Vanuatu's Initiative:                                         Traduction française - voir ci-dessous Vanuatu, a small Oceanian island nation facing severe climate change impacts, spearheaded efforts to bring the issue before the ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Student Activism:  The case was initially sparked by a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, who formed the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC). Global Coalition:  Vanuatu rallied support from other vulnerable nations and organizations,...

Missio Dei.SVD 150th Anniversary: Witnessing to the Light from Everywhere to Everyone. Fr Stephen Bevans SVD [USA. Professor Emeritus at Catholic Theological Union of Mission and Culture, where he was teaching since 1986.Previously a missionary in the Philippines. He has lectured and taught in many different parts of the world.He has written / edited 21 books. "Community of Missionary Disciples" – 2024. A member of the World Council of Churches – on Mission and Evangelism]. His talk: International Conference on Mission Day 1 - Keynote Lecture - Fr. Stephen Bevans -Healing Wounds, -Challenged by Post-Modernity, -Learning from Cultures, -Inspired by Religions. Missio Dei – the mission of God.T...

What is Truth?                       Traduction française ci-dessous A Reflection of a Marist Experience at the U.S. Southern Border by Joseph McLaughlin SM, Las Cruces, New Mexico It is a 41.1 mile drive from my home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to the Holy Family Refugee Center in El Paso, Texas. In 2 ½ years some 40,000 immigrants have been welcomed, sheltered and assisted in their journey to different parts of the U.S. How often I have said "Bienvenidos a los Estados Unidos. Tengo mucho alegria que esta aqui." ("Welcome to the U.S. I am very happy you are here.") I was often overwhelmed and touched by the courage, hope and fa...

"Do not forget your mother's sorrow" A Marist Mission in Samsun, Turkey Donato Kivi sm                                Traduction française ci-dessous On December 14th, 2023, I arrived in Samsun, a city on the northern coast of Turkey. The date carried quiet significance—it was exactly one year to the day since the death of the priest of Mater Dolorosa Parish, which had been without a resident shepherd ever since. I arrived not knowing anyone and unable to speak Turkish. Yet, in true Marist fashion, I found the hand of Providence waiting. At the airport, I was met by Heinrich, an Italian layman married to a T...

Significance of Indigenous People in the Philippines to Climate Change The only dwelling place, our common home, is damaged, suffering, and crying like the poor. The poor are the most vulnerable brothers and sisters on the planet, sharing with us the same resources for living. The Declaration of the Mission of the Society of Mary Today in 2017 reminds us that "Mary, the mother of the New Creation, calls us to nurture life in all its forms, especially among our most vulnerable brothers and sisters and in our damaged planet."(#5) The indigenous people living in the remote areas, in the forest and the jungle, are the victims from historical injustice and climate change. However, their tradition...

The Value of the Person                                                                        Traduction française ci-dessous Marist writer, Fr Tom Ryan SM, has published a reflection, 'The Value of the Person: Jean-Claude Colin in Conversation', which explores the Marist Founder's insights along with those of the recent Popes and classic commentators. The essay is part of a worldwide focus on the sesquicentenary of Fr Colin's death, Nov 15,1875.   To download, click here.  THE VALUE OF THE PER...

Marist Mission Workshop – Interreligious Dialogue                                                    Traduction française ci-dessous A summary of an on-line Meeting: Date: 14 June 2025 Facilitator: Br. Ivan Vodopivec sm Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Patrick McInerney ssc Recorder: Fr. Hayden Powick sm Attendance:   Fr. Hermes Sabud SM,Br. Rubel, FMS, Sr. Suporna, SMSM, Fr. Charles Apeke SM, Fr. Yves Tuma SM, Br. Ivan Vodopivec SM, Fr. Patrick McInerney (Guest Speaker) SSC, Sr. Minh Tien RNDM, Fr. Hayden Powick SM Opening Prayer Led by Fr. Yves Tuma, focus...

-Balay Pasilungan: 36 Years of Planting Hope Fr. Gil L. Casio, SM                                                                Traduction française ci-dessous As we culminated the Tree of Hope Campaign on May 31, we marked a sacred moment for Balay Pasilungan—a time to remember, to give thanks, and to renew our commitment to a mission that began 36 years ago in the heart of Davao City. More than a shelter, Balay Pasilungan has become a true home—a sanctuary of healing and a place where the most vulnerable children, those who ha...

 Marist Spirituality in Today's Chaotic World by Jan Hulshof, SM, Hulst, Netherlands                                                       Traduction française ci-dessous "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Ps 11:3) People always thought they lived in a chaotic world, but now we are dealing with chaos squared. While people have always been greedy, now the top 1% of the world's elite owns 95% of our wealth, leaving 5% to the rest of humanity combined. Power-hungry people always had weapons to kill others, but now the most ...

 Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer Action urgently needed to save the conditions under which markets – and civilization itself – can operate, says senior Allianz figure Damian Carrington Environment editor – Guardian. Thu 3 Apr 2025 11.41 CEST The climate crisis is on track to destroy capitalism, a top insurer has warned, with the vast cost of extreme weather impacts leaving the financial sector unable to operate. The world is fast approaching temperature levels where insurers will no longer be able to offer cover for many climate risks, said Günther Thallinger, on the board of Allianz SE, one of the world's biggest insurance companies. He said that withou...

Brother François, a guide to protect our common home                                      Traduction française - voir ci-dessous This reflection of Jose Nacianceno, from the Province of East Asia, commemorates the 10th anniversary of his landmark encyclical, "Laudato Si'," celebrated on May 24, along with Laudato Si' Week 2025, from the 24th to the 31st. The reflection is an invitation to the event on May 27, "The Three Francises," promoted by the Secretariat of Solidarity, in the context of Laudato Si' Week. In these lines, José presents Brother Francisco as an inspiration and guide for prote...

The One Abrahamic Family In the biblical tradition, Ishmael and Isaac are brothers, or to be more precise, half-brothers. The first was born from Hagar, and the second from Sarah (c.f. Gen 16 and 21). The Arabs claim physical descent from Abraham through Ishmael; the Jews claim physical descent from Abraham through Isaac; and the Christians claim spiritual descent from Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, all three religious traditions claim connection to the ancient Patriarch, each in their own way. Hence, Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all kin; all belong to one family; are all sisters and brothers; are all daughters and sons of Abraham. Accordingly, we speak of the "Abrahamic r...

ATLANTIC HOSPITALITY: A mission for and with migrants                                 Traduction française ci-dessous I am Father Youssouph Stev YOUM, a member of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers). I am currently on a mission in Senegal as the Director of a school still under construction in the suburbs of Dakar in Senegal. The mission of this school is to provide the populations of this locality with the same quality of education as those in the city and also to create employment for young people. It is therefore an ongoing project that integrates many aspects of educational, pastoral work with that of y...

Our Lady of Consolation Center: A Beacon of Hope for Children with Special Needs         traduction française ci-dessous Introduction Our Lady of Consolation Center (OLCC) for Children and Persons Living with Special Needs, Bambili, Cameroon, Africa, is a daycare center which has been serving the community for 18 years. Located in Bambili, Tubah subdivision, approximately 14km from Bamenda town. It cares for 30 children, 17 of them are girls while 13 are boys, with a dedicated staff of 4 including a physiotherapist, social worker, driver, and a steward. Established under the auspices of the Marist Fathers, this daycare center serves as a sanctuary for children with d...

Traduction française ci-dessous This Tribute to Pope Francis comes from the Justice and Peace Commission based in Rome: which represents some 800,000 consecrated religious worldwide. As Marists we are represented, and we collaborate, on this International Commission through our three Marist Commissions – Ecology - Migrants and Refugees - and Inter-religious Dialogue & Reconciliation - which were established by our Superior General, Fr John Larsen SM, after our 2017 General Chapter. In this Spirit we share this Tribute: With the Poor, for the Planet:    Remembering Pope Francis  To all Members of the JPIC Commission Union of Superiors General [M] -Union of Internationa...

'Deep resurrection'   - Dan Horan                   Traduction française en cours There is a particular concept in theology and eco-spirituality known as "deep resurrection." The renowned Catholic theologian St. Joseph Sr. Elizabeth Johnson is best known for developing the idea, first in her 2014 book Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love and later in a 2023 article titled "Deep Resurrection" and in a chapter in her latest book, Come, Have Breakfast: Meditations on God and Earth. The notion of "deep resurrection" begins with theological reflection on the significance of the incarnation of the Word for the whole of creation, and...

Résurrection profonde Daniel P. Horan En théologie et en éco-spiritualité, Il existe un concept appelé « résurrection profonde ». La célèbre théologienne catholique Elizabeth Johnson, Sœur de Saint-Joseph, s'est surtout fait connaître pour avoir développé cette idée, d'abord dans son livre de 2014, Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love, (Demandez aux bêtes : Darwin et le Dieu de l'amour, recension en anglais du National Catholic Reporter) puis dans un article de 2023 intitulé Deep Resurrection (Résurrection profonde, Revue Modern Believing Volume 64, N° 2) et dans un chapitre de son dernier livre, Come, Have Breakfast : Meditations on God and Earth (Venez, nourrissez-vous : méditations ...

L'économie de la mer est essentielle pour l'économie mondiale                   English Translation below Les mers et océans sont indispensables à la vie sur Terre : ils recouvrent 71 % de la surface de la planète, constituent 90 % de la biosphère, assurent la sécurité alimentaire de plus de trois milliards de personnes, permettent le transport de plus de 80 % des marchandises mondiales et abritent les câbles sous-marins transportant 98 % du trafic Internet international. Les nouvelles statistiques et analyses de l'OCDE mettent en évidence le rôle fondamental que joue la mer dans l'économie et les moyens de subsistance de centaines de million...

Digital Cleanup                                               Traduction française ci-dessous                              This Blog is inspired by Parami University's initiative to address the emerging issue of digital waste and its effect of the global environment. Parami's online connection with students in and from Myanmar encourages refugee youth to develop a sensitivity to ecological issues. Why Digital Cleanup? While pollution is commonly associated with visible factors like industrial em...

War and the Environment – an online Course                Le monde au-delà de la guerre   voir ci-dessous This course is about war and the environment. It is designed for anyone interested in or working on anti-war or climate change issues, and anyone who wishes to know more about peace and the environment. To meet the needs of those just described, the course focusses on how war and war preparation are major contributors to the climate change crisis. The course also involves a focus on how natural resources play a role in many of the armed conflicts worldwide, and how wars divert resources from meeting the human and environmental needs ...