IPA

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Global Day for Action on Military Spending

Across the world many groups are joining in a Global Day of Action on Military Spending on 17 April 2012. On this day the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute release their annual report with new figures on military expenditure. We are invited to participate in this day through prayer and by learning more about the issue. We are asked to reflect on the huge amounts of money spent on militarization at the expense of health, food and education needs of the peoples of many countries. Click here for a pdf copy (607KB) of a prayer and reflection sheet on this issue.

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Lenten Resource 2012

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) is calling on churches and concerned individuals, through a day of reflection and action during Lent, to address global hunger by reducing food waste. Using their material, the Nagle community in Ireland has prepared a resource for us to use during Lent:

A4 size – 5 pages (pdf 645KB)
US-size – 5 pages (pdf 645KB)

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29th Annual Peace Day – 21 September 2010

A4 size – 4 pages (pdf 455KB)
US-size – 4 pages (pdf 454KB)

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28th Annual Peace Day – 21 September 2009

A4 size – 4 pages (pdf)

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Presentation in an Emerging Universe: Sharing our Stories along the Way

We share our stories amid the gratuitousness of this universe, the gift of God’s abundance. Through our International Presentation Association, we commit ourselves to respond to the cry of the Earth and the cry of those made poor and to do so by “channeling our resources to speak and act in partnership with others for global justice.” I heard recently a comment made by someone at the United Nations that the religious communities are the real transnationals promoting a global consciousness that helps rather than hinders the promotion of life on this planet.

All our stories begin in the womb of Mother Earth whose sun and moon, trees and flowers and birds have already taught us much about both the light and the shadow of our human journey. Now Earth is calling to us humans, particularly those who liv e in the richer countries, to make lifestyle changes so that we can fit back into our planet more appropriately. The cry of the Earth – a strong cry indeed.

Our story also includes what we have been learning along the way in our Scripture stories. We meet Old Testament prophets who challenge us not only to take care of those who are deprived but also to participate in the undoing of unjust structures that keep people and Earth poor. In the New Testament we meet Jesus who shows us an alternative vision and who calls us to re-structure our lives to be in right relationship with all… The cry of those made poor – a plaintive cry indeed.

We share a charism story that envelops almost 3,000 Presentation women and 1,000 Associates in 24 countries. Through our International Presentation story we see our charism incarnated in many cultural contexts – all with rich and challenging moments as we share our stories along the way.

We see religious life flourishing in some parts of the world while other parts are facing a different reality. Hopefully, all of us can continue to contemplate our particular realities without too much denial and, at the same time, keep being delighted by the fact that, wherever we are, the seeds of the religious life of the future are being sown by our fidelity in the here and now.

Betty Rae Lee pbvm, Newfoundland

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I believe that for most of us today, it is friendship that transforms our commitment of justice from work for a cause to a way of life.
Until you have a friend who is poor, poverty remains an issue that you can walk away from at any time.
Only when you have a friend who has been violated, can you lose the clinical distance which makes debates about good violence and bad violence seem reasonable.
Until you have a friend who is a refugee, you do not factor in the human cost of war.
Your friend is the one who faces you, who summons you to face yourself. Your friend is the angel of the annunciation summoning you to remain life-size in a time of moral diminishment.

Mary Jo Leddy, National Catholic Reporter, 5 April 2005

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Doing Justice in the Way of Jesus

Justice as a simple definition is a quality of being fair
But doing Justice is to treat something as it deserves.
When I listen to what is happening in the world today
And in particular, Zambia, I feel the pain in my heart.
What can I do? The world is so big. Zambia is big too.

I heard the voice whispering to me:
Yes, the world is big, Zambia is big,
But start from where you are.
Look around you and see what needs to
be treated as it deserves.

Take care of the water all of the time by closing the tap
tightly after use.
Help the local people by buying their local produce.
Cater for the disadvantaged where you stay.
Be present to people in your various ministries.
Open your door to those who come to you.
Treat those you live with as you would like them
to treat you.

Begin today!
Tomorrow may never come.

Sr Clementina Simataa, Zambia