With a Heart for Justice

It’s a good time to revisit our corporate stand on Debt Relief that was affirmed in October 2000. At that time the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart joined a worldwide movement to cancel the crushing international debt of impoverished countries. We realized the complexity of world economics and so joined other organizations around the globe in seeking understanding of and solutions to the debt crisis. Jubilee USA is one of those organizations with whom we have been collaborating. You are invited to reread our corporate stance statement on Debt Relief on our website by clicking on the appropriate tab at the top of the homepage. I think you will find it quite timely considering the action request from Jubilee USA that follows.

Within days we expect an outcome from the 2nd Circuit Court case on Vulture Hedge Funds versus the country of Argentina. The outcome of the case will either hurt or protect the world’s most vulnerable. This case has the possibility to strengthen or dismantle the billions we’ve won on debt relief.

After reading the article, please help us get the story out. The mainstream media is covering Jubilee’s voice, but recently some coverage is citing our opinion as representing a minority – not the majority voice that we actually represent. We need you to forward this e-mail to friends. Post Eric’s piece on your Facebook page and tweet it so that we can get the real story out there.

Recently, Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA, represented Jubilee at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Meetings. He spoke on the floor of the United Nations about vulture funds and the implications of this historic case on the world’s poorest people. Every country, investor and international institution in the room echoed his comments.

Our Jubilee opinion is the majority opinion. Please read Eric’s OpEd, forward it to friends, tweet it and post it on Facebook.

Please consider spreading the word. It’s easy and very worthwhile.

Faith of our Mothers

Sister Patricia Kelly

Sister Patricia Kelly

Like many others, my faith grew and was nurtured at home in my family. My mother came to the US from Ireland when she was 21 years old. It was her faith and trust in God that gave her the courage to leave her home.  She referred to herself as a “greenhorn”, a name given to recent immigrants. Being Irish and Catholic, she was endowed with a strong faith in God and the Blessed Mother.

My mom was widowed at a young age with 4 young girls when I was 6 years old. Her deep faith in God brought her to early Mass every morning at the nearby church. It was this living faith that gave her the strength to go out to work  everyday.    Mary worked in the neighborhood, cleaning, ironing, cooking, and sewing to provide for her children. In her later years, her faith was evident in her concern for others, visiting neighbors and serving at parish gatherings, without complaint.

My mom was so proud to have a daughter in the convent. Sometimes when we were out shopping, I was embarrassed because she would say to the person helping us, “This is my daughter, she’s a nun.”  I’m sure it was her faith that inspired me to answer the call to enter the convent.  Little did she know how proud I was of her.

Her example of enduring faith in times of loss and hardship was passed on to my sisters and to me. The faith Jesus speaks of includes trust. This trust helped my mother to believe that God will do what is best.

Thank you, dear Mom for passing that faith to me.

Sr. Patricia Kelly

Sr. Pat was a teacher, both in the U.S. and in Lima, Peru.  More recently, Sr. Pat has been a social worker for many years with Catholic Charities where she continues to serve on a part time basis.

Last Day of April

MKK- April

Sister Mary Karen Kelly, GNSH lives and works in Yardley, PA.  After a devoted career in all types of education, Sr. Karen now curates the Archives of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart.  Sr. Karen willingly lends her gifts and talents to many internal and external committees and projects, including on the Board of d’Youville College in Buffalo, NY.

Celebrate Earth Day, April 22, 2013

Woods walk poem

Perhaps the best way anyone could celebrate Earth Day, which is April 22, would be to spend it outdoors absorbing all the sights and sounds, textures and smells of Earth come alive after a long drawn out winter. If we are drawn to advocate for the health of Earth and all her inhabitants, it is because we have first developed a relationship with her and that takes time.  As the poet says, “You must take your time and touch the very peace they issue from.”

Then, if you fall in love with creation you will no doubt want to act on her behalf. Since climate change continues to be a serious issue that that may be a good place to start.   Three attachments provide more information.  The first two are from Education for Justice and the third is from Physicians for Social Responsibility.  You will find connections to the Social Justice teachings of the church, facts about climate and nutrition and a host of other resources from which to become educated about the serious problems facing the Earth.

May your celebration of Earth Day this Easter season bring you the New Life that Jesus wants us to have!

Pace e bene!

Earth Day Fast Facts_April 2013

Resources on Climate and Food Justice_April 2013 (3)

climate-change-and-famine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Fifty years ago, Pope Paul VI designated Good Shepherd Sunday as a world-wide day to pray for Vocations to the Church in the form of ordained ministry and consecrated life.  This year’s theme is “Vocations as a sign of hope founded in faith.” In the words of Pope Benedict, “…what exactly is God’s faithfulness, to which we adhere with unwavering hope? It is His love!…this love, fully manifested in Jesus Christ, engages with our existence and demands a response in terms of what each individual wants to do with his or her life, and what he or she is prepared to offer to live it to the full.  The love of God sometimes follows paths one never could have imagined, but it always reaches those who are willing to be found.”

This last part resonates with the many stories of those who seek guidance about their Christian vocation.  Many claim to feel unworthy, too sinful.  Some speak of the life-long resistance to the call, and the continual nagging feeling that God has chosen them for something different.  Sadly, too many wait decades hoping the feeling will go away, rather than responding to the call, and testing it out.  If only we could let people know that it is okay to “try on” religious life.  Some people fear  feelings of shame if they should discern that religious life is not for them.  However, this would be nothing compared to the pain of suddenly realizing, when life is nearing its finish, that God was truly calling and we were too busy, too self-absorbed, too worldly to respond.

On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations we hope that you will pray with us  to the Good Shepherd to call good, strong, compassionate men and women to vocations in the Church. Not the perfect, not the fancy; but those like the shepherd in the story, simple, humble, willing to do the right thing when it presents itself.   As Pope Francis has said, we must be Evangelizers-  going out to collect that one lost sheep, not content to sit home with the 99 others.

This is the call of Vocation.  To set aside worldly things for the  love of God and neighbor.  This past week the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart have been in Chapter, discerning the direction of the Congregation for the next 5 years, and selecting the women among them who will be their leaders during that time.  Not one of the women selected for the General Administration entered the Congregation with thoughts of leading it one day.  They entered as women who wanted to put their relationship with God first in their lives.  They entered to make a difference in their own lives by making a difference in the lives of others.  What they dreamed their life would look like probably turned out to be something quite different. But what they entered with remains, they are deeply in love with their God and with the people they are called to serve.

We have only one life to live, but many choices about how to live that life.  Choose Jesus and leave the details to God.

Litany to the Eternal Father

Stained glass rendering of the Eternal Father, GNSH Motherhouse Chapel

Stained glass rendering of the Eternal Father, GNSH Motherhouse Chapel

Let us unite with our Lord Jesus Christ and in his name pray God the Father, and implore his infinite mercy and goodness.

Let us also unite our sentiments with those the most holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, the most perfect of his creatures, had while on earth for the Eternal Father.

Our Father in heaven,   hear the voice of your children on earth.

O Father, who had no beginning but who are the source of all things, be our ultimate end, and the source of all our works.

O Father of all eternity, show yourself our Father and give us a share in your everlasting glory.

O Father of the only begotten Son, grant that He may live in us with all His divine virtues.

O Father from who together with the Son, proceeds the Holy Spirit, come and establish in us your home.

O Father, source of all holiness, preserve in us your divine image.

O Father, source of all sanctity, give us a true desire for perfection.

O Father of wisdom and truth, preserve us from the prudence of worldlings and from all illusions.

O Father of Infinite Majesty, make us always mindful of your Divine Presence.

O Father of eternal light, disperse the clouds of our ignorance.

O Father, Creator of Angels and of all humankind, create in us new hearts.

O Father, the author of all, may your reign be everywhere established.

O Father, source of all love. multiply our works of charity and render them fruitful unto eternal life.

O Father, source of all power, make us ready to undertake all things for your glory.

O Father of all consolation, sustain us in our trials.

O Father of infinite love, be the sole object of our love.

O Father, who wills the salvation of all, accomplish in us the designs of mercy.

O Father, who out of pure love gave your Son for the salvation of the world, save a world so much loved by you.

O Father, who sends forth from your own heart the Incarnate Word, grant that He may reign supreme in our hearts.

O Father, who made Mary the Mother of God, glorify this blessed Mother in all ages.

O Father, who confided your Son to Joseph, give us also this saint for our guardian and father.

O Father, who has predestined us through Jesus Christ, grant that we may be of the number of the elect.

O Father, who gave up your Son for the ransom of captives, grant us that liberty which is enjoyed by your true children.

O Father, who out of your infinite love did not spare you Divine Son, grant that we may always be ready to sacrifice ourselves out of love for you.

O Father, your Son is most pleasing to you, grant that He may be pleased with us and that we may find our sole pleasure in Him.

O Father, whom the world has not known, grant that we may daily grow in your knowledge and love.

O Father, whom the Son has revealed, increase in us the gift of faith.

O Father, to whom the Son prayed with his dying breath, render His prayers and His blood efficacious for us.

O Father, to whom the Son, expiring on the Cross, committed his Soul, be merciful to us when we depart this life.

O Father, who raised your Son from the dead, raise all poor sinners to the state of grace.

O Father, who gave your Son a seat at your right hand, grant that we may reign with him in glory.

O Father, who poured forth the Holy Spirit upon your children,  render us faithful to His inspirations.

O Father, who hid the mystery of the Cross from the wise of the world, grant that we may understand this mystery of love.

O Father, who revealed to the lowly the mystery of the Cross, make us worthy of the treasures of grace hidden in this mystery.

O Father, who sees those who pray in secret, give us your heavenly knowledge and love of prayer.

O Father, who loves those who adore you in spirit and in truth, grant that in all things we may seek to please you.

O Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who are pleased also to be our Father, grant that we will always remain your faithful children.

O most loving Father, let the angels duly celebrate your infinite grandeur.

O Father most merciful, remember not our offences, but pour forth your mercy upon us.

O God, our protector, behold,

  • and look upon the face of your Christ.

O Lord, hear our prayer

  • and let our cry come to you.

Let us pray

O lord, all powerful God, you so loved the world as to give your only begotten Son, accept this thanksgiving which we offer your for so great a benefit; grant us by your kindness, help to accomplish with our whole heart and by all our actions, all that Jesus, you Son and our brother, has taught us by His words and example. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN

“My great source of confidence is God the Father.”    St. Marguerite d’Youville

“Our Eternal Father has us all in His keeping.”    St. Marguerite d’Youville

 

This Litany is still prayed by the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in their great devotion to the Eternal Father, passed down to them from the spirituality of their founder, St. Marguerite d’Youville.  It has undergone minor changes in language and in length over the years, but  continues to be a supplication to our Heavenly Father and an invocation of his protection upon those who pray, and upon those who we pray for. It also gives us an example of how theological concepts were taught to the young women of the day who desired to become members of the Congregation.  With no formal theological schooling available to young women,  prayers, rich in theological significance, repeated daily, formed their spirituality and directed their minds toward God.

Taking action on Human Trafficking

Recently six letters written by the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) were signed on behalf of the Grey Nuns.  These letters, sent to the respective federal subcommittees on April 2, are intended to coincide with the drafting of  fiscal year 2014 budgets. The letters seek increased funding for services to aid trafficked persons or request stronger and broader report language to provide better protection. Below is the list of the subcommittees and the requests made to them.

Click here to read about ATEST

PRM (Population, Refugees and Migration) To express concern about lack of funding in 2013 for family reunification for human trafficking survivors in the United States; asking that they prioritize providing additional funding to the International Office of Migration (IOM) who funds this vital program to reunify the survivors many of our (ATEST) members and the organizations who signed this letter.

LHHS (Labor, Health and Human Services)To seek assistance in funding several programs related to child labor, forced labor, human trafficking and slavery in the FY 2014 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation bill.

SFOS (State Foreign Operations Services) To ask for consideration for funding and report language for the following programs important to combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery: $6,800,000 for the Administration of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons$30,000,000 for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Trafficking in Persons Grants $600,000 for the Program on Migration

CJS (Commerce, Justice and Science) To seek assistance to fund a series of authorized programs in the FY 2014 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that are absolutely critical to fighting the growing problem of human trafficking and slavery.

DHS (Dept. of Homeland Security)

To ask to consider funding and report language to better combat human trafficking as follows:

  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): $10,000,000 for Investigations
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Training for Officers
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Rights for Human Trafficking Victims
  • Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Training for Officers
  • Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Human Trafficking Hotline Number

FSGG (Financial Services and General Government)  To request report language to highlight this crime and bring it to the attention of the U.S. Department of Treasury and, most notably, its bureau of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Sr. Diane Bardol coordinates the efforts of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart based on the issues of Social Justice.  Information about our concerns in this area is available on our website  www.GreyNun.org.