Justice | Mysite

SERVICE

A New Genesis Community members stay informed and engage in ongoing learning in order to stand in solidarity with vulnerable people who struggle for peace and economic justice in our nation and world. We advocate to our legislators for just causes in support of human rights and dignity for all people. Gospel values and Catholic social teaching motivate our efforts for peace and justice. We strive to speak and act on behalf of those who overlooked and without a voice.

Pilgrims of Hope

~ Sr. Kathy Carpenter, Walsenburg, CO

Jubilee 2025 has begun. While we may not be able to travel to Rome or a Diocesan cathedral, we can continue with daily prayer for the Church, immigrants, warring countries, needs of young parents, people feeling hopeless, etc. Let us live the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. Here are some quotes that will help focus the overall statements and actions that we, might incorporate in our prayers and actions.

“These years in Jewish history were “intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation…” (Pope Francis)

“This theme is very timely in many parts of the world, including here in the United States, where we have a broken immigration system and the threat of massive deportations of people who are simply exercising their God-given right to immigrate when circumstances so require — a right which is intrinsic to the human person, and so does not derive from the state. … no government has the authority to deprive us of our God-given rights nor to apply them in a selective or discriminatory manner.” (Bishop Anthony B. Taylor)

“Go and interact with others in their daily life, recognizing that the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of those we encounter, whether they be friends, family or co-workers. Think of these encounters as Jubilee pilgrimages in which you are bringing hope to others. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.” (Katie Zakrzewski, St. Mary Church in North Little Rock, AR)

ANG - Eucharist and Justice

~ Sr. Diane Baumann, New London, WI

How are Eucharist and justice connected? I’ve been thinking about that question

for a few months now, struggling to find the words to express that connection.

In a flash of insight, I saw in my mind the scene from the movie, “Romero,” in which

the now St. Oscar Romero is assassinated at the altar while he is celebrating Mass.

Oscar Romero paid the ultimate price of working for justice – and he paid that price right during the celebration of the Eucharist. Though he was seen as a conservative selection for Archbishop, he went through a process of gradual conversion, choosing justice for the struggling people of El Salvador over the relationships he had with the rich and powerful. Perhaps it was the experience of the Eucharist day after day that gave him the courage to stand up for justice and the rights of all the oppressed people.

As he said the words, …”this is my Body, which will be given up for you,” it is possible that he knew he would someday be joining his body to the Body of Christ, “giving up all” for the people. He had received death threats, but stayed the course of action for the sake of the suffering. He had seen the tortured and dead bodies of his friends. What courage it must have taken for him to stand firm, nourished day by day through the power of the Word proclaimed at Mass and through the Body and Blood of Jesus, the Universal Christ.

So what does that say about our lives within justice and Eucharist? It is unlikely that we will die as martyrs. One of our Community members has said, tongue-in-cheek, to me: “I don’t know if I want to be a saint. They have to suffer too much.” Yet, we’ve all had moments when we had to stand up for something we believed in and suffered for it. But hopefully we too were strengthened by the Word of God at Mass. Hopefully we were fed by the Eucharistic feast and empowered to keep going.

At this time in the history of our nation and world, there are issues on which we will need to stand firm. Together we can support one another as we seek wisdom from the Word of God and the energy and power to act that comes from the Eucharist. Together we can continue to move forward, pouring ourselves out for others.