JPIC

St Bakhita Day 8 February

Sandie Events, Justice, Peace & the Integrity of Creation, Trafficking in Persons No Comments
detail from icon of St Josephine Bakhita Her feast day is World Day for Prayer, Reflection & Action Against Human Trafficking

8 February – the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita – will be a day of prayer and reflection on human trafficking.  St Josephine Bakhita experienced kidnapping and slavery in both Sudan and Italy. Following her delivery to freedom she dedicated her life to sharing her story and to supporting the poor and suffering. She eventually became a Canossian Sister, living a life of prayer and service for fifty years. She died on 8 February 1947 and was canonized in 2000. St Bakhita Feast Day Resources Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans has prepared this reflection sheet to help communities, classes and groups to mark the day.  You may find

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5 Doors to Sacred Heart Spirituality

Sandie Contemplation, International Priorities, Justice, Peace & the Integrity of Creation, Mission, Spirituality No Comments
organic doorway

General Chapter 2008 described the international priorities which it discerned as five doors to the spirituality of the Society of the Sacred Heart.  This prezi highlights some of the things that the chapter said about dialogue, contemplation, community, justice, peace and the integrity of creation, and our priority for young people.  It includes a prayer for each priority adapted from the words of the Chapter 2008 document.  

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Interfaith Prayer for Creation

Sandie Care for Creation, Events, Justice, Peace & the Integrity of Creation, RSCJ News, Spirituality No Comments
Photo of people at the Faith Ecology Network prayer vigil in Martin Place.

Can you spot Esmey Herscovitch RSCJ at the Respect Creation interfaith prayer vigil in Sydney’s Martin Place? The vigil was organised by the Faith Ecology Network which brings together people from eleven different faith traditions. Meditations and prayers were led by representatives from the Aboriginal, Anglican, Shia Muslim, Uniting Church, Sikh, Buddhist, Catholic, Jewish, Sunni Muslim, Quaker and Hindu communities. Chant, poems, songs and spoken prayers were used. The ‘Peace Angels’ embraced dance as a meditation. Over one hundred people participated in the Vigil. Some passing by were also welcomed and joined the event. For more information, visit the Faith Ecology Network website.

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Staying Focused on the MDGs

Sandie Human Rights, Justice, Peace & the Integrity of Creation No Comments
MDG logo

Sacred Heart @ the UN remind us that there are fewer than 1000 days left until the deadline set for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. While governments at the UN are negotiating the nature and content of any follow-up goals after 2015, achieving the existing goals should be everyone’s priority. The End Poverty 2015 campaign has a special website which serves as a Gateway to the UN System’s Work on the MDGs. Its page on the MDG Momentum gives updated information on each single goal and target. It also has infographics and posters on the eight MDGs which may be downloaded for promoting the MDGs, as long as they are not used for

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The Gathering Place in Redfern

Sandie Indigenous Peoples, Justice, Peace & the Integrity of Creation, Ministry 1 Comment
Aboriginal flag painted on a wall in Redfern

Sr Esmey Herscovitch RSCJ lives in a small house called the Gathering Place in Redfern.  She says,“I’m learning all the time. We Religious of the Sacred Heart describe ourselves as an educational congregation. And education is not just one way, its two-way, and I learn from the locals here.” “I learn from their capacity to wait, their resilience, and their appreciation of what’s given them, their fidelity to their families…I’ve learned to love them.” “I’ve also learned to love their music. I’m coming to understand the culture a little. It’s a very rich culture and many of us don’t realize that.” Read more about Sr Esmey’s quiet ministry of presence and friendship

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