Speak Up! Congress is dithering as usual and your voice is needed. DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals expires soon.
Polling in the United States consistently shows that an astounding 87% of all American citizens support bi-partisan action in Congress to protect the nearly 1.8 million Dreamers, young people who were brought into the United States by their parents as children. There is no other issue in our country where such a huge majority of Americans are in agreement. The problem is that Congress, as usual, cannot get its act together. We can change that and each of us should speak up.
“Behold the Man” Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1605
We are continuing our program about the Passion of the Christ in Faith and Art at
St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Newnan. Tonight we are covering the Trial of Jesus. The presentation is at this link: The Passion of Christ in Faith and Art – Session 3
Refugees – A Syrian Man and Son in Athens, Greece / Photo Courtesy of Mikaele Sansone, CRS
Recently a good friend of mine who knows about my work with #CatholicReliefServices and #Refugees gave me a poem written by Brian Bilston. As I read it, I was shocked at first and then as I continued it was clear to me that the poem expresses the very sad dichotomy that exists in our society regarding the plight of those fleeing war and persecution and any moral obligation that we have to assist them.
I think it correctly expresses the sentiment of those who look (and read) down without compassion and fail to see or care about these families escaping war and potential death. Then the poem expresses the sentiment of those who look (and read) up, with their eyes open, with compassion and mercy, just like the Good Samaritan who came to the aid of a stranger. Perhaps as Lent begins, we should try to look (and read) upward and #ShareTheJourney with these refugees who are simply fellow human beings.
REFUGEES They have no need of our help So do not tell me These haggard faces could belong to you or me Should life have dealt a different hand We need to see them for who they really are Chancers and scroungers Layabouts and loungers With bombs up their sleeves Cut-throats and thieves They are not Welcome here We should make them Go back to where they came from They cannot Share our food Share our homes Share our countries Instead let us Build a wall to keep them out It is not okay to say These are people just like us A place should only belong to those who are born there Do not be so stupid to think that The world can be looked at another way (now read from bottom to top)
We are conducting a program about the Passion of the Christ in Faith and Art at St. Mary Magdalene in Newnan. I am doing the “faith” part and Mrs. Carol Toole is doing the “art” part. We are having fun and hopefully the attendees are learning something too!! The presentation for Session #2 is at this link: Passion of Christ in Faith and Art – Session 2.
I have just added a page to this website that contains some of the Adult Faith Formation Courses that I have taught recently. You can find it here: Adult Faith Formation. These presentations accompany the lectures and classes given at parishes and other locations. As you will see, they cover a range of topics. I have many older presentations that I have used over the past 14 years and as I clean them up, they will be posted here. Any comments, thoughts and ideas are welcome!
Join me, open your arms to Migrants and Refugees – #ShareTheJourney
On Wednesday, Pope Francis led an inspiring launch of #SharetheJourney, a global, two-year campaign in support of migrants and refugees. He opened his arms wide in a loving gesture and said, “Christ urges us to welcome our brothers and sisters with our arms truly open, ready for a sincere embrace, a loving and enveloping embrace.”
Migrants and refugees are not after our jobs, our lives or our culture. They are looking with hope toward a brighter future for their families in collaboration and with integration into their new homeland; just as my ancestors sought the same in the mid-1700’s. Their plight is little different from those in my family who fled war, persecution and economic hardship almost three hundred years ago. Continue reading “#ShareTheJourney”→
No picture today; today is all about experience. This afternoon we witnessed a total solar eclipse in the United States. The next one that spans the entire country from east to west will not happen until 2045, when I will be just a youthful 89 years old.
With my family and work I’ve been fortunate to see many of our world’s amazing wonders. I’ve seen sunsets in Alaska, the Grand Canyon, India, Europe, Asia and around the world. I’ve seen been able to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, Bermuda and the Caribbean. I’ve watched sunrises in El Salvador, the Kenyan Rift Valley, the Pacific Coast Continue reading “The Great Solar Eclipse: An Incredible Natural Show”→
Here at Pawleys Island, SC we will be in the zone of total darkness during today’s solar eclipse. Marie and I are eclipse ready. A full report from the blackout zone will follow the event!
#WorldRefugeeDay is a day of action! Through #CatholicRelief, #GlobalCitizen and other organizations, we have the confidence that we can make a difference of people who are suffering from displacement, terror and fear. Continue reading “Another #WorldRefugeeDay”→
Hats and Hooves 2017: (L to R) Marie Swope, Laurie Pope, Steve Swope, Dorothy PopeCommunities in Schools – @cisnational – is an organization that is #allinforkids. Each year our local CIS holds a fundraiser on Derby Day called Hats and Hooves. The event is a lot of fun and raises a lot of money for CIS Coweta County where I live. More importantly, their model of helping impoverished and at risk children really works. Marie and I are honored to be able to support this fine organization. We also get to serve as mentors to 2nd, 4th and 5th grade students at a local Title I school through CIS. Those kids are the highlight of our week!
If you are looking to impact young lives in a very positive way, there are great ways to do that: The Boys and Girls Club, Scouting, and Communities in Schools. They all do fantastic work. They each are a “horse you can bet on” with the confidence that the return will be far greater than your investment!
Speak Up! Congress is dithering as usual and your voice is needed. DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals expires soon.
A Deacon's View 