News

Close to 200 Catholic bishops spent three weeks in October in Rome discussing how to assist the Amazon region of South America, paying special attention to evangelization, countering violence, and supporting environmental sustainability, America magazine reported. The article highlights a quote from Cardinal Michael Czerny: “With the Amazon burning, many more people are realizing that things have to change. We cannot keep repeating old responses to urgent problems and expect to get better results.”

A forum focusing on alleviating poverty among Native American populations took place at the University of Notre Dame in October, Catholic News Service reported. The summit, attended by American Indian tribal leaders and hosted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ subcommittee on Native American Affairs, will release recommendations to help alleviate poverty. From the article, “The U.S. Census Bureau reports approximately 3 million people whose primary race is Native American or Alaska Native. Of those, about 40 percent live on reservations or trust lands, and a high percentage fall well below the poverty level. About 20 percent of Native Americans are Catholic, but proposals coming out of the gathering are expected to be applicable to all Native Americans, according to meeting organizer Father Michael Carson, assistant director of Native American affairs for the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church.”

U.S. Catholic Sisters against Human Trafficking (USCSAHT), whose founding was helped to be catalyzed by FADICA, hosted the first-ever hemispheric-wide conference of Talitha Kum anti-trafficking networks on Oct. 24 – 27 in Cleveland, Ohio. Borders Are Not Barriers was a four-day conference that brought together representatives from anti-trafficking networks in North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, and other experts to build capacity for more effective and coordinated work. Pictured above: Sr. Gabriella Bottani, SMC, Coordinator of Talitha Kum-ARISE (Global Catholic Sisters anti-trafficking network) at FADICA’s 2018 Rome Pilgrimage. Sr. Bottani also attended the first hemispheric-wide anti- human trafficking conference in October in Cleveland, OH

“Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter Against Racism” is the recently approved formal statement on racism approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The Pastoral Letter addresses the evil of racism and addresses racism above all as a moral and theological problem that manifests institutionally and systematically.

I was introduced to Roma Downey’s Box of Butterflies by a dear friend who gently encouraged me to consider reading this book as a possible source of comfort following the recent death of my husband. I was willing to try any remedy that might restore hope and healing to my life after years of prolonged sadness while caring for my soulmate – knowing that he would eventually and inevitably succumb to the physical and emotional ravages of Alzheimer’s. What a blessing this book is! Page after page tenderly soothed my weary soul with the author’s favorite poems, insightful prayers and beautiful works of art. Each chapter formed a consoling tapestry offering grace-filled solace until one morning I discovered my tears had been replaced with a new and softened joy. This enlightened book is a powerful reminder that no matter what tragedy may be encountered in life’s journey – each and every person is infinitely beloved by a Creator who knows them intimately and will not permit them to suffer alone or in vain. Few books deserve to be referred to as a staple for all spiritual seekers – but Roma’s book does. It is a treasure that belongs on every family’s bookshelf and would be a welcome addition to anyone’s gift list for a friend or family member who may be struggling during one of life’s most difficult seasons. Many may recall first encountering Roma Downey years ago in her award-winning TV role as Monica in “Touched by an Angel.” It should come as no surprise that this

Congratulations to SC Ministry Foundation, featured in “Staying Connected: How Five Foundations Understand Those They Seek to Help” by the Center for Effective Grantmaking. The report is an excellent resource for members looking to enhance relationships with grantees.

The Catholic Impact Investing Collaborative (aka CIIC- pronounced “seek”) works to spread impact investing through building community, sharing experiences, and learning from each other. Visit the website for helpful resources on impact investing and sign up for updates.

A three-year collaborative effort called The National Dialogue was recently launched to support high level conversation about pastoral ministries to youth and young adults. The National Dialogue has emerged just before the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on “Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment” and the V Encuentro. It is a partnership between the USCCB, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), the USCCB National Advisory Team on Young Adult Ministry, and the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (LaRed).

GHR Foundation is featured in this Devex article by Catherine Cheney exploring the role of faith in innovation. Amy Rauenhorst Goldman, CEO and chair of the foundation, provides insight.  Related: Check out FADICA’s recently published Catholic Social Innovation in the Global Refugee Crisis

Congratulations to Incarnate Word Foundation on their 20th anniversary and the launch of their new initiative in St. Louis, Recon: Framing a New Public Discourse, a platform for learning and engaging in respectful discourse on race, religion, response to violence, evolving social structures, responsible use of social media, and other topics which have historically divided the St. Louis community.