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Laudato Si’ and Lent 2021

2/23/2021

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Papal Encyclical Laudato si’ (2015) on cry of the earth and cry of the poor:
An updated Canadian video

Kevin Moynihan produced an excellent video overview that I promoted in 2015 as an introduction to Laudato si’. “Laudato Si' - A Canadian Response” (35 minutes)

He has now produced an excellent update (Feb 2021 – 40 mins) in response to the Vatican’s Journeying Towards Care for Our Common Home: five years after Laudato Si (2020). 
It features David Suzuki and the Rev. Dr. Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam, SDB, coordinator of the “Ecology and Creation” sector at the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; whose most recent book is The Ten Green Commandments of Laudato Si’ (Liturgical Press, 2018). Also Leonardo Boff, Professor Emeritus of the Franciscan Theological Institute in Brasil; Maude Barlow & Greta Thunberg to name just a few of the well known JPIC advocates/presenters.

Suzuki mentions that Pope Francis has broadened the view of human and environmental ecology by stressing that everything is connected. Kureethendam reminds us that “humans” are derived from “humus” (soil) and that should reminds us to be humble and care for the earth. He also reminds us that it was a Franciscan (Leonardo Boff) whose book Ecologia: grita da terra, grita dos pobres (1995, Ed. Ática, São Paulo; and in English 1997, Ecology: cry of the earth, cry of the poor, Orbis, Maryknoll, NY.) tied the two cries together regarding Amazonia.  N.B. This phrase was adopted by the Québec Bishops in 2001 and repeated by the Social Affairs Commission, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops: “The cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are one” in 2003.

The video also reminds us of the Catholic See, Judge, Act method. Maude Barlow is featured on water; Catherine Abreu said that in 2016, the oil and gas extraction sector accounted for $29.5 billion or 10 percent of Alberta’s nominal GDP so, it should not be too difficult to transition to sustainable energy. 

See more here:
- https://www.canadianenergycentre.ca/fueling-canadas-economy-how-canadas-oil-and-gas-industry-compares-to-other-major-sectors/
-  https://www.canadianenergycentre.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/CEC-FS-18-Jobs-and-GDP-FINAL.pdf
 
Sister Margo Ritchie, CSJ tells us how on the 2019 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, leaders of Canada’s 64 Congregations of Catholic Sisters called on the country’s politicians to respond to the climate emergency declared by Parliament by taking concrete steps to avert it and described what they themselves were doing.   Learn more. 
One of the things they have done is join the Blue Communities which recognise water as a common good and oppose privatisation of this vital resource.  See more.  Other interesting things were Halifax’s plan. Another thing mentioned was a Just Recovery. See more about that here. 


Good Ideas to observe Lent 2021:
From Caritas Canada (D&P) 
Here is Share Lent 2021 - Webinar 1 - Development and Peace's mission and Catholic Social Teaching (1 hr 10 mins) [I found it excellent!]:
The first SHARE LOVE, SHARE LENT campaign webinar featured the Most Rev. Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière; Fr. John Patrick Ngoyi, director of the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of Ijebu-Ode, one of our long-time partners in Nigeria; and Gabrielle Dupuis, a youth member of Development and Peace and anglophone diocesan council chair for Ottawa-Cornwall. Through the sharing of personal insights and experiences, they explored the deep links between Development and Peace's mission and work; Catholic Social Teaching principles; and the ideas and ideals of Pope Francis, as expressed in his recent encyclicals. The webinar was moderated by Janelle Delorme, our animator for Manitoba and Thunder Bay. For more SHARE LOVE, SHARE LENT events and activities, visit D&P Lent Calendar. 

And from GCCM:
Would you like to know how the Pope Francis’ Encyclicals, #LaudatoSi and #FratelliTutti, are connected? See this video (56 mins) with Fr. Augusto Zampini, Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and Lorna Gold, Vice-Chair GCCM Board, or for a summary go to Franciscan Voice Canada/Andrew's Blog.

Ways of the Cross
Excellent to combine prayer with See, Judge, Act: GCCM links to two
1. Ecological Stations of the Cross 19 Feb 2021 by GCCM Africa: [I loved it!]
This is quite long (1 hr 10 mins) and has a few technical problems occasionally with sound and smooth flow but bear with them it is worth it. Br Ben Ayodi, OFM Cap and GCCM Africa are the leaders. The pictures make it worthwhile and the background reflections to each station link cries of the earth and cries of the poor with Laudato Si’.
They are going to do one each Friday of Lent. The next one will be on Fri 26 Feb at 12PM EST (9 AM PST). ​See here.  It will be produced by GCCM’s LaudatoSi’ Animators from Latin America. If the time is not good for you it will be recorded and you can see it on youtube at your own convenience.

2. And under GCCM’S Laudato Si' Lent you will find they link to Caritas Canada (D&P)’s 2016 Solidarity Way of the Cross: Create a Climate of Change (no pictures, text only; so about 25 mins?) which you can also access directly here.
 
3. A virtual Way of the Cross from the Holy Land. The virtual Via Crucis will come to an end on Holy Tuesday to make way for the celebrations of the Easter Triduum and Easter from the Places of the Redemption. The appointment is therefore from the start of Lent, every Tuesday and Friday on the social media of the Custody of the Holy Land (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).
Also available here. And here is (another one?) at www.Magdala.Org 
                          and hearing the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor
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Government and the Common Good

2/6/2021

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February Blog
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I acknowledge and thank the Lkwungen People, (of the place to smoke herring)
also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, for allowing me to live, pray, work, and play on their lands
[on the southern coast of Vancouver Island].
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Daniel P. Horan, OFM, Duns Scotus Chair of Spirituality,
Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Il, USA:
The church teaches that purpose of government is the common good. Period.
[The COMMON GOOD is a principle of Catholic Social Doctrine.
See:  https://www.devp.org/en/cst
This explains why Franciscan Voice Canada as a voice for Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation is so concerned with politics. Structural injustice is sin because injustice is sin.
That is why we must be involved in politics and raise our voice.]
Do Our Governments work for the Common Good?
[i.e. the Catholic Social Teaching Principle!]
Some do; some not so much. Two examples follow
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Here’s one who actually talks about it, Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission: excerpts from her message to Davos World Economic Forum 2021: “And to those who prefer the business case. Here it is: More than half of global GDP is dependent on high-functioning biodiversity and ecosystems – and it is from food to tourism, you just name it. And in the latest World Economic Forum Global Risk Report - the top five global risks are all related to the environment. …
The European Union and others helped with money – large sums were invested – to build research capacities and production facilities early. Europe invested billions to help develop the world‘s first COVID-19 vaccines. To create a truly global common good. And now, the companies must deliver. They must honour their obligations. This is why we will set up a vaccine export transparency mechanism. Europe is determined to contribute to this global common good. But it also means business.”

 
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/ursula-von-der-leyen-european-commission-davos-agenda/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unl2SBxH9oo (video of her speech 33 mins)
​

Then there’s this closer to home: Can we Trust Alberta’s Energy Regulator to Safeguard Coal Mines? The Kenney government says yes, but the agency has a messy track record. “A series of Alberta court rulings on the Ernst lawsuit said the regulator was legally immune from lawsuits and that the agency had “no duty of care” to Albertans or the environment.” Remind me who makes the law and for whom and how do we change it?     Read more... 
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The 2021 Share Lent campaign will feature seven weekly webinars drawing on themes from Fratelli Tutti and D&P’s Mission & Values; Humanitarian Aid; Community Development; Youth Engagement; Fundraising; Advocacy and Holy Week. Info is not yet posted on the website but soon will be, so CHECK HERE

 
Another great website for Lent
Check out the Global Catholic Climate Movement’s Laudato si’ Lent website 

The resources and events are recommended.They include an on line retreat, events and resources (including Caritas Canada/ D&P’s 2016
Solidarity Way of the Cross: Create a Climate of Change)
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Lent 2021: A Journey of Hope
Reflect, Repent & Renew.| Together
Laudato Si’ :
“As a spiritual work of mercy, care for our common home calls for a “grateful contemplation of God’s world”(Laudato Si’, 214) which “allows us to discover in each thing a teaching which God wishes to hand on to us” (ibid., 85).”
“85. The Canadian bishops rightly pointed out [*] that no creature is excluded from this manifestation of God: “From panoramic vistas to the tiniest living form, nature is a constant source of wonder and awe. It is also a continuing revelation of the divine”.[55] 
[*] [55] Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Social Affairs Commission, Pastoral Letter You Love All that Exists… All Things are Yours, God, Lover of Life (4 October 2003), 1.”
------------
“42. … In order to achieve their task directed to the Christian animation of the temporal order, in the sense of serving persons and society, the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in "public life", that is, in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good.”
​                                                                                  - 
Christ's Faithful People (Christifideles Laici) 
​
Did you know?
Four Pipeline Realities for Alberta’s Rumpelstiltskin. Jason Kenney rants and raves over Keystone XL’s cancellation. But let’s look at the facts.
by  Andrew Nikiforuk 24 Jan 2021 | TheTyee.ca

“Rystad Energy also talks about the industry’s dirty laundry: carbon dioxide emissions.
It calculates that the carbon intensity of the U.S. shale industry’s CO2 emissions is about around 12 kilograms per barrel of oil equivalent. In contrast, the oilsands is calculated “at a staggering 73 kilograms” per barrel of oil equivalent. Conventional onshore producers such as Saudi Arabia have a footprint of 19 kilograms per barrel of oil equivalent.” - the tyee
               Makes you think?   So what?   Here’s what:
                                            Trudeau promised a Just Transition Act.     
                      We’re pushing him to deliver. No more empty promises!
It was disappointing to see Prime Minister Trudeau and his cabinet mourning the cancelation of the Keystone XL pipeline. Instead of wasting their breath on a doomed pipeline, they should take action to support workers and communities. That’s why we’re taking action to call on Prime Minister Trudeau to deliver the Just Transition Act he promised in 2019. 
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​
​and  Sign the petition today. 

          Thank you, President Biden for cancelling KXL, a step in the right direction!

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    Even necessary within the Catholic church! Three examples:
1.  “Like many pioneering black sisters in white orders, Ebo endured unconscionable discrimination from her white counterparts and superiors.”   Read more
2. Priests who are biological fathers of children:  Read more
3. “ …be aware that sexual abuse of nuns exists, and that when — as long as victims don't speak out, perpetrators will just go on.”   Read more


​
“It’s shocking how many women are beaten, insulted, and raped,”  - says the Holy Father in The Pope Video for February
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Climate change disasters in B.C. likely to increase if industrial logging continues unchecked: report     - Learn more at CBC News
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Beginning 2 March 2021, the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis (English Sector) of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) will offer a four-part webinar series entitled, 
Nurturing Friendship, the Directory for Catechesis in Dialogue with the Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti,
and invites individuals who are responsible for evangelization and catechesis including, clergy, consecrated persons, laity involved in ministry, directors and coordinators of evangelization and catechesis, and Catholic educators to participate.
 
Webinars will take place on Tuesday afternoons on 2, 9, 16 and 23 March and are 90 minutes in length. Registration is free of charge, however interested participants are invited to sign up before Monday, 22 February 2021. When registering directly within the Zoom meeting platform, participants can indicate their preference for one, two, three or all four of the sessions. For more information about the series, contact Margaret Shea-Lawrence by email at m.shea-lawrence@cccb.ca.
​

​LET’S END ON A HOPEFUL NOTE!
Against Climate Gloom and Doom
When given a chance, life finds a way.
Here are some reasons to keep hoping - and fighting.
As the environmental problems facing our world compound, despair may feel like a rational response. In her new book ‘Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think Is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis,’ environmental scholar Elin Kelsey makes an evidence-based argument for choosing hope over despair. Kelsey holds up examples of how ecosystems — including along our coasts and in our ocean — have managed to rebound from damage when given the chance, illustrating nature’s impressive resilience. By sharing these case studies, Kelsey offers reasons to reject apathy and to mobilize. Only if we believe there’s an opportunity to make a real positive impact will we find the motivation to fight for the protection and restoration of ecosystems we depend on. In this condensed excerpt, Kelsey shares a few hope-filled success stories specific to coastal ecosystems.
              Read more:  The Tyee   and    Royal Roads

Peace & joy, Andrew, ofs
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    Homeless Jesus - Jesuits.ca

    Andrew Conradi, ofs

    ​What makes me tick is Catholic Social Teaching, now encapsulated in Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti. My view is that while the OFS Rule & Constitutions call us to courageous action in JPIC it seems to me our infrastructure, while saying the right things, is not always acting with the required urgency and forcefulness. It seems at times to be more self-sustaining and self-perpetuating and about the status quo. This risks being seen as irrelevant in the eyes of some, especially youth.

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    ​In encouraging us to be aware and act with urgency and forcefulness I can be seen to be a bit of a joyful nuisance. Forgive me for not apologising. “Jesus himself warns us that the path he proposes goes against the flow, even making us challenge society by the way we live and, as a result, becoming a nuisance.”
    (Pope Francis, 2018, Gaudete et exultate – Rejoice & be glad, n 90)
    After all, Our Seraphic Father Francis was a rebel (check out the 2018 book Francesco il ribelle by Enzo Fortunato, OFM Conv)
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    ​(Poster from Canadian Jesuits)
    BTW I am a Brit immigrant, ex Canadian high school geography and history teacher and Cold War armoured reconnaissance soldier. Other accomplishments include OFM JPIC Animators course 2014, Pontifical University Antonianum, Rome; JPIC Animator; Provocateur (Challenger); Enfant Terrible and sometimes definitely a deliberate NUISANCE! I am open to correction, chastisement, and/or teaching by email!
     apconradi@telus.net

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