Jesuit Archive

Catholic Social Teaching Meets Wall Street

– April 19, 2012Posted in: Formerly Featured Events

Catholic Social Teaching Meets Wall Street

Friday, April 20th
12:45 pm – 1:30 pm
Center for Service and Justice (Harper 2067)

All are welcome to a discussion in the Creighton Center for Service and Justice (Harper 2067) on Catholic Social Teaching and socially responsible investing with Dr. Tom Kelly and Michael Rossmann, SJ. This article from America Magazine and this initiative by Jesuits and Creighton University will serve as the basis for discussion. For more information or to RSVP (so we know how many to expect), please contact Michael Rossmann, SJ at rossmann.michael@gmail.com or 402-280-1290.

Tags: Catholic Social Teaching, Economic Justice, Jesuit, Justice

CCSJ Weekly Update: Apr. 2 – Apr. 8

– April 4, 2012Posted in: Formerly Featured Events, Weekly Update

Featured Events:

Service and Justice Trips Info Meeting
Interested in doing something a bit different for your 2012 Fall Break? Do you want to learn more about an amazing opportunity? Are you looking to have an exciting experience next semester?

Join us on Tuesday night, April 3rd at 9PM in the Harper Ballroom for our Info Night! Come to learn about the program and trips and to hear what the new application process is! Bring a friend and ask someone who has gone! Hope to see you there!

For more information about the Service Trip Program:
Visit the Website: http://blogs.creighton.edu/ccsj/serviceandjusticetrips/ Contact a Core Team member or Service & Justice Associate: Melissa List, Maureen Book, Claire Bowens, Kate Kogler, Kelsey Cullinan, Mike Rios, Laura Green, Steph Haas, Nick George, Bill Kusek, or Chris Boitano

Good Friday Walk for Justice
Join sponsors – including the Social Ministry Commission of the Omaha Archdiocese, St. John’s Church, and the Creighton Center for Service and Justice –on Friday, April 6 for a Walking Stations of the Cross.

The walk will begin at 1:00pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church at 19 & Dodge and will wind its way past the Federal Courthouse, Douglas County Jail, among other locations.

The walk serves as a public witness of the continuing crucifixion of Jesus in the sufferings of people today, and a communal prayer inviting people to live out their faith in a public way. You can read an article in the Catholic Voice Omaha about the walk here: http://catholicvoiceomaha.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=7&ArticleID=16164

Events this week:
Finding a Voice Art Exhibition
Come and See: Columban Fathers Open House
Ollie Webb Volunteers Needed Mondays in April
Hungry For Ethnic Food! MSA Food Sale
Service and Justice Trips Info Meeting
Ollie Webb Center Collage Class
Ollie Webb Center CIRCLES I Class
Good Friday Walk for Justice

Events More than One Week Away:
Adopt-A-Block Conference and Summit
A Night of Comedy: Opening Hearts and Minds
8th Annual All-Nations Pow-Wow
Save the Date: Post-Graduate Volunteer and Religious Life Missioning Ceremony

Saturday, March 31
Finding a Voice Art Exhibition
2012 First Annual Exhibition of the Arts. This event is full of music, poetry, and artwork presented by the “artists in recovery” group. It will take place on Saturday, March 31st from 6:30-9:30pm, with a panel discussion at 7:30 about Homelessness and Transformation. This event will take place at 906 North 16th Street. A $5.00 free will donation is suggestion. Your support and contributions are appreciated.

Come and See: Columban Fathers Open House
If you are a Catholic man between the ages of 18 and 35, and believe you might be called to the missionary priesthood, come and explore the possibilities with Columban Fathers Chuck Lintz and Bill Morton. The day includes vocational discernment, personal sharing, lunch, and Mass. This event will take place from 9am-5pm at the Columban Mission Center, 1902 Calhoun Street, Bellevue, NE. For more information, or to register, please contact Fr. Chuck Lintz at (402)731-0100 or email vocations@columban.org.

Monday, April 2
Ollie Webb Volunteers Needed Mondays in April
The Adult and Adolescent programs at the Ollie Webb Center are in need of volunteers on Mondays in April (April 2, 9, 16, and 23) to assist with a weekly session called “Keeping your Cool.” Volunteers would assist adults and adolescents with disabilities with reading, writing, and role playing. Volunteers should be able to commit to an entire session to have consistency with the students, and would need to be present from 5:45-8:15 pm for each of the sessions. To volunteer, please contact Lisa Dougherty at ldougherty@olliewebbinc.org.

Tuesday, April 3
Hungry for Ethnic Food!
The Creighton Muslim Students Association presents a Middle Eastern food fundraiser! Choose from grape leaves, hummus, taboleh salad, Mediterranean rice, Dessert (Baklava, Haressa) and more! Cost is $6 per plate and $1.50 for dessert. Only cash will be accepted. This event will take place from 11am-1:30pm on the Creighton Mall (rain location: Hixon-Lied building, Mutual of Omaha Student Lounge, first floor). For more information, please contact Naser Alsharif nalshari@creighton.edu.

Wednesday, April 4
Ollie Webb Center Collage Class
Volunteers are needed to assist adults with developmental disabilities with creating art collages on Wednesday evenings in April. Fine motor skill assistance is necessary. The class runs April 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th, from 5:30-7:45pm at the Ollie Webb Center, Inc. Attendance is encouraged at all 4 classes, but not mandatory. To volunteer, please email Lisa Dougherty at ldougherty@olliewebbinc.org.

Thursday, April 5
Ollie Webb Center CIRCLES I Class
Volunteers are needed to assist adults with developmental disabilities with a course about boundaries on Thursday evenings in April. The class runs April 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th, from 5:30-7:45pm at the Ollie Webb Center, Inc. Attendance is encouraged at all 4 classes, but not mandatory. To volunteer, please email Lisa Dougherty at ldougherty@olliewebbinc.org.

Friday, April 6
Good Friday Walk for Justice
Join sponsors – including the Social Ministry Commission of the Omaha Archdiocese, St. John’s Church, and the Creighton Center for Service and Justice –on Friday, April 6 for a Walking Stations of the Cross.

The walk will begin at 1:00pm at St. Mary Magdalene Church at 19 & Dodge and will wind its way past the Federal Courthouse, Douglas County Jail, among other locations. The walk lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

Upcoming Events:
Adopt-a-Block Conference and Summit
(Friday, April 13, 2012)
The Adopt-a-Block Summit is sponsored by the Empowerment Network, and will take place at the OPS-TAC Building (3215 Cuming Street) from 7:30-10am. This event is free and open to the public, and will feature a Crime Stoppers demonstration, participation from law enforcement, pastors, faith leaders, organizations, neighborhood associations, residents, interactive discussion, and more. Deadline to register is Thursday, April 11th by 5pm. RSVP by contacting Vicki Quaites-Ferris at (402) 502-5153 or at vqferris@empoweromaha.com.

A Night of Comedy: Opening Hearts and Minds
(Friday, April 13, 2012)
Comedy has always played a role in building bridges across cultures and humanizing the other. In that spirit, the Muslim Student Association, in conjunction with Campus Ministry, the CCSJ, CSU, and others, present A Night of Comedy: Opening Hearts and Minds. This event features Dean Obeidallah from Comedy Central’s Axis of Evil Special and Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen. This event will take place from 7-9 pm in the Harper Center Auditorium. This event is free to the Creighton Community with ID, $15 for the general public, and $10 for non-Creighton Students. For more information, contact Naser Alsharif at nalshari@creighton.edu.

8th Annual All Nations Pow-Wow
(Saturday, April 14, 2012)
Presented by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Creighton’s Native American Association (NAA). The 8th Annual All Nations Pow-Wow is a wonderful opportunity for Creighton students, faculty, staff, and alumni to celebrate with friends and guests of Creighton in this annual tradition for our campus and the Community. This event will take place in the Kiewit Fitness Center from 1-10pm, with Grand Entries at 1 and 6 pm, and the community feed at 5 pm. For more information, please contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs, at (402) 280-2459.

Save the Date: Post-Graduate Volunteer and Religious Life Missioning Ceremony
May 11, 2012
Save the date for the 2012 Post-Graduate Volunteer and Religious Life Missioning Ceremony. The ceremony will take place from 10:30-11:15 am on Friday, May 11, 2012. Join Fr. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., President of Creighton University and Fr. Andy Alexander, S.J., Vice President for University Ministry, the Creighton Center for Service and Justice, and the Justice and Peace Studies Program in celebrating our graduates who are volunteering or entering religious life for the upcoming year. All are welcome, especially family and friends of these graduates. For more information, please visit http://blogs.creighton.edu/ccsj/category/post-graduate-volunteering.

Tags: Get Involved, Jesuit, Justice, Post-Grad Volunteering, Service & Justice Trips

March Wisconsin Province Social-International E-news

– March 26, 2012Posted in: Featured Events, Wisconsin Province E-News

Kony 2012 Video – Considerations for Reflection:
This now-viral youtube video produced by the group Invisible Children has become the most recent cause célèbre and is most likely attracting wide attention across campuses and parishes (both Jesuit and non-Jesuit). The video launched the “Kony 2012” campaign and seems to employ a threefold strategy: information/education, fund-raising/sales and advocacy. As an informational piece, it surely helps to shine a light on the rebel leader Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army’s legacy of violence in N. Uganda and the region. However, the advocacy request promoted in the video (first applauding/cheering and then encouraging sustained U.S. military presence) diverges from the position expressed by Catholic and Jesuit leaders in the affected region. Here are some of their perspectives:

Africa My Africa: Eastern Africa Jesuit Provincial Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, S.J. expresses concern regarding U.S. troop deployment to dismantle the LRA. Rather than military aid, he suggests humanitarian assistance, “sending teachers, doctors, engineers, experts in agriculture and development — not more soldiers, guns, and ammunition.”

Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative: Statement opposing the plan to deploy U.S. military advisors co-signed by the religious leaders of Northern Uganda, including Archbishop John Baptist Odama of Gulu.

Urging Nonviolence in dealing with the Lord’s Resistance Army: Africa Faith and Justice Network analysis (AFJN is a coalition partner with Jesuit Conference).

CRS Take on Kony 2012, part 2: suggests peaceful alternatives and support for poverty focused humanitarian development.

Regarding issues of international advocacy, our way of proceeding considers first and foremost the experience and recommendations of Jesuits and Church leaders living and working in the affecting areas. If members of your university, school or parish are trying to consider how to best interpret the Kony 2012 campaign, please share the resources mentioned above. In addition, the USA Jesuit Conference will soon post a resource page to help groups better understand the fuller context and consider alternative advocacy messages from the views expressed by Invisible Children. Contact John Sealey if you would like periodic updates on this issue or you can monitor the Jesuit Conference page.

Ignatian Solidarity Network News (Human Rights Nomination /// Webinars available)
ISN has been nominated for a people’s choice award by Global Exchange. Click here for Jesuit Conference story. In addition to hosting gatherings and leadership trainings, ISN will begin hosting webinars on topics which may be of interest to its membership. Upcoming webinars will cover: Worker Rights Consortium on March 28 and on March 29 there will be a presentation regarding the upcoming criminal case filed in Spanish Court against 21 former Salvadoran military officers for the 1989 murders of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter. Details and sign up at ISN webpage.

Korean Jesuit Arrested and Jailed for Peace Action:
The Jesuit Social Apostolate Coordinator for Asia Pacific has dispatched a report written by Fr. Francis Mun-su Park, S.J.
(Korea) who directs the Jesuit Research Center for Advocacy and Solidarity. The preface of the report reads: “Several Korean Jesuits have placed themselves in the caldron of controversy surrounding the construction of a Korean naval base on Jeju Island, a province of South Korea. The controversial issues include whether the base is necessary, whether the planned base would be harmful to Jeju Island (called ‘an island of peace’ and a tourist destination), whether the planned base will heighten military tension in N.E. Asia, whether the national government should beat down local opposition, and whether the construction will destroy irreplaceable environmental treasure. Several Jesuits have been arrested several times for bodily hindering construction work. Brother John Do-hyun Park, S.J. has lived in the village for more than 5 months accompanying the villagers in their opposition to the base.” He was arrested on March 14 and will be held for investigation and trial. Contact John Sealey for the full report with photos. [Note: Author of the report, Fr. Park is originally from the Wisconsin Province but now transcribed to Korea]

Jesuit Conference Advocacy Focus Areas: Every four years, the Jesuit Commission for Social and International Ministries (JCSIM) surveys the USA provinces regarding the advocacy concerns for the Assistancy. This input, taken in consideration with the apostolic frontiers identified by the Society and pending final approval by the Jesuit Conference Board, helps to shape the social and international advocacy focus for the next four years. Please contact John Sealey by March 23 if you are interested in participating in this on-line survey. We hope to get a diverse and representative group of 20 Jesuits and lay colleagues from across various zones of ministry in the province.

Faith Advocates for Jobs will host a national call in 3 p.m. CST on Thursday, March 22. Call-in number is (760) 569-0111 Access code: 1085004#. The call will feature parish congregations based in OH, WI and RI who will share their successful programs and offer suggestions to create similar initiatives. Both the USCCB and Jesuit Conference participate in the work of Faith Advocates for Jobs, an interfaith coalition seeking support for the unemployed and underemployed.

UN World Water Day (March 22): To learn more, click here. You can take a few minutes to consider your own personal water use at the One Drop site. The World Health Organization estimates 2.6 billion people lack safe, reliable and affordable water for their personal and domestic use. Pope Benedict XVI: “the right to food, like the right to water, has an important place within the pursuit of other rights, beginning with the fundamental right to life” (Caritas in Veritate, n. 27).

Tags: Africa, Jesuit, Newsletter, Peace

Collaborative Ministry Lenten Prayer Site

– February 21, 2012Posted in: Featured Events, Formerly Featured Events, Upcoming Events

Collaborative Ministry Praying Lent 2012 Website

The Collaborative Ministry Office has been updated the Praying Lent website, which can be found here: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent. The new site includes daily prayers for each day of Lent, the Triduum and Easter Week, resources for preparing for Lent and experiencing it in every day life, audio retreats around Lenten themes (including three by Fr. Larry Gillick), weekly audio commentary on the Lenten readings, a Lenten arrangement of the online retreat, and Stations of the Cross in harmony with the Spiritual Exercises.

Check out the site this Lent: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent.

You may also be interested in the Creighton University Online Ministries Home Page: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html

Tags: Community, Ignatian Spirituality, Jesuit, Reflection

February Social-International Ministries Newsletter

– February 21, 2012Posted in: Featured Events, Formerly Featured Events, Upcoming Events, Wisconsin Province E-News

February 2012 E-news: Social-International Ministries

Drew Christiansen Reflects on What Iraq has Taught us about a Just War: America editor develops three lessons in this Washington Post opinion column: 1. Beware of politicians employing intelligence to persuade; 2. Those who employ the Just War need to have the courage of their convictions and condemn a war as unjust when this becomes evident; 3. The Iraq War has created a new category for the Just War vocabulary (post-war justice).

Jesuit College attacked in Karnataka (South-Central India): Headlines (dispatched by Jesuit Social Justice and Ecology Secretary) and other outlets report that on January 27 an attack took place at St. Joseph College in Anekal, 40 km south of Bangalore. The reason given for the assault was the alleged failure to display the Indian flag during the National Holiday celebrations. Hindu fundamentalists attacked the campus in full view of the police. Jesuit Rector Melvin Medonca was taken into custody for nine hours by the police who hoped this could help disperse the mob. Students and faculty from the school, who tried to defend the rector, were beaten. St. Joseph has been in existence for over 40 years, and since 2010, it has been welcoming students from the poorer sections of society. Currently, there are 378 students in the Institute and of this number 220 are Dalits (low-Caste) and 60 are from Tribal groups. According to Melvin, Hindu extremists stormed the university not because of the flag issue (which was unfounded) but to prevent Dalits and Tribals from being educated, which seems to have precipitated eight campus attacks by the fundamentalists in the past year. In 2010, a Jesuit was stabbed while returning from a nearby village. Many of the Kohima Jesuits (“twinned” with Wisconsin since 2002) are initially from the Karnataka province which initiated the Kohima Region in the early 1970’s. Acting Regional Superior for Kohima Gregory Coelho wrote, “I know the men at Anekal, they are good friends of ours. Anekal is a strong base of Hindu fundamentalists and they definitely would not want us to work for the Dalits and other under-privileged groups. But I am sure our men will continue their committed work despite these attacks.” Click here for additional news and the South Asia Jesuit Social apostolate site will post ongoing and related news.

Computers For Africa Prepares Last Shipment: On January 12, Ignatian Associate Ruth Leacock wrote to friends of the Omaha-based non-profit, “It is with a mixture of peace, gratitude, and sadness we connect once again, to thank you for your amazing support and to let you know 2012 will be the final year of service for Computers for Africa. In the next 12 months we will be very busy providing computer labs and crucial follow-up services for our final beneficiaries – 17 more schools (8,500 more people) in rural Kenya. Then the season for ‘planting’ the seeds of technology will come to an end. But the harvest of all that has been sown will go foward for decades.” Reasons for this decision by the CFA board include: Many non-profits today provide used computers to rural African schools while in 2002 CFA stood alone; the rapidly changing field of technology makes it difficult to predict what devices might soon replace traditional computers and monitors; the inability to replace co-founders Ruth and Tim Leacock (full-time volunteers) with a funded leadership position. To date CFA has refurbished and shipped 2,882 PCs to 170 Communities serving 88,500 students and staff. All are invited to a final CFA event to be held on March 10, 2012. Visit website for more information. The province is grateful to all CFA stakeholders and we particularly note the early visionaries including Jim Strzok and Tim and Ruth Leacock for their creative leadership and boundless generosity to this enterprise.

Clashes in South Sudan: Click for January 18 Statement by Sudan Council of Churches (including Catholic Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro in Juba) and also BBC Analysis.

Immigration News and Opportunities: Understanding Compassion is a USCCB Webinar on Immigration to be held on February 23 at 3pmCT. The 1 hour presentation will summarize key learning from the national USCCB immigration conference held last month. Free and open to all, click here to register. Q&A with makers of an acclaimed documentary on US immigration debate by the Migration Policy Institute, a reliable non-partisan source. Click here. (Feb 15, 2012) Eleven men who claimed immigration agents violated their rights in 2007 raids on their New Haven neighborhood have won a $350,000 settlement from the U.S. government, which also agreed to halt deportation proceedings against the plaintiffs. Story here Reap What You Sow is the title of a public radio piece exposing the human costs of Alabama’s new anti-immigration law (HB 56) which attempts to enact “attrition through enforcement” otherwise known as self-deportation, a strategy to make life so difficult for immigrants they will choose to leave the country.

Sisters Shine Spotlight on Human Trafficking During Super Bowl: A group of 11 orders of Catholic women religious in Indiana and Michigan collaborated with state and local officials to curb human trafficking during Super Bowl festivities in Indianapolis. Click here for story, which may be of interest to other destination cities for sports/conventions.

“11 X 15” Campaign has been launched by WISDOM, the congregation based organizing network (Wisconsin statewide). Goal is to eliminate 11,000 prison beds (half the current number) by 2015. The campaign challenges policy makers, professionals and leaders at every level to look at the evidence provided by current best practices and make decisions based on the health and safety of all residents. Up to 80% of those currently incarcerated are nonviolent offenders and have mental health and addiction problems. Proponents maintain such prisoners should receive treatment and be returned to their families, jobs, and communities, thus creating a safer, healthier and more just state which would also save billions of dollars in the Corrections budget. Gatherings of religious leaders to kick off this campaign will take place throughout the state on February 20-21. Click here to learn more.

40: The Series: The Chicago-Detroit province has partnered with Loyola Press and Loyola Productions to develop an on-line video series called “40” which runs through Lent (14 episodes/2per week/4-7 minutes each). This “post-apocalyptic drama” begins Ash Wednesday with seven strangers who appear to be the only survivors of a mysterious event that has left Los Angeles devoid of people. From there the story unfolds through Lent. Each episode acts as a Lenten allegory and is accompanied by reflection questions that help viewers make connections between the story line, scriptural references, and the meaning of Lent. New episodes run on Mondays and Wednesdays and past episodes can be easily found on the website and YouTube Channel. Click here to go directly to the Resources Page, where you’ll find information, instructions and links. Feel free to share this with others who might be interested.

Lenten Blessings to all,
John Sealey

Tags: Africa, Economic Justice, Jesuit, Newsletter, Peace

CCSJ Posters from “All Things Ignatian”

– February 14, 2012Posted in: Featured Events, Formerly Featured Events, Uncategorized, Upcoming Events

On February 2nd, the Center for Service and Justice participated in the “All Things Ignatian” poster presentation. You can find all of the 2012 posters presented here: http://www.creighton.edu/allthingsignatian/

This poster presentation seeks concrete examples of innovative programs and projects that draw upon and manifest Ignatian values in action. 89 posters presented by faculty, staff, administrators, and students brought others to learn, celebrate, congratulate, and be stimulated to think about other creative efforts to implement Creighton’s Jesuit mission. Creighton values celebrated included Magis, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, Cura Personalis, Men and Women for and with Others, Unity of Mind and Heart, Academic Excellence, Unwavering Faith, Compassionate Patient Care, and Service to Others.

CCSJ Ignatian Advocacy Team Poster: www.creighton.edu/fileadmin/user/AllThingsIgnatian/Posters2012/72%20CCSJ%20IAT%20All%20Things%20Ignatian%20poster.pdf

CCSJ Ignatian Advocacy & Service Trips Poster: www.creighton.edu/fileadmin/user/AllThingsIgnatian/Posters2012/48%20Orbik%20-%20All%20Things%20Ignatian%202012.pdf

Tags: Ignatian Spirituality, Jesuit

Ignatian Advocacy Alerts
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  30 April 2013 11:38 AM | No Comments
  Film Streams A Place at the Table runs Friday, May 3 through May 16th at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater. The film discusses food injustice-specifically food insecurity. Fifty million people in the U.S.—one in four children—don’t know where their next meal is coming from, despite...
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- Upcoming Events: Candidates Accountability Night
  29 April 2013 11:36 AM | No Comments
  Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) On Monday, May 6th at 7pm, OTOC is hosting a Candidates Accountability Night. The event will take place at Pius X Church at 6905 Blondo Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68104. Candidates for Mayor and City Council will be joining OTOC so...
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- Peace: Help save a life!
  28 April 2013 11:34 AM | No Comments
  Amnesty International Saudi Arabian national Abdullah al-Qahtani is at imminent risk of execution in Iraq. He is one of six men accused of taking part in an armed raid on a Baghdad shop in 2009. While al-Qahtani and his co-defendants “confessed” to being members of...
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- Economic Justice: Support Food Assistance Programs!
  27 April 2013 11:32 AM | No Comments
  Network Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns is a member of the Agriculture Committee, and right now he is making important decisions about how to fund important anti-hunger programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). SNAP provides monthly nutrition benefits...
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