Prayer
Advent is upon us. Sr. Cj Willie, SC, is generously sharing her Advent reflections again this year. Her theme is Listening, and she invites anyone to submit quotes on listening as well as photos for these reflections. You may email them to me, and I will forward to Sr Cj. Click here for the first week's reflection. The Laudato Si’ Movement has also created an Advent Calendar and Contemplation Kit.
Advocacy and Action
The Guardian, an independent news organization, has reported interesting facts on the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. This organization was created by oil companies and other large brands to address plastic pollution. The Guardian has reported that these companies produced 1000 times more plastic than they cleaned up. Surprising? No. But it is still good to call out the hypocrisy. And now, with the UN Plastic Treaty falling apart and the next US Administration unconcerned about the environment, our personal choices are even more important. We must make plastic-free purchasing a top priority. We can go a step further by spreading the word to friends and family AND by advocating with the brand we buy to make their packaging and shipping plastic free.
Education and Information
The USCCB Department of Public Affairs has released a Statement of Pastoral Concern in support of our migrant brothers and sisters. The USCCB Migration and Refugee Services has released a post-election FAQ, which I have attached to this Weekly Update.
On Tuesday, December 10 from 7 to 8 PM EST, the Georgetown University Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life will host a public dialogue titled What Do We Do Now? Catholic Responsibilities, Opportunities After the Election and Synod. This event will explore how American Catholics and people of good can bring principles of Catholic social thought—human life and dignity, family and community, solidarity and subsidiarity, priority for the poor and care for creation—into U.S. public life more effectively and consistently? For more information and to RSVP, click here.