeno migratorio en territorio mexicano”. 


Q & A with a Sister

by S. Marylou Rodriguez

Early this year, after having brunch with S. Teresa Maya, our previous congregational leader, I picked her brain in some of the most pressing issues that affect the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC).  Here are the highlights of my Q & A with her.

1. What do you think of the current justice and peace situations in our local and international scene?

We need to recommit to the Catholic Social Teachings (especially) in promotion of human dignity. We forget people in vulnerable situations.

2. Considering the issues that the humanity and the world are facing. What can be the JPIC topmost priority?

JPIC can be like a pebble in the shoe that makes one uncomfortable. It can continue to persist in raising issues, connect organizations. JPIC needs to get us out of our bubble, the comfortable bubble.

3. What can we practically do (for justice and peace), considering the decline in vocation and aging?

We need to understand our institutional voice. We still have it in San Antonio. We have a voice. If the archdiocese say something about immigration, we can publish this statement.

Our Sisters, even though they are old, we can be in the Village and invite the homeless and be an  accompaniment. We can care for creation through direct donation.  We are (Congregation) corporate power. The Congregation and ministries will listen if we make a statement.  We have the Ministry Council. We have a person sitting in that for our ministries.

4. We have an event "I Shall Not Hate" with Dr. Abuelaish, a speaker who was a Gaza refugee, now a Canadian citizen.   How can we advance Justice and Peace works through education and in our ministries?

Make sure to engage the interreligious group that there is a rabbi.  (There has to be) an interreligious planning that includes Jewish people.  Plan with representative from different ministries so that they get involve.  Find another congregation to partner with.

5. What can JPIC do with all the issues happening with (the vulnerable)?

Hilton Foundation is our presence in that part of JPIC.  We are better when we connect the two.  The MIRN Panels are amazing.  The project with youth are amazing.  The Intercongregation Initiative including Costa Rica is working.  The networks and relationships have matured and these take time.  The lay people are more engaged, e.g. the people in school talked about it.  This does not happen before.

6. What should we expect from the Congregation Leadership and the Sisters?

In Mexico, they have students from nearby and they figured out connecting Sisters to be involved.  We are responsible with the Chapter.  If we look at the Chapter Acts, everybody has a responsibility.  What did we do to be ahead?  Do I remember the Chapter?  What is the direction?  Do I know about what it says?

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Note: The event "I Shall Not Hate" was a week long event held on February 17-21, engaging various organizations in San Antonio of various faith traditions.  Sub-events engaged different people from various institutions and organizations such as University of Incarnate Word, The Village at Incarnate Word, Alamo College, Pax Christi TX, The Rainbow (Interfaith) Coalition, the Executive Book Club, Catholic TV of San Antonio and San Antonio Express for promotion, etc. The proceeds of the event went to supporting scholarship fund for the Middle Eastern women.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Sister Michele's Acts of Love in her Care for Creation

Sister Michele O'Brien is fond of caring for justice, peace and creation.  In 2024, she is one of the honorees for the Congar Institute for Ministry Development Award for her 50 years of dedicated service to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa where she took several positions such as x-ray tech, registered nurse, community health director, advocate/lobbyist, foundation development officer, etc.  In all of these roles, she has been an instrument of the healing ministry of Christ in San Antonio.  She also advocated COVID 19 vaccines and called on  communities for vaccination around San Antonio during the peak of the pandemic. One of her collaboration for social justice is the collaborative effort with the hospitals in San Antonio to conduct a community health assessment so that all the hospitals will be able to provide address the basic and important needs of the community and pool their resources into a bucket for the common good of the underprivileged. 

Prior to moving to the Village in San Antonio, she used to live in Emmaus community, where she would diligently take care of the plants in the garden.

Now in the Village at Incarnate Word, she enjoys watering her plants on her porch. She advocates for lessening plastic pollution in the Village by carrying her own containers for drink and food whenever she can.  She makes use of her own silverware to avoid using plastic spoon and fork. and even carries an antique salt and pepper given to her by a friend so that she does not have to waste the single serve salt and pepper. She is not afraid to ask the staff of the Village not to give her the plastic cups where her medicines are being placed and even ask if they can use paper cups next time. She also used common trash bag and consolidates her rubbish to lessen the use of plastic bag.
Sister Michele's way of appreciating beauty along with her tireless love for social justice show the relevance of the healthy environment she wants to nurture or care for.   She sees the beauty in it rather than an object to take advantage of.  

Laudato Si Article 215:
If someone has not learned to stop and admire something beautiful, we should not be surprised if he or she treats everything as an object to be used and abused without scruple. If we want to bring about deep change, we need to realize that certain mindsets really do influence our behaviour.