World Refugee Day

"Refugees are not numbers, they are people who have faces, names, stories, and need to be treated as such" said Pope Francis.

Take action:

1.- Share Messages of Welcome on Social Media. Use #welcomerefugees to show that your congregation welcomes refugees in your community.

2.-You can do your part to support World Refugee Day by calling on your MP to do theirs! Send a letter to your MP today asking them to stand up for refugees: http://bit.do/b26Ln

Estela, grita muy fuerte

¡Estela, grita muy fuerte! Es el nombre del libro que toda niña y niño debe leer.  Un libro que ayuda a las(os) niñas(os) a expresarse y dar la voz de alarma. Y, a nosotras(os) las(os) adultos, nos da herramientas para defender a las(os) más pequeñas(os), a las (os) hijas(os) y hablar con ellas(os) sobre el abuso sexual infantil.

"Estela, una niña a la que le encanta usar su imaginación, es pellizcada y rasguñada por una compañera de clases. Como no sabe qué hacer, se queda callada. Entonces, su maestra le aconseja: ´Cuando alguien te hace algo que no te gusta, tienes que decirle que pare. Y si no para, entonces GRITAS muy fuerte hasta que vengan a ayudarte´.
Un día, su tío Anselmo empieza a tocarla de formas que no le gustan. Ella hace lo que su maestra le dijo: grita lo más fuerte que puede. Y funciona".

Lee aquí el libro: http://bit.do/b2TSd

Sister Story Highlight

When you meet with this sister, you are greeted by a woman full of joy, with a refreshing smile.  These few lines are to recognize and thank Sr. Helena Monahan, CCVI for her work and commitment to justice, peace, and the care of creation.

In 1996 Sr. Helena received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, in response to the needs of the Congregation.  During her time in leadership of the Congregation the “Headwaters Coalition” was created which legally protected 56 acres of green space (near the campus of UIW in San Antonio) for education, environmental protection, and spiritual development for generations to come.

Currently, Sr. Helena serves as the Executive Director of Incarnate Word Academy, an all-girls school in St. Louis, MO.  In this role she has been able to support and encourage many young women to take action promoting human dignity and living the charism of the Congregation.  We are grateful for her prophetic voice and witness!

Challenges and Commitments for our Communities of Faith

With joy I participated in the Interreligious Conference entitled “Objectives for Sustainable Development” (OSD) which discussed the challenges and commitments of our faith communities, organized by the Interreligious Counsel in Peru.  One of the most significant moments for me was understanding that the Agenda 2030, which contains the 17 objectives for sustainable development, responds to the concrete faces of people throughout the world.  It was created though extensive consultation.  Through this, the word ‘Ubunto’ became clear: “I am when you are.”

The presenter from the United Nations indicated that the Agenda 2030 is meant to orient the public politics of the country, because every country that signs on has a responsibility to fulfill these common goals. 

The event, which was held in the auditorium of the United Nations in Lima, included the participation of religious leaders who are working for a more just, humane, spiritual, and peaceful world.  For the working group in which I participated, we indicated that all of our work should place first the earth, our common home, the creation of God.  Therefore, objective number 4, which highlights Quality Education, is definitely one of the priorities. 

After an interesting interreligious dialogue, we committed ourselves to working on the promotion of a more dignified life for all, because we are all responsible for implementing these objectives. 

Report: Human Trafficking in Peru

In Peru, the main characteristic of Human Trafficking is its internal development, which is to say that “there is more internal sexual and labor exploitation than that which crosses the borders,” as Jose Ivan Davalos, President of the International Migration Organization (OIM) in Peru explained. 

According to the OIM report, between 2009 and 2014 there have been four thousand registered complaints of human trafficking.  Of those four thousands cases, 80% are women and 60% of those women are underage. 

Considered an invisible crime in Peru, because it happens unbeknownst to the general population and the State, and is only allocated .006% of the National Budget; the weight of this reality is heavy.  Some of the challenges in combating human trafficking include the lack of shelters for those rescued and little information about preventing this crime from happening. 

It is worth mentioning that the traffickers trick their victims by promising work.  Once their victims arrive, they are transported to places where the presence of the State basically doesn’t exist, and they are subjected to physical and sexual violence, with the goal of breaking them down and making them dependent on their trafficker.  The trafficker threatens them with death or injury to themselves and to their family members in order to prevent them from running away.