An Urgent Call for a “Consistent Ethic of Life”

Gratitude to eight Catholic Leadership organizations in the United States, including the Leadership Conference of Women Religious that on January 26, 2017 sent a two-page letter to President Trump and other senior political figures. In the letter the groups outline a “comprehensive pro-life approach”.

The group stressed six areas of concern: global conflict and violence, immigration, climate change, the provision of comprehensive health care and social services, the refugee crisis and criminal justice. The issue of abortion was, as one might expect, included in the content of the letter. It was clearly noted, however, that abortion rates always decline in social contexts in which all persons are respected and where there are adequate social safety-nets to support women and families faced with hard decisions. To truly create a “culture of life”, all issues of life must be addressed in an integrated manner.

The groups began their letter welcoming an “opportunity to promote the common good”. They continued, “As Catholics, we see the human person as created in the image of God, and value all life as sacred. This sacredness is threatened with each sister and brother left vulnerable in our society. This includes the immigrant, the refugee, the mother at risk, the unborn child, people with disabilities, and the prisoner on death row.”

In addressing their letter in this wide-ranging way, the groups were reminding the new U.S. Administration, and indeed all of us that to embrace a truly pro-life approach there must be “consistency” in thinking and action. The approach calls for a “consistent ethic of life”. Such an ethic has been a feature of Catholic reflection and teaching for many years and  it is congruent with a new awareness emerging from our understandings of science today. We cannot isolate, fragment or separate the issues of life. A “Consistent Ethic of life” philosophy holds that issues such as abortion, euthanasia, quality of life concerns, education, economy, capital punishment, the criminal drug culture, domestic and global violence, concern for most vulnerable peoples, social justice and environmental destruction must all be embraced holistically. If, with others, we are to create a culture of life in our world we must recognize the interconnectedness of all these issues. Single-issue ethics fail to embrace the complex realities of existence, the struggles and suffering of people and the environment and the call to integrity in our world today.

It is precisely this comprehensive and consistent life approach that the letter to President Trump is attempting to convey. The message is especially urgent in light of pervasive policies dividing peoples, a spreading rhetoric of fear and discrimination in many countries, global violence, the refugee crisis and the denial of environmental concerns. Appreciation to the groups who formulated the letter for keeping a vision of life before our eyes and calling us to action for life together.

Mary Rowell, CSJ

New Horizons of Hope: A Gift to Vocation Ministry for Canada

I am writing this post on the eve of the 2017 World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life (February 2^nd). In 1997 Pope St. John Paul 11 instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. The celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation or Candlemas Day, a day when traditionally candles are blessed in churches symbolizing Christ, Light of the World. So too members of communities of consecrated life are called to be light in the world as they live out their particular vocation together with all others who are called through their special vocations to be light for our times.

For many who have experienced what appears to be a demise in consecrated life there seems to be little light around religious vocation! Yet, in his new book, “Religious Life in the Twenty First Century: The Prospect of Refounding”, Diarmuid O’Murchu, presents a picture of future promise. He notes the need for a commitment of members of religious communities to “evolutionary becoming” – involving openness to change, attentiveness to emerging patterns of consciousness, lives responding generously to an unfolding future already present in process today. That future, according to O’Murchu is a future of hope.

O’ Murchu says: “In time - in God’s own time new seedlings will sprout. For me, at least, history leaves us in no doubt about that fact. Sometime in the latter half of the twenty first century, probably towards its end, we can expect a new breakthrough for the vowed life. We can do nothing to bring it about at an earlier date; it is a divine initiative and not of our making. However we can anticipate it with eager faith and by cultivating that discerning predisposition so characteristic of the great foundresses – and of the great founders too – prepare ourselves for the new horizons our God has waiting for us. Central to this discerning anticipation is the wisdom to read the signs of the times and identify urgent needs requiring a radical new Gospel response.”

In light of such hope we do well to be open to the Spirit still calling women and men to consecrated life, encouraging them in their becoming and praying for that new life in God’s own time.

At a practical level, the National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors (NAVFD) whose President, Mary Rowell, and Executive Director, Nancy Sullivan are members of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada, report the faith in and support of that hope from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in the form of a substantial grant to Canada. The grant will enable NAVFD to conduct, across the country, much needed research relating to vocations to consecrated life and to prepare and initiate a vibrant and open action plan in profound hope and promise.

Mary Rowell, CSJ: Vocation Director
Photography: Christine Carbotte, CSJ

The Orphans’ Festival in Hamilton, Ontario

The Sisters of St. Joseph came to Hamilton in 1852 to care for the many orphaned children whose parents died of cholera in the area. The orphans first lived in the Motherhouse on Park Street. St. Mary’s Orphanage was opened in 1864. One of the first undertakings of the Sisters for the support of the orphans was to organize a fund raiser. Thus the Orphans’ Festival was born!

The festival began in 1853 and was well-patronized by all the citizens. Many famous singers, actors, and so forth, participated in the festivals for many years. Eventually, the Sisters and orphans took over and came up with newer ideas and plans – teaching dancing, singing, designing costumes and being determined for each year to outdo the last! The people of Hamilton were entertained for over 100 years, and the last performance by the orphans was in 1956 at the Palace Theater.

During the Fall of 1854, two Sisters began the first country collections for the maintenance of the orphans.  The result of their visits far exceeded expectations and long before the return of the Sisters to Hamilton, provisions of all kinds were forwarded from all the surrounding countryside. Each year, Sisters traveled to the farm areas receiving generous hospitality and a large supply of produce. As a result of these winter collections, which continued until the 1950’s, the orphans were well-cared for.

The St. Mary’s Orphanage closed in 1960.

Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Archives

Women’s March on Washington

On January 21, the day after inauguration, I attended the Women’s March in Washington, D.C.  I travelled on a bus from Toronto with 54 other Americans, and as we travelled through the night, all along the way, we saw buses filled with women from across the USA, on their way to the march.

 

When we got to the subway station, we saw people lined up all along the platform, up the stairs and filling the subway cars, all on their way to the march.

At the subway station, women were giving away pink pussy hats to women who passed by. I was given a hat hand-made by a woman in Maine. We knew this march was going to be huge!

We started walking from Eastern Market at 10:30 a.m., and after we passed the Library of Congress, we heard that the police estimated there were 750,000 people already on the march.

As far as I could see, behind me and in front of me, Independence Avenue filled with people. It felt celebratory even though we were angry at the new government’s plans.

Once we had walked a few blocks, we were unable to move because the crowd was so dense. The side streets and Independence Avenue were overflowing with a rainbow of people -  women, children and men of all ages. I hardly saw any police all day long.

We were trying to reach the rally at Independence Avenue and 3^rd Street to hear the speakers, among whom was Sr. Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby. Here is a link to her speech: http://globalsistersreport.org/blog/equality/live-blog-womens-marches-around-world-44556

We couldn’t get close enough, but we heard some speakers through the loudspeakers, among them six-year old Sophie Cruz, an immigration activist, and Erika Andiola an undocumented Mexican American activist.

At 3:00, the crowds were able to start moving slowly near the National Mall. People spread out in all directions through the streets of downtown Washington, in the direction of the White House. We made it to the National Archives before we had to leave at 5:00 to catch the bus back to Canada.

Only the Guardian newspaper has reported the numbers on the Women’s March in Washington accurately – one million! And that day, there were 673 marches world-wide with 4,876,700 marchers at last count. No arrests – peaceful marches of millions.

Why did I march? Because I will not be silent in the face of a newly elected government that wants to trample human rights. I will not stand by while the most vulnerable among us face real and imminent harm to their well-being and dignity. I will not accept continued reliance on fossil fuels as our planet gasps for breath. I marched because the Trump government opposes all I hold dear – civil liberties, human rights, compassion and true Christian values. I was heartened to see on January 21, that millions of others care too, and refused to be silent.

I went to Washington with other Americans, who like myself, are members of Democrats Abroad. We went because we felt shame and anger at what happened in the November election, and because, even though we live outside the US, we still feel pride in our country of birth. We know one march will not solve everything, and that there is much work ahead of us, but we know we are united in this work.

Mary Kosta
Archivist
Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada

The Expanding Universe

My distraction in centering prayer these days has been the media’s recent announcement that scientists have discovered that the universe is vastly larger and more complex than we have ever dared to dream. Powerful technology for viewing outer space reveals that there are infinitely more galaxies whirling through space in orderly fashion than the scientific world formerly imagined.

Why are scientists and others so amazed with the revelation of an ever expanding universe?  What do these and no doubt further celestial discoveries mean to us mere mortals who consider ourselves to be imminently important and the pinnacle of creation? On one hand, might this new knowledge make us realize that we are small time people thinking we are in charge of one tiny dot named planet Earth in the midst of a vast universe?

On the other hand, does this latest discovery of the reality of the expanding universe cause us to pause, become speechless and silent, filled with wonder and awe. Our Creator is eternally at work, revealing the amazing majesty of ongoing creation. The ancient words of the psalmist ring true.

“When I see the heavens, the work of your hands,

The moon and the stars which you arranged,

What are we that you keep us in mind,

Mortals,that you care for us.

How great is your name O Lord,

 Our God through all the Earth.” Ps. 8

 Jean Moylan, csj