The following blog post has been reprinted from the Xaverian Missionaries Blog, found here, with their permission: “Everything is related, and we human beings are united as brothers and sisters in a wonderful pilgrimage, woven together by the love God has for each…and which also unites us in fond affection with brother sun, sister moon, brother river and mother earth.” Pope Francis, Laudato Si (2015) Where is God? This is the question I ask as millions across the globe raise their voices in the disastrous effects of climate change on those who have no recourse on adjusting to climate change. I worked in the Philippines for 13 years and saw first hand how warming oceans create bigger storms, acidified oceans curtail fishing, air pollution that kills many asthma sufferers, rising oceans that displace those with little place else to go. We are connecting the dots from climate change to exasperated poverty and even war and terrorism is fostered through these forces which show no sign of let up. Pope...
Members of several religious congregations, college students and interested citizens joined in prayer on the evening of January 29 at the Xavier Center Chapel of the College of St Elizabeth. The candlelight vigil was prepared in solidarity with all victims of human trafficking associated with the sexual and labor industries. As New Jersey and New York host Super Bowl XLVIII, it brings with it a significant increase in these horrific practices. Sister Katie Hamm, SC, of LifeWay Network offered a reflection on Isaiah 58: 7-10, “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,” and “sharing your bread with those enslaved.” She challenged participants to give victims the bread of respect, creativity and opportunity and the shelter of recognition, physical space, partnership and advocacy. Other speakers included Nita Belles, author of “In Our Backyard: A Christian Perspective on Human trafficking in the United States” and Brad Dennis, National Search Director for the KlassKIDS Foundation & Founder of Called2Rescue, a Search Agency for missing and abducted children. Campus Minister Paul...