International Solidarity Reflections

International Shalom Solidarity Reflection: January 2021

On Sunday September 27th, 2020 Pope Francis marked the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. In his message titled “Forced like Jesus Christ to flee. Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating internally displaced persons” he addressed the needs of those who are discarded by society.

Peace and Non-Violence

Amid crises that have shaken our world, we are awakened to the urgent need to heal our relationships with creation and each other.

International Solidarity Reflection September

‘Integrity of creation’ – when we think about this topic, especially at the time of the corona pandemic, we notice even more how closely everything that exists is connected to one another: agriculture, environmental and climate protection, mobility, and the conclusion of all reflection is that the integrity of creation must be about right and just relationships with the earth and with all creatures. We all are called to make our active contribution.

International Solidarity Reflection

The United Nations designated July 30 as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.” As challenging as this is ordinarily, it is that much more difficult during a global pandemic.

Solidarity Reflection: March 2020

In October 2019, the “Pan-Amazon Synod” was held in Rome. It was convened by Pope Francis with the theme “New Roads for the Church and for an Integral Ecology”. Thirty-five women (religious, missionary, lay, and indigenous) had a particular role, participation and space.

Solidarity Reflection

Sustainability is the capacity for the biosphere and the human civilization to coexist, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

International Shalom Solidarity Reflection: January 2020

We have just celebrated Christmas – the birth of our Lord. The words of the gospel “… because there was no place for them in the inn” (Lk 2:7) startle me. For many people, these words are still reality today: because … there was no room for them.

Solidarity Reflection - December 2019

December holds a number of significant dates for migrants, and we have created materials to help you honor the days by standing in solidarity with migrants and refugees.

International Solidarity Reflection: November 2019

A child’s life is “for his good, for the good of the family, of society, of mankind as a whole. From this also derives the depth of the human experience of being son or daughter, which allows us to discover the most gratuitous dimension of love ….

International Solidarity Reflection: October 2019

Each day in some of our countries, we realize that no place is immune from the coarseness and palpable lowering of standards of conduct. In the midst of all this, how do we educate, advocate and act in light of these situations in our world?

International Solidarity Reflection: September 2019

As we consider Solidarity with All Creation, we are also celebrating the Season of Creation. The theme for 2019 is “Web of Life: biodiversity as God’s blessing.” We ponder how critical biodiversity is for the sake of the well-being of the whole planet, including humanity!

International Solidarity Reflection: July 2019

Human trafficking is carried out in both rural and urban areas throughout the world. People from all walks of life can get caught up in commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, domestic servitude, forced marriages, and organ harvesting of millions of women, children, and men. Almost a third of all human trafficking victims are children and over 70% are women and girls.

Shalom Solidarity Reflection

A common theme runs through our ministries:  Being there, first and foremost, in encouraging, empowering, and supporting girls and women. The directional statement of the 24th General Chapter culminates in the call for us to be women of peace, hope, and love in the heart of the world. Therefore, it is about both being and being there for others, especially for women who need our solidarity.

Shalom Solidarity Reflection: February 2019

In 1987, the UN Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

November Shalom Solidarity Reflection

Being protected, cared for, loved are essential to the life of the human being. We need to welcome our children, with all love in our hearts, and to take good care of them, because they are for us signs of joy, blessing, grace and the presence of God in our midst.

October 2018 Solidarity Reflection

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Mt 5: 9). The countless works of peace, of which the world is rich, bear witness to humanity’s natural vocation to peace. In each person, the desire for peace is an essential aspiration and coincides, in a sense, with the yearning for a full, happy and successful human life.

International Solidarity Reflection: July 2018

The feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita on February 8, and the World Day Against Trafficking in persons on July 30, call us to take responsibility for raising awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.

International Solidarity Reflection: June 2018

World Environment Day is on June 5, with the theme: “They (the rainforests) were fine before us, now they need us,” inviting us to save the rainforests of the world by less consumerism and protecting “the lungs of our planet.”
Monthly Solidarity Reflection

Monthly Solidarity Prayer January 2018: Migrants and Refugees

Today, more than any time in history, people are leaving their countries and cultures of origin. They are leaving to escape repressive and violent regimes. They are leaving because of the threat of genocide. They are leaving because of destructive climate change. They are leaving because they have no food, no shelter, and no jobs.
International Solidarity Reflection

Monthly Solidary Prayer October 2017: Nonviolence and Peace

The centrality of Gospel nonviolence and just peace is fundamental to our charism and living out the mission, particularly in light of the times in which we live. Every day we hear of war, terrorism, social violence, and trauma that affect us and our brothers and sisters around the world.