Blog
If ever there was a need for a world day of prayer, it’s now. In a world swimming in a morass of crime, hate, war, persecution and uncertainty, it’s heartening to see a Christian group of predominately women from around the world meeting to participate in ecumenical worship services in churches across the globe.
She was only a young teen when she took refuge in Egypt, and an apprehensive older teen when she became a landed refugee in Canada. She came alone and doesn’t speak about her family. Her struggle to adjust to a strange culture, learn English, gain her grade 12 High School certificate, and find employment to pay her rent has been all consuming. The loss of family is often overwhelming; her trust in God is her source of hope. She has been supported during her journey by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada and Toronto. This beautiful young and enthusiastic woman had one goal: becoming a Canadian Citizen.
Her dream came true on Valentine’s Day when she took the oath of allegiance along with 49 other enthusiastic and excited newcomers. Her excitement was infectious and her joy complete at least for that occasion. She now has her sights on becoming an airline hostess. Good luck Addis you deserve it.
-Sister Ann Marshall, csj
Valentine’s Day is February 14th. We know the 14th is a special day. However, do we know its origins in St. Valentine? Was there really such a person? Where did he live? Why do we remember him?
During my elementary years, every February our little one-room school walls were splashed with bright red valentines and cupids of all shapes and sizes. Amidst our lively Valentine exchange, our teacher would take her place at the front of the class and speak to us about St. Valentine. Here’s what I remember. Although not a lot is known about his life, Valentine was a third century Christian bishop, martyred by the Roman Emperor Claudius in 273 CE. Among other charges against him, he ministered to persecuted Christians and was said to have married secretly Christian couples who were being persecuted. People didn’t forget his many acts of kindness. From about the 14th century, Valentine’s Day came to be celebrated as a day of romance. As years passed, Valentine became known as the patron saint of lovers, couples, epileptics and beekeepers.
There are legends about St. Valentine; one legendary account inspired me. Once, Valentine was feeling sad about his inability to do great things to help others. As he was praying over this, he heard a voice inside him, “Valentine, do the little things with love”. These words impressed him deeply and influenced his life. Hearing those transformative words moved me too.
Throughout my life, when I watch others performing deeds of valor and achieving accolades and consider my five loaves and three fish alongside their great catch, I hear St. Valentine’s encouraging voice, urging me, “Do the little things with great love”. Such actions can touch hurting hearts and impact our little world.
On Valentine’s Day, beneath all the hearts, chocolates and expensive jewelry that few can afford, isn’t it wonderful to be reminded to do little things with great love? Therefore, a simple card or a bouquet of flowers and a sincerely spoken, “I love you”, to our dear ones young and old, are powerful gestures of love. In fact, such kindness is the only thing that matters – and don’t forget the kiss!
-Sister Jean Moylan, csj
Every Thursday night, Diabou Wandia and a number of women — and men — from her community gather around a radio.
They tune in to a program on Radio Djimara, broadcast from nearby in southern Senegal. The program is specifically tailored to the needs of women in the community and communities nearby. They discuss nutrition, breastfeeding, and hygiene.
After the program ends, the conversation starts.
“We listen as a community,” says Diabou. “When we listen together, we support each other, we understand better.”
In Diabou’s group they discuss how they can deal with waste as a community, or how they are starting a vegetable nursery to help with their kitchen gardens and to ensure the health of their children. They ask questions of each other, they phone in new questions to the radio station to address in the next program.
It’s a scene that is echoed in many communities across sub-Saharan Africa — though the topics of the radio programs change.
Farm Radio International is the non-profit that promotes this approach. By working with radio stations to design compelling, informative radio programs, they encourage communities to take up new practices, change attitudes and try new things — all the while knowing that the radio programs will support them as they do this.
Many ask why radio is so important, especially as the internet and smartphones grow ever more popular. For Farm Radio, the answer is evident: in rural sub-Saharan Africa, radio is widespread and inexpensive. Broadcasters speak the local language, meaning listeners get information in the language they are most comfortable in, and don’t have to be literate. Radio is also nimble — broadcasters can change the topic of the program immediately, as new events happen. Farm Radio’s partner broadcasters in Ethiopia, for example, when they learned of drought, changed the whole course of a program to directly meet the needs of farmers facing the crisis.
Radio is also interactive. Just because it’s a medium that has been around for more than 100 years, doesn’t mean it can’t adapt. Using mobile phones, even smart phones, Farm Radio works with their partner broadcasters to make sure their programs are participatory. Farmers and rural people call into the shows to ask questions; interactive voice response systems augment the programming, meaning listeners can call in and hear more tips; broadcasters can use phones to conduct polls that determine their next show.
Above all, this means that the voices that matter, those of rural people like Diabou Wandia can have a say, voice their concerns, and hear their voices amplified in a way that matters, and a way that will bring change to her own community.
Farm Radio International, alongside their partner radio stations, and stations around the world, is celebrating World Radio Day this Thursday, Feb. 13! This year’s theme is pluralism, representation and diversity. Amplifying the diverse voices of rural people like Diabou and ensuring their voices are represented on a powerful stage makes it possible to spark change across Africa and around the world.
For more information about Farm Radio International, visit them on their website at farmradio.org.
The Sisters of St. Joseph are proud supporters of Farm Radio International.
- Submission by Tara Sprickerhoff, Farm Radio International Communications Officer
Recently on January 23rd I had cataract surgery and I was amazed with the new technology that allowed me to actually enjoy viewing images as the surgery was performed. That evening with paint and brush in hand, I created a painting from this experience, titled, NEW LENS. (pictured left)
From my initial experience I saw a shining bright light with splashing water and various forms and colours merging into many-faceted images and energy extending, encircling, and blending harmoniously towards the integration of the whole.
I simply share my experience and created art which reveals parallels and invites a NEW LENS that hopes to see the connections and links in our day-to-day encounters and looks to being ONE in God's evolving design.
O GOD, OF ALL INCLUSIVE LOVE, OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THE CRY
THAT IS WELLING UP FROM OUR UNIVERSE.
"In every era, the divine imprint within life comes alive in a new way."
- Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Alchemy of Light: Working with the Primal Energies of Life
-Sister Dorothy Ann Howley, csj
