Full Stories - November 2009
Your favourite 2010 calendars (monthly Magazine and the Year-at-a-Glance types) are now available
Catholic Sources of Meditation & Prayer in Advent – Nov. 25 - Dec. 16, every Wednesday at 7:30 pm
Understanding Judaism – Wednesdays from Oct. 7 to Nov. 11
Weekend Retreat – St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle (Nov. 20 - 22)
Milestones in Recent Catholic-Jewish Relations
This document chronicles, on a year-by-year basis, the dramatic advances in Catholic-Jewish dialogue since the Second Vatican Council. This detailed profile of significant changes and developments in Catholic-Jewish relations will be very useful to teachers, students, researchers, historians, interfaith practicioners and others. This document can be downloaded free of charge. Read more
LAY MISSION OFFICE NEWS
Fields of Green
Glenn and Anne Harty's Arrival in Chiang Mai
Article by Scarboro Lay Missioner – Anne Harty
In Thailand
It is the end of February in Thailand and we are now approaching the hot season. Almost all of the rice fields are planted once again, creating a sea of Irish green which is a delightful treat for the eyes as we ride to and from the Catholic Mission.
Rice is such an important commodity that all stages of growing rice are a community and family affair. All members of the family take part in planting, tending and harvesting it. Many family members leave their traditional jobs at specific times of the year to participate.
These times are reminiscent of the days on the Canadian prairies whereby an entire community came together to erect a barn. After the barn had reached completion, a party was organized in celebration.
Here in Thailand it is much the same – communities get together to plant and harvest and this is repeated the next day with another community. When all the planting or harvesting is finished a celebration is held.
At harvest time the first gleanings of rice are saved and used in a family blessing ceremony, thanking the God of harvest for another year of sacred rice. Rice is used in numerous dishes in Thailand, just as we in Canada eat wheat.
In the Wiang Pa Pao area where we are, the farmers are fortunate to be able to harvest two crops per year, but in other areas there is only one harvest in a year. We pray that this years harvest will be a good crop for the farmers who have suffered in past years and still have unpaid debts.
Our witness of this rice growing experience has once again opened our eyes to the bountiful goodness of God and we have developed a deeper respect for the farmers.
Glenn with little boy named Earth
Girl displaying her needlework to Anne
Communities working together in the rice patties
Working in the Rice Patties
Working together in the Rice Fields
Field of Green
Blessing Ritual in Brazil
by Bev Trach
Scarboro lay missioner in Brazil
I will pour out my spirit and my blessings on your children. They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank.
Isaiah 44:3-4
Beverly Trach with street children in Brazil
No matter how well life is going, or how difficult things are, there is always a certainty that changes are possible. In my own belief, I know that the one constant is that God is here. There are many churches, books, magazines and speakers that try to help us see that God is present in our lives. Practices and rituals help to remind us of God's presence. Daily prayer, church on Sundays, and a walk through nature is a means that help us to grow in our appreciation of God's presence in our lives.
Being aware of God's presence is only part of it. Our communications and interactions with God, remain important. In scripture, it is very common to hear of the people asking God for a blessing, either for themselves or for the people they love. God's blessing is a gift.
One of the rituals, in Brazil, that I have witnessed on many occasions is that of a child asking their parent/s to invoke upon them God's blessings. It is a combination of words and actions. When children awaken in the morning and during their first encounter with their parent, they will ask the parent for God's blessings. The parent will say, "May God bless you" and at the same time the child takes the hand of the parent as in a handshake, kiss the parent's hand and then the parent will in turn kiss the child's hand, while still holding it.
Beverly Trach doing crafts with street children in Brazil
This same request for a blessing and giving of a blessing may happen between children, siblings, parents, grandparents, God parents, aunts and uncles. This ritual occurs first thing in the morning, before the child goes to school or work, when they return home and before they go to sleep at night. In many cases, it happens so quickly that it may go unnoticed to a visitor but if the child forgets, they are reminded by the parent to ask for their blessing. I have also witnessed this being done over the telephone. Following their initial greeting, a request for a blessing is asked before any further conversation takes place.
Dyulliana, who is seven months pregnant shared with me that she asks her mother every morning and evening for a blessing. Normally, Lucivania, the mother will bless the baby in the womb by rubbing Dyulliana's belly and at times kisses it. On the rare occasion, that Lucivania does not give a blessing to the baby, Dyulliana said the baby begins to stir and move around a lot. For the two of them, there is no doubt the value of this blessing begins with the beginning of life.
This ritual is not only a reminder of the goodness and presence of God, but also keeps the connection of a child to members of his/her family and their faith.
Dyulliana's mother kisses a blessing on her daughter's hand
Dyulliana kisses her mother's hand with a blessing
Dyulliana kisses a blessing on her God mother's hand
Are you interested in becoming a Scarboro Missioner?
Lay Mission work in October 2006 Magazine Issue
To read about the current Lay Mission work in the latest magazine issue, click here
INTERFAITH DESK NEWS
Review of Scarboro Golden Rule Movie
Earlier this year, Scarboro Missions released its Golden Rule video entitled, Animating the Golden Rule. The movie features Grade 11 students embodying Golden Rule values by way of skits, artwork, song, dance, rap and interviews. An exciting review of the DVD has been published in the Toronto Interfaith Unity newsletter. To read the review, click here.
13 Golden Rule Texts Translated into Hebrew
Scarboro Missions is proud to announce that the Golden Rule sacred writings from thirteen religions have been translated into Hebrew. This new addition complements translations in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Portuguese that are already posted on our website.
To view or download the thirteen Golden Rule texts in Hebrew, click here
Learn about Official Church Documents on Dialogue
This listing features official Church documents on interfaith dialogue that have been published during and since the era of the Second Vatican Council. Included here are papal encyclicals as well as documents produced by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, by Bishops' Conferences and by Congregations within the Vatican (e.g. the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). Each listing contains a one or two-sentence description of the document's contents. To read listing, click here.
JUSTICE AND PEACE OFFICE NEWS
On October 24th people in 181 countries at over 5200 events called for strong action on climate change
Caption: October 24th International Day of Climate Action—Fill the Hill event at Parliament Hill in Ottawa
October 24th, the International Day of Climate Action, was the world’s most widespread day of political action with 5245 events in 181 countries including many events across Canada. This day was organized by 350.org, an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to climate change based on science and justice. The number 350 stands for growing recognition of the safe upper limit of carbon dioxide (350 parts per million) in the atmosphere. We are currently at 387 ppm of carbon dioxide and rising—transformative action would be required to return to below 350 ppm.
Scarboro missioners with family and friends participated in this day by going to the Fill the Hill event on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Thousands participated in this family friendly event coordinated by University students with participation of KAIROS as well as other organizations and individuals all calling for strong action on climate change. The Scarboro Missions banner had the number 350 and a call to ‘choose life’ as well as photos from countries where Scarboro missioners work and significant climate change impacts are expected including:
Caption: Scarboro missioners with family and friends at Fill the Hill
- Malawi where drought is expected to reduce the ability to grow needed maize;
- Guyana where most people live along the low lying coast and face the prospect of flooding; and
- Ecuador where disappearing glaciers in the Andes are an important source of drinking water.
A small Scarboro Missions Golden Rule interfaith poster was also attached to the banner. Climate change, where those least responsible face the greatest impacts, calls for a greater living out of the Golden Rule with its emphasis on values of mutuality, interdependence and reciprocity. To read the Golden Rule texts across the world’s religions go here…
After the September Global Climate Wake Up Call, this October 24th International Day of Climate Action was the second key moment in the Tck Tck Tck campaign. TckTckTck is a global alliance of international, national and local organizations including faith-based groups, youth groups, trade unions and individuals all calling for a fair, ambitious and binding climate change agreement at the United Nations climate change meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.
To learn more about 350.org go here…
To read more about Fill the Hill and see pictures and video go here…
December 12th: ‘Time to Sign’ Global Day of Action on Climate Change
New World Record set by more than 173 Million People gathered at “Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!” events
Between October 16th to 18th a Guinness World Record was shattered when 173,045,325 citizens gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries, calling for governments to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This was an increase of about 57 million people over last year.
On October 16th twenty-five Scarboro missioners, staff and guests Stood Up for poverty eradication and climate justice. The KYOTOplus petition was circulated for signatures. Stand Up participants from around the world were as follows: in Asia more than 100 million people (101,106,845); in Africa more than 37 million people (37,848,412); in the Arab region more than 31 million people (31,394,459); in Europe more than 2 million people (2,102,121); in Latin America more than 200,000 people (229,371); in North America nearly 200,000 people (191,535 including 100,000 Canadians); and in Oceania more than 170,000 people (172,582).
“The more than 173 million people who mobilized this weekend sent a clear message to world leaders that there is massive, universal, global demand for eradicating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals,” said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign. “In particular, we have seen citizens determined to show their governments that they will hold them accountable for keeping their promises to end hunger, improve maternal health and abolish trade-distorting agricultural subsidies. They will not accept excuses for breaking promises to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, who have already been hardest hit by the global food, economic and climate crises they had no role in causing.”
To read more go here…