'Caring for our planet' click here
Light amid gloomThis week's Monday JPIC Blog is Fr Jim Carty's reflection on the 'chiaroscuro' of Christmas today. Go to the Blog: click here [Dec 24] |
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Formula for hopeFrom Atlanta, USA, ths week's Monday JPIC Blog features the Centro Hispano Marista and its formula for hope.. Go to the Blog: click here [Dec 16] |
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The way to peaceThis week's Monday JPIC Blog from Rome features Pope Francis' recent address, identifying Mary as the 'way to peace amongst cultures'. Go to the Blog: click here [Dec 09] |
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Gemma and the Digos prisonThis week's JPIC Blog from Rome features Lay Marist, Gemma Ando, and her ministry to the prisoners of Digos, Philippines. Go to the Blog: click here. [Dec 02] |
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Excellence for BrandonThis week's JPIC Blog from Rome highlights a success story of the 'Reaching for Excellence' program of Marist College, Atlanta, USA. . Go to the Blog: click here. See also an earlier Blog on the program: click here. [Nov 26] |
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HIV care - Marists at RanongLast Monday's JPIC blog came from Fr Gil Casio SM, ministering to the victims of HIV-AIDS in Thailand's fishing port city of Ranong. Go to the blog: click here [Nov 25] |
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Letter from BoliviaAustralian missionary, Fr John Hopkisnon SM, writes a short but poignant note from Bolivia following the recent overthrow of the legitimate government by a right-wing minority with outside support. Click here. Fr 'Hoppy' is pictured below in Sydney in 2018 and with Catholics in Bolivia cared for by the Misioneros Maristas. [Nov 25] |
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Saturday sandwichToday's Monday JPIC Blog from Rome features the Saturday ministry to the homeless at the Marist's downtown church in London. Go to the Blog: click here [Nov 11] |
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Marists and our common homeToday's Monday JPIC Blog from Rome features a Draft Sustainability Policy on which Fr Peter Healy sm, a member of the Society of Mary's international Ecology Commission, has been working in dialogue with the NZ Marist Provincial Administration. Fr Peter is pictured below (right) with Fr Phil Cody. Go to the blog: click here [Nov 04] |
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Francis and the Catholic Dormitory of Ee Tu HtaThie week's Monday JPIC blog is about Francis Hsa Ku and a handful of IDP youngsters at Ee Tu Hta. Click here. [Oct 30] |
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Border birthCristian was born by a bridge near the US/Mexican border, In this week's JPIC Blog Fr Tony O'Connor tells his story. Click here. [Oct 26] |
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One flag missingIn this Monday's JPIC blog from Rome, Fr Jim Carty SM shares on the plight of Wilai and the stateless children of the world. For the blog, click here. [Oct 14] |
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Web of lifeIn this week's JPIC blog from Rome Marist formator and environmentalist, Fr Donato Kivi, emphasises that caring for our planet cuts across all boundaries. For the blog, click here. [Oct 11] |
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Bugey in BrazilThis week's JPIC Monday blog from Rome features Fr Paddy O'Neil's report on the Marists in Bahia, Brazil, inspired by the Society of Mary's pioneer missions in the Bugey mountains of France. For the blog, click here. That's Fr Paddy, below, in the red shirt. [Oct 01] |
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Crack-down at RanongIn this week's JPIC Monday blog from Rome Fr Frank Bird describes the critical situation in Ranong, Thailand, where the government moves have prompted closing the mission schools. For the blog, click here. [Sep 24] |
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Beginning at homeThis week's JPIC from Rome features an initiative of the Australian Marist Family JPIC committee.and its list of suggestions for caring for our planet beginning a home. Click here for the Blog [Sep 20] |
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Creation prayerFrom Rome, this week's JPIC blog offers a prayer for the Season of Creation. Go to the blog: click here. [Sep 11] |
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Season of Creation, ctd.This week's JPIC blog from Rome also features the Season of Creation. Go to the blog, click here. [Sep 04] |
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Season of CreationInspired by Pope Francis' pressing letter on the environment, 'Laudato Si', Christian groups throughout the world have dedicated the first five weeks of spring (in the Southern Hemisphere!) as the 'Season of Creation' A wealth of practical aids is available to inspire and facilitate practical intitiaves in taking fuller responsibility for the planet on which we live. Principal resource is the Season of Creation website and its Celebration Guide and One-page overview. A major contributor to the Season of Creation is the Global Catholic Climate Movement. See also in our recommended websites (above) Pacific Calling Partnership and Pacific Climate Watch. [Sep 02] |
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Economy or people?From Rome this week's JPIC Blog features a comment by Ross Flint, Anglican priest and Marist Associate, Launceston, Tas, on the Australian PM's recent, lamentable visit to Pacific leaders. Go to the blog: click here. . [Aug 30] |
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Fr Ben's eco-retreatFrom Ireland, Fr Ben McKenna reports on his experience of an eco-retreat, in this week's JPIC blog. Click here. [Aug 01] |
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Saint of Talad ThaiFrom Pathumthani, Thailand, Br Paul Murphy FMS recounts the story of Burmese migrant worker, Dora, and her family. This week's Monday blog from Rome. Click here. [Jul 23] |
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The plot thickensFeatured in this week's Monday JPIC Blog is a graphic report from the USA-Mexican border by Kiwi Marist Fr Tony O'Connor SM, describing the plight of migrants and the poor of Central America. Go to the blog: click here PS: For a practical piece from CathNews NZ, 'Kids in cages. You can help', click here. [Jul 19] |
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Commitment to dialogueThis week's JPIC blog from Rome features Fr Larry Sabud's thoughtful reflection on Marist commitment to inter-religious dialogue. Go to the blog: click here [Jul 10] |
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Another way of fishingMonday's JPIC blog from Rome feature's Fr Donato Kivi's latest initiative in Fiji: aquaculture and a new way of fishing. Go to the blog: click here [Jul 04] |
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'I was in prison... 'This week's JPIC blog from Rome reports on the prison ministry of Marists in Digos, Mindanao, Philippines. Click here [Jun 26] |
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Refugees at General HouseLeading from the top, the community of Monteverde, the Society of Mary's General House in Rome, has welcomed two Syrian refugees into the household. The two young men are already showing their own example of commitment to the needy. See last Monday's JPIC blog from Rome: click here [Jun 22} |
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World Refugee DayDesignated by the United Nations, Thu, June 20, is World Refugee Day, In anticipation of this day, Pope Francis has released a 4-minute video clip, well-worth watching and sharing. Click here [Jun 20] |
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Refugee Week 2019The Refugee Council of Australia is again promoting Refugee Week, Jun 16-22, Thu, Jun 20 is World Refugee Day. For details click here or go to the RCOA website. [Jun 14] |
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Beneath Mt YasurThis week's JPIC blog from Rome features the work of Marists at Tanna, Vanuatu, beneath Mt Yasur, still active.. Click here. [Jun 11] |
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Quan Khue remembersThis week's JPIC blog from Rome follows a surprise email to Australian Fr Jim Carty from the once-young Vietnamese interpreter with whom he worked amongst refugees almost forty years ago. Click here [Jun 06] Below: Fr Jim Carty | ....with Vietnamese refugees at Gose; Fr Jim is near the left; Quan Khue is at the far right. |
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Different Marist stylesFrom Rome recent 'Monday blogs' have featured two imaginative but different Marist educational initiatives: Australian Br Paul Murphy's Living Water' project in Thailand and 'Mind and Body Wellness' at Pontiac, Michigan, USA. For Living Water; blog, click here | For 'Mind and Body Wellness' blog, click here. [May 26] |
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BP-ers' invitationIn an email from the Thai-Myanmar border, former Bridge Program student, Thae Thae (pictured below, 2nd from right) writes: 'This is to invite you to the coming ACU graduation ceremony which will be held on 18th May. I am very grateful for what the Bridge Program has done for us. Without BP, we won't be where we are today. Thank you for helping us grow stronger.' Established in 2011 for young Burmese refugees, the Bridge Program is now coordinated by BP and ACU graduate, Muriel Valles, under the auspices of the Marist Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation committee. For your invitation, click here. See also 'The Bridge Program Story'. and 'Bridging the Gap' Below: ACU's graduating BP-ers, from left: Thoo Lei (BP16) and Ei Ei, Thae Thae and Zayar Min (BP16-17). [May 16] |
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From Rome the last two 'Monday blogs' have featured Marist initiatives in USA and Australia. For Marist Atlanta's 'Centro Hispana Marista - helping adults with a second chance at education', click here | For St Patrick's 'Breakfast for the homeless', click here. [May 08] |
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Ecological conversionKiwi Marist, Fr Peter Healy SM, writes on the serious ecological decisions facing the world. See this week's JPIC blog from Rome: click here. [Apr 26] |
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St Dympna, for victims of abuseThis week's JPIC Blog from Rome features the pastoral initiative of St Patrick's, Church Hill, Sydney, for victims of abuse. For the full story go to the blog site: click here. [Apr 19] |
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Shopping for goodFrom Sydney Archdiocese's Justice & Peace Office, comes this reminder: It's time to start thinking about where to source your ethical Easter eggs for 2019! Fortunately, there are a bunch of different options fair trade options which means they are made without modern slavery in their supply chains. For example, the Moser Roth mini Easter eggs (available from ALDI) are fair trade. Alternatively Oxfam stocks fair trade Easter eggs as well as a range of fair trade chocolate products. The Fairtrade website has a list of several brands that sell certified fair trade chocolate available from a range of online and in-store retailers—however pay attention while buying as not necessarily all products from the listed brands are fair trade. To be sure look for the fair trade mark! For more ways that you can shop ethically visit the Sydney Archdiocese Anti-Slavery Taskforce’s “Shop for Good” website. You can also check out our printable poster here. Please spread the word about purchasing ethical Easter eggs among your family, friends, parish and community. [Apr 17] |
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Our Living Water at SattahipThis Monday's JPIC Blog from Rome is from the pen of Australian Marist Brother Paul Murphy working with Burmese migrant children at Sattahip, Thailand. For the full story go to the blog site: click here. Br Paul is a member of the Australian Marist Family Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation committee, pictured below. (Br Paul second from left). [Apr 09] |
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Peace, people, planet, partnership, prosperityPope Francis addresses International Conference..... this week's JPIC Blog from Rome . For the full story go to the blog site: click here. [Apr 04] |
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New life for Dakar's street boysFrom Senegal, Fr Christian Abongbung SM, recounts the story of Dakar's street kids.... in this week's JPIC Blog from Rome . For the full story go to the blog site: click here. [Mar 26] |
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The BP storyThis Monday's JPIC Blog from Rome tells the story of the Bridge Program: young Burmese refugees taking their future education seriously. For the full story go to the blog site: click here. For the story in French, go to the blog site or click here, [Mar 20] |
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Veggies in the forestLatest 'Monday Blog' from Rome describes a healthy initiative by African Marists in the Cameroon. More food for thought... For the full story go to the blog site: click here. [Mar 11] |
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Lent, meat and our planetThis week's 'Monday Blog' from Rome suggests a Lenten reflection on how what we eat affects our planet. Something to chew on... |
| For the full piece, go to the blog site: click here. [Mar 04] |
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Beekeeping and our Common HomeIn this week's JPIC Blog from Rome, Kiwi Fr Pat Brophy SM, locates beekeeping not only as a hobby but related to faith and Church. For the full story, go to the blog site: click here. [Feb 25] |
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Reaching for ExcellenceWeek Five of the JPIC Blog from Rome presents the 'Reach for Excellence' program the educational initiative of Marist College, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. For the full story, go to the blog site: click here. [Feb 19] |
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ACRATH in actionFourth in the weekly series of JPIC blogs from Rome features the ministry of Sr Noelene Simmons SM and awareness-raising of human trafficking in Australia and beyond. For the full story, go to the blog site: click here. [Feb 12] |
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On the Mexican border...The third in the weekly series of JPIC blogs from Rome features the ministry of Fr Tony O'Connor SM at Brownsville, Texas, USA, amongst Mexican immigrants. For the full story, go to the blog site: click here. [Feb 04] |
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'Blessed unrest'The second in the weekly series of JPIC blogs from Rome feature's New Zealand Marist, Fr Peter Healy's, reflections on 'Ecological Conversion: low carbon lives'. For the full story, go to the blog site: click here. [Jan 28] |
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International blog launchedFrom Rome, the General Administration of the Marist Fathers has announced the launching of an international blog site for issues of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (Environment). Address of the Blog site is jpicblog.maristsm.org Assistant-General, Fr Ben McKenna, will supervise the Blog, which invites items and comments from Marists and others visiting the site and its weekly uploadings. The first blog items focus on the Marian Ecological Centre in Suva, Fiji, an environmental initiative by Fr Donato Kivi SM. The blog begins: Fr Donato Kivi sm, the Superior of Formation House, Marist College, has embarked on a mission to create a Marian-Ecological Centre and opening a door for people to learn that through a Marian spirituality, one can grow in awareness that our Marist Charism can provide an answer to our ecological crisis today. For full text, click here | To go to the blog, click here and save the address ( https://jpicblog.maristsm.org ) [Jan 21] |
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Living 'Laudato Si'A Christmas/New Year environmental calendar has been produced by Global Catholic Climate Movement, offering a challenge to all Catholic s to embrace the Holy Father's message of 'Laudato Si'. GCCM notes, 'Pope Francis urges the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics and all people of good will to take urgent action against the injustice of climate change and the ecological crisis, to protect the poor and future generations. His encyclical letter Laudato Si’ is a compelling call to care for our common home, Earth, building on a long history of Catholic teaching. We are building a vibrant movement to respond to Pope Francis’ call.' For the Christmas calendar click here. For GCCM website, click here. |
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Maturing Remembrance DayFr Kevin Bates' Nov 11 reflection.... click here to download. [Nov 09] |
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The international Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation commission of Superiors-General reports on the Season of Creation, scheduled for Sep 01 to Oct 04. Go to their website: click here |
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Refugee WeekThe Refugee Council of Australia advises: Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to inform the public about refugees and celebrate positive contributions made by refugees in Australian society. Today more than ever, we need a global movement to demand the safety and rights of refugees are protected. This year, Refugee Week will run from Sunday 17th June to Saturday 23rd June with the theme #WithRefugees. For RCOA's launch invitation click here |
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Josephites' call on live exportsFrom the Josephite Justice Network comes a challenging call on the issue of live animal exports. Click here [May 11] |
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Remembering patriots ?Richard Flanagan's pre-Anzac Day Press Club speech on how Australia looks back on its history is 'fearlessly honest, compelling, incontrovertible...'. Click here [May 09] |
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Palm Sunday RalliesThe Australian Cathoilic Migrant and Refugee Office advises: Across Australia, on Sunday 25 March 2018, people from all faith groups, community groups, and organisations will join the Palm Sunday Rally for Refugees, bringing banners and other messages of support to express their concern about the treatment of refugees and people seeking asylum. For details of nationwide rallies, click here |
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Lenten Carbon FastCLRI (NSW) present their carbon fast calendar for 2018: Click here to download [Feb 13] |
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Migration without TraffickingACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) advises of the forthcoming day of prayer for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. 'Migration without trafficking' is the theme for this year's commemoration on Feb 08, the feast of St Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped as a child in Sudan, and later freed, dedicating her life to address the horror of trafficking . Go to ACRATH's web page [Feb 02] |
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Act JustlySydney Archdiocese's Justice & Peace Office reports on the Feb-Mar issue of Act Justly: 'There's a great variety of articles, beginning with an overview of the latest figures on the rate of Indigenous incarceration, and discover just how far we are from being even close to ‘Closing the Gap’. Then we have Pope Francis’s homily from his recent visit to Santiago, Chile. His message to Church leaders to make social justice a priority comes across passionately. |
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World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 2018For the full text of Pope Francis' message, click here. For the Vatican News link, click here. |
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