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Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Solidarity With Asylum Seekers

  

Calling for Humane Treatment of Asylum Seekers

  


The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, in the USA are deeply troubled by President Trump’s continued denigration of those fleeing untenable situations in their home countries. These are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers who have been forced from their homes by unimaginable violence and insecurity; runaway corruption; and droughts and floods linked to climate change. These are women and girls fleeing intolerable situations of domestic violence. These are young men and women who have no access to quality education and no hope of economic opportunity.

These are courageous people who have rejected cultures of corruption and exploitation. They are traveling the same road trod by our forbearers who fled tyranny and violence in search of the American dream. They are people of hope and promise who only want the opportunity to contribute their toil and talent to this nation.

Today’s rhetoric of fear and policy of division poisons our politics. We choose instead to embrace a dream for America that is filled with hope for a nation united in service of the common good. We stand with Pope Francis who calls us to “promote the dignity of all our brothers and sisters, particularly the poor and the excluded of society, those who are abandoned, immigrants and those who suffer violence and human trafficking.”

We urge the administration to manage refugee arrivals humanely and in a manner that respects their dignity and rights under U.S. and international law and to:
  • Allow migrants to approach our border and ask for protection in the United States and to be admitted for processing in a timely manner. 
  • Ensure that asylum seekers have access to legal counsel and receive a fair resolution of their claim.  
  • Guarantee that parents and children stay together after they are apprehended. Holding families indefinitely in detention or detaining parents while releasing their children violates the values of this nation and the standards set forth in the Flores settlement.
  • Eschew detention of those awaiting adjudication of their asylum petitions in favor of alternatives that are more humane and more cost efficient.
  • Direct Homeland Security to cooperate with faith-based and humanitarian organizations who are prepared to assist asylum-seekers.

The United States has a long and proud history of welcoming immigrants and sheltering refugees. Women religious have been blessed to be able to accompany and serve migrant communities across this country for a very long time. We will continue to welcome them as our national history demands and our faith requires.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Pittsburgh Massacre

United in One Heart and Mind


The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny in the USA & Canada
unite in heart and mind 
with the Jewish faith community in Pittsburgh.
We stand with one another against such violence and evil.
Let us all act by joining with one another
to support the call for non-violence
and an end to hate and division in our country.

"Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God,
The Lord is one"

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Our Spirit in Action-I'm Gonna Let it Shine

"I'm Gonna Let it Shine!"



Our Spirit in Action
For children summer vacation may seem long and boring. For catechists hour-long classes may seem too short for in-depth learning. But with Summer Bible School, Sister Mary Glynn and her helpers gather children for a deep and memorable experience of prayer, learning and the celebration of their faith.

During Cavequest the children were constantly reminded that Christians are called to overcome darkness in the world by being light for others.  Songs, Bible stories, crafts, games, and videos integrated this invitation to bring the Light of Christ into the darkness of our world. The children entered into the experience of the apostles, listening to Jesus teach and witnessing his miracles.  They were deeply moved while reflecting on the gift of love as Jesus suffered his passion and then were caught up in the darkness of the crucifixion that burst into the light of the resurrection. They discovered how to be light for others by trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit–the gift of the resurrected Jesus. Although they sang “This Little Light of Mine” with gusto, “I have decided to follow Jesus … no turning back” quickly became the favorite!