January 2020
Posted by ICTC on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 10:51 AM PST
Sign of the Times
As we welcome in the new year and new decade, we do so with both gratitude and hope, and also a desire for peace and reconciliation. Fr. Sergio Mendes, former Bishop of Cuernavaca, Mexico, often said a Christian must hold the Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other. With the recent events of violence and global uncertainty, we call upon Christians and people of good will to remain informed and exercise their right to democratic participation. Many in Catholic leadership are responding to the current crisis with Iran; here are a few of the headlines this week:
- President of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Chairman of Bishops’ International Justice and Peace Committee Urge All Parties to Embrace Peace - USCCB, 1/8
- Pope appeals for self-control amid heightened threat of war - Vatican News, 1/5
- Catholic leaders speak out as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran - America Magazine, 1/6
We are also holding the people, animals and environment of Australia in our prayers as the bushfires continue. The New York Times put together a great list of ways to support recovery efforts in Australia. If you don't have access to the site, here are some of the organizations listed:
- The Australian Red Cross is accepting donations to its Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.
- GIVIT is an Australian organization that matches donated goods with items that are specifically requested by victims of the fires.
- Like other organizations, the Salvation Army advises donors to send money instead of goods because of the logistical difficulties of storing and distributing goods in areas affected by disasters.
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St. Vincent de Paul Society - The lay Catholic organization has more than 60,000 members and volunteers who assist people in need across Australia. Its bush fire appeal designates how far specific financial amounts can go, and brings home the reality of how the disaster has upended the lives of the dispossessed.
In our desire to exercise and manifest Catholic Social Teaching and commitment to human dignity and common good, we offer you our upcoming programming for the month, listed below.