It’s hard to believe that most of the promises of help and support that the world’s nations offered after the tragic earthquake in Haiti were never fulfilled. In January, and for a few weeks following the devastation there were offers and promises of all kinds of help. “We care,” said the world, and, “we will help. We Promise!!!!” Well this summer CNN checked out all those promises and discovered they were mostly empty.  For a report on CNN’s investigation, read catholic online’s recent post: Majority of the financial aid to Haiti never arrives. 

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“For so many, the need to belong is strong but the search can be discouraging and lonely. One may feel isolated, unsure whether there is a place of love and nurturing for them. They do not feel at home anywhere, or with anyone. There is no place at a table for them. Their isolation can be anguishing; their spirit diminished. Every person has a need to belong.” This is a quote from The Downtown Chapel Web Site by one of the priests (Fr. Bob Loughery) who serves this community in Portland Oregon. This Site and ministry certainly deserve a visit, and I especially recommend the Christmas Portrait Slide Show for those of you who are visual. Please visit the site (Downtown Chapel) for more videos, the priest’s blogs, and this very special ministry in the downtown core of Portland, Oregon by the Holy Cross Fathers. It is a very special gift to help one begin the New Year with the blessing of hope.

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Visit Development and Peace to hear, see, and learn more, and to help by sending an internet message of
support. Earlier this fall, delegates of Development and Peace and a group of Canadian Bishops visited a number of partners in Burundi and witnessed the complex challenges that continue to face the country. The situation in Burundi
• It is estimated that 400,000 lives have been lost over the last 16 years due to civil war and ethnic violence.
• Sixty percent of Burundi’s population are children, many of whom have lost their parents.
• There are 400,000 refugees trying to return to their country and rebuild their lives.

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A Canadian delegation from Development and Peace, the Canadian Bishops, and The Catholic Women’s League Of Canada are determined to put AFRICA ON THE MAP. For too long Africa has been ignored and they are determined to do something about it. For more information visit: Here

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This is the latest post from the National Catholic Reporter on Twitter: NCRonlineJohn Allen on pope’s new social encyclical: Fighting hunger, beefing up unions http://tinyurl.com/lbv8lqabout 5 hours ago from web.

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The Canadian Catholic Bishops along with the Bishop’s from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Scotland, England &Wales, and the U.S. have just sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper encouraging him and the Leaders of the upcoming G8 Conference to deepen their commitments and actions to reduce global poverty and address global climate change:

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In a powerful little booklet (pastoral letter) entitled, The Need for Conversion, the ‘Social Affairs Commission of the ‘Canadian confidence of Catholic Bishop’s’ challenged Canadians this March 2008 to take a hard realistic look at the way that we, as Canadians, are treating our planet. “Are we not like the prodigal son”, they ponder, “who asked his father for his inheritance and then left home and proceeded to waste it (Luke 15:11-32 [show]Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal Son [11]And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. [12]And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. [13]Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. [14]And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. [15]So he went and hired himself out to(1) one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. [16]And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. [17]"But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! [18]I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. [19]I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."’ [20]And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. [21]And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’(2) [22]But the father said to his servants,(3) ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. [23]And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. [24]For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. [25]"Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26]And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. [27]And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ [28]But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, [29]but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. [30]But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ [31]And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. [32]It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’" (ESV) Footnotes 1. [15:15] Greek ‘joined himself to’ 2. [15:21] Some manuscripts add ‘treat me as one of your hired servants’ 3. [15:22] Greek ‘bondservants’
)?” Commenting on our excessive need for more and more, the Bishops observe that we are mismanaging the Garden of Eden: “In our drive to earn more, to possess more, to consume always more, we have sacrificed a great deal to the economic almighty, which has become like the substance of modern life. We have mismanaged the Garden of Eden entrusted to us.”

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HOMILY - FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
2007

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Last Weekend ‘Our Lady’s Missionaries’ made a visit to both our Parishes. Sr. Christine Gebel gave us an update on their work since her last visit with us about two years ago. As she spoke at all our Masses, she reflected on the Gospel passage of the lady who had seven deceased husbands and the Sadducees question: “In the Resurrection whose wife will the woman be?” (Lk. 20:27-39 [show]Luke 20:27-39 Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection [27]There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, [28]and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man(1) must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. [29]Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. [30]And the second [31]and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. [32]Afterward the woman also died. [33]In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife." [34]And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, [35]but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, [36]for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons(2) of the resurrection. [37]But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. [38]Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him." [39]Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." (ESV) Footnotes 1. [20:28] Greek ‘his brother’ 2. [20:36] Greek ‘huioi’; see preface
) Now in Jesus’ time a wife was more or less the property of a husband, and therefore the question not only enquired about the marriage bond in eternity, but had a connotation of ownership. As she pointed out, no one owns anybody in eternity, and in God’s kingdom in the here and now. As Christians we are called to love our neighbor as our selves, and to live in freedom, as children of God. Her insights came from the Sisters work with oppressed people around the world who are often owned by another. An example being prostitutes one of the Sisters works with in one of their missions. And, from a personal point of view and her involvement in Muslim Christian dialogue in the Philippines, she offered the insight that no one even owns God.

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Turkey has a new President, Abdullah Gul, and many fear that he will allow Islam to role back the hands of time and create another Islamic state in the Middle East. “The selection of Mr. Gul,” says the New York Times, “ended four months of political standoff that began when Turkey’s secular establishment and military, vehemently opposed to his candidacy, blocked it in May, forcing a national election last month.”

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Here is a link to a video that explores the person of Jesus, as one who is poor himself. From this perspective the gospel for this eleventh Sunday of ordinary time (Luke; 7:36-8:3) takes on a much deeper meaning. Watch Video

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APARECIDA, Brazil (National Catholic Reporter) – Rumors of the death of liberation theology, it would appear, have been a bit exaggerated, at least judging by the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean in Aparecida, Brazil, May 13-31 – though it didn’t exactly emerge with a clean bill of health. Read more:

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President of Brazil and Pope greet one another at airport.

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On May 1st, 2007, International Workers’ Day, the Social Affairs Committee of the Assembly of Québec Catholic Bishops (AQCB)proposes a reflection on finding a balance between the value of our work and the demands of new technologies. Read Article:
AECQ : Life-Work Balance in a Digital Era

Canada could become a world leader on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) if the federal government and other stakeholders accept and act on the recommendations of a groundbreaking report released today.
The report comes out of a ten month government-led roundtable process that included representatives from civil society organizations, industry, academia, labour, and socially responsible investors acting as an Advisory Group, as well as representatives from communities affected by Canadian mining, oil and gas operations in the developing world. Read Full Report

Indifference greatest sin against poor, pope’s preacher says - Catholic Online

You might not have heard of this nun before, but to the poor of Honduras there is no other person like her. Read her inspiring story:
Sr. Maria Rosa Leggol: ‘Nobody gave me this job — I made it’ National Catholic Reporter Conversation Cafe

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With all the problems we have in this world, one would hope that governments and corporations would all be struggling to advance justice. When people are exploited and used for the sake of financial gain the very peace of this world is strained and undermined. And, I don’t think planet earth will be able to tolerate much more without dire consequences for all of us. (Why can’t the pain of the oppressed be recognized and alleviated?)

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Jesuit who served in U.S. Congress on anti-Vietnam War platform dies

I have always admired those who have the courage to speak for those that they felt were oppressed and ignored. Here is a priest that fought for such people! Let us us remember him in our prayers.

The gap between the rich and the poor is widening in Canada. The rich are becoming richer, and the middle class and poor are becoming poorer. This according to figures released by the Canadian Government. I’m sure that those who financially struggle to get by have noticed this phenomena. I’m not sure that those who have been benefiting are concerned or really care. If this trend continues we could easily become one of those countries where a small few own everything, and the vast majority are poor. Kind of a scarry thought, isn’t it? Read full article:
Rich-poor gap widens :: The Catholic Register :: Canada’s Catholic news source

Church needs to show its caring side :: The Catholic Register :: Canada’s Catholic news source

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“We are called to be the guardians of our fellows. The Lord will call us to account for the responsibilities entrusted to us, for the good and bad we have done to our brothers and sisters; whether we accompanied them carefully on the daily journey, sharing the anguish and joys of their hearts; whether we stayed beside them discreetly but constantly, helping and supporting them when the path became more difficult and tiring.” Pope Benedict XVI (Jan. 12, 2007.

Development and Peace | Development and Peace successfully continues its reconstruction work: “2 years after the tsunami: Development and Peace successfully continues its reconstruction work”

Development and Peace Education Campaign

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Vatican’s line on North Korea: Protect the vulnerable National Catholic Reporter Conversation Cafe: “A senior Vatican official on Thursday outlined the Holy See’s diplomatic position on North Korea in the wake of its recent nuclear test, as well as ongoing negotiations involving the United States, China, and other global powers on implementation of United Nations-approved sanctions upon the isolated Pyongyang regime. “

BBC NEWS | Africa | Dirty water ‘kills 1.5m children’

Invisible Lives

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The Catholic Register :: Canada’s Catholic news source (News)

Hulstein

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This weekend Sr. Christine Gebel (Our Lady’s Misssionaries) spoke at St. Mary’s and St. William’s on her work in the Philippines, and updated us on the work of Our Lady’s Missionaries. I will complete this blog with additional pictures, Sr. Christine’s message, etc. in a few days.
OUR LADY’S MISSIONARIES (OLM) is an international community of women who have devoted their lives to service, by sharing life with the poor and least privileged, while focusing on women’s concerns and working for global justice, peace and care for the earth.Link to OLM website

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Pat Cloutier, a parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish, gives generously of her gifts, and talents to bring the Christian message alive in this world. For eleven years she has helped raise food, shoes, medication, toys, hygiene products, and clothes for the poor of the world. CFFC (Canadian Food for Children) founded by Dr. Antoine Simone and his wife, Joan.
Each day, five days a week, CFFC sends out one, and sometimes two, 12 metre long containers to impoverished families around the world. “My own involvement,” says Pat in a recent artile she wrote, “began about eleven years ago upon reading a newspaper article about the group. I began collecting a few odds and ends and bringing them to the warehouse. My collecting has since mushroomed into full-time volunteering for CFFC. When you realize how so many in the world have so little, you begin to see everything in a new light. For instance, if I see even just an elastic band on the sidewalk, I pounce, knowing full well that missionaries are hard up for elastic bands. What great excitement I get too, in finding a Dollar bag of linens or blankets that can be shipped. …….Over the years, I have come to know Dr. Simone and Joan, who have raised 13 children. They are truly humble people wishing to do everthing for Jesus. A banner on the warehoue wall sums it up: ‘Jesus is our Strength’.”

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