Universal Children’s Day

The United Nations' Universal Children's Day, established by “resolution 836(1X)” on December 14, 1954, is celebrated on November 20th each year.

On November 20, 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and on November 20, 1989, it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, Universal Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the declaration and the convention on children's rights. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, coordinates this special day devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the Charter and the welfare of the children of the world. http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/children_day/

What is the current situation on the rights of children, twenty years later?

“19 November 2009 (United Nations report)– Despite considerable progress over the past 20 years in improving the lot of the world’s children… their rights are still far from assured.” Millions of children throughout the world suffer greatly from poverty, physical and mental medical issues, malnutrition, HIV and Aids, sexual violence, lack of schooling, victims of trafficking, discrimination, child soldiers, orphaned, violence, neglect, emotional, psychological, physical and sexual abuse…

Many of these horrors are happening in “our own back yard”.

Here are a few people who are making a impact by not only raising awareness but are involved in concrete actions.

Craig Kielburger: A humanitarian, social activist and best-selling author, Craig Kielburger founded Free The Children in 1995 at the age of 12.

Emmanuel Jal: Former child soldier from Sudan “Raps in the Name of Peace”

The Mizero Troupe from Rwanda, took their name from the Kinyarwanda word meaning ‘hope’. The performers are between the ages of 10 to 15. Their goal is to raise awareness about the one million children orphaned by the genocide.

As Holy Names Sisters, our Congregation has taken a corporate stand against human trafficking and we are also members of two NGO’s: Unanima International and Development and Peace.

Who else?????????????

So many children have lost their childhood, their innocence, the awe and wonder of life around them. The following poem is very poignant.

Children Learn What They Live
by Dorothy Law Neite

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child learns to feel shame, he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,

he learns to find love in the world.

Sr. Pat O'Neill s.n.j.m.

International Day of Peace

“Peace is one of humanity’s most precious needs. It is also the United Nations’ highest calling.” (United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon)

The International Day of Peace, was established by the U.N. resolution in 1981. In 2002, September 21st was declared the permanent annual date for "commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples".

This year, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will use this important day to ask governments and citizens of the world to focus on the important issues of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.”

“International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire – personal as well as political. It is an opportunity to make peace in our own relationships. Imagine what a whole Day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind!” (taken from the United Nations website)

We are reminded of the words of Jesus: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Therefore, with the attitudes and values of Jesus, how can we be instruments of peace in our family, community, work environment, Church . . .?

Sr. Patricia O'Neill SNJM

Living Simply

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be.  Mt 6:21

In the light of the current recession and very difficult economic times:

What does living simply mean? 

How are we living the Gospel values in the choices we are making as consumers?  

How are we using water, electricity, etc?  

How do we live out of our faith each day?

I recently heard someone say that approaching life with the values and attitudes of Jesus, makes a profound impact on the choices that we make. We are challenged to “act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God”. (Micah 6:8) 

Perhaps we can learn a little from the simple approach to life of the Shakers, so aptly encompassed in the words of the song: Simple Gifts, written by Shaker Elder Joseph Brackett, Jr. in 1848.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free.

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be.

and when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.”

Sr. Pat O'Neill s.n.j.m.

Earth Day - April 22

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…

and God looked at all that was created

and saw that it was very good.” (Genesis 1:1, 31)

“The earth is at the same time mother. She is the mother of all that is natural, mother of all that is human. She is the mother of all, for contained in her are the seeds of all. The earth of humankind contains all moistness, all verdancy, all germinating power. It is in so many ways fruitful. All creation comes from it. Yet it forms not only the basic raw material for humankind but also the substance of the incarnation of God’s Son.” (Hildegard of Bingen)

Springtime is in the air, leaves budding, flowers sprouting, grasses greening, weather warming, yet lurking behind this beauty, are the horrific effects of climate change. Daily we are being challenged, to make personal changes in ways that can have a positive impact on the environment: drinking tap, not bottled water, recycling, composting, making better use of Eco Centres for getting rid of certain contaminating wastes etc.

Earth Day not only heightens our awareness of the effects of global climate changes, it encourages us to do our part in whatever ways we can.

Check out “Yahoo Green” on Google for further information

and action-taking activities.

Let us know what you are doing to make our world a better place.

Sr. Pat O'Neill, s.n.j.m.

Earth Hour – March 28, 2009

The citizens of the world were being encouraged to turn off their lights between 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 28th, as a concrete action on climate change. It is the third year for the worldwide event, which began in Sydney, Australia.

Last year, 50 million people in more than 35 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour. The goal this year was to have 1 billion people from across our planet participating in Earth Hour and using their light switches to vote for the earth!

Earth Hour is a symbolic pause to reflect on our use of fossil fuels, to think about the impact of our activities on people and ecosystems around the world, and to pledge to make a difference—as individuals, communities and nations. Last year there was a 5% decrease in energy consumption in Montreal during Earth Hour.

Did you turn the lights off in your home for Earth Hour?

Did your neighbours do so?

Last year, during Earth Hour, I went for a short walk and did not see many lights turned out and I felt disappointed. I wondered if some of those people were not home, were not aware or simply could not be bothered.

Do you see the value of turning the lights out for one hour?

Are you convinced that you can make a difference?

Sr. Pat O'Neill s.n.j.m.

Justice Each and Every day

At its sixty-second session, in November 2007, the General Assembly of the United Nations, 192 member states, voted unanimously to declare February 20th as World Day of Social Justice. The day was designated to be observed for the first time in 2009. This declaration is certainly linked to our charism which states, “a special concern for the poor and disadvantaged”, both collectively and individually.

Two streams of justice were focussed upon: standing up for human rights and government accountability.

The General Assembly acknowledged that, “The observance of the day should contribute to the further consolidation of the efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.”

Note the emphasis on a just society for all people, fair wages, access to resources for everyone. This is the social justice that the member states agreed to. What is our government doing in this area?

And where are we in all of this?

What are we doing in the face of the global crises? And what are we doing concerning the injustices in our own “back yard”? Do we daily think about the poor who are suffering? Do you know what the basic human needs are? food, water, health care, decent housing, etc. Who are the deprived?

Social justice should be in our awareness and action each and every day and not only once a year.

“Justice and peace shall embrace.”
If you want peace, work for justice.

What do you think?

Sr. Monique Thériault s.n.j.m.

Translation: Sr. Pat O'Neill s.n.j.m.

Love: a Commitment? or a Risk?"

Saint Valentine's Day offers us the opportunity to show our appreciation to those we love and care for. The celebration of this day has most certainly augmented the income of the retail industry: buying of cards, decorations, flowers, chocolates and other delectable delights, etc. as well as more expensive gifts for that special person in our lives.

While reflecting on the meaning of this day, I pondered on the meaning of love: God's unconditional love for me, my parents' love for me, my love of myself, those who love me and those I love, my consecration as an SNJM sister and so on. Indeed, it is all a mystery.

The following article speaks of relationships, friendships, personal disclosure, mutual respect and freedom. How many true, deep friendships can a person have? It is a big risk!

Without the solitude of heart, our relationships with others easily become needy and greedy, sticky and clingy, dependent, and sentimental, exploitive and parasitic, because without the solitude of heart, we cannot experience the others as different from ourselves but only as people who can be used for the fulfillment of our own, often hidden needs.

The mystery of love is that it protects and respects the aloneness of the other and creates the free space where we can convert our loneliness into a solitude that can be shared. In this solitude we can strengthen each other by mutual respect, by careful consideration of each other's individuality, by an obedient distance from each other's privacy and by a reverent understanding of the sacredness of the human heart.

In this solitude we encourage each other to enter into the silence of our inner­most being and discover there the voice that calls us beyond the limits of human togetherness to a new communion. In this solitude we can slowly become aware of a presence of him who embraces friends and lovers and offers us the freedom to love each other, “because he loved us first” (1 Jn 4:19). The Mystery of Love, “Mornings with Henri J. M. Nouwen” compiled by Evelyn Bence 1997 , Servant Publications p. 23

Sr. Pat O'Neill, SNJM

One step, one small step...

Human beings are always seeking self-realization. Relationships with others are undoubtedly necessary. It is said that, "No one is an island." The events of this past week seem to confirm these words of wisdom. What do the Week of Christian Unity and the inauguration of the new president of the United States, Barack Obama, have in common? “Nothing” say some. “Very little”, say others.

For my part, I see the manifestation of a deep desire of humans to gather and to share common emotions, high ideals, perhaps even utopia! Who has not been touched, perhaps even cried, overcome by emotion, while watching the huge crowds dancing, singing and chanting the name of Obama? Millions of people in the United States and in other countries, watching television or listening to their radio, were caught up in this history-making moment.

Who did not comprehend the immense importance of the quasi-religious swearing in of the oath of office? What spontaneous explosions of joy in counterpoint to the sacred silence while listening attentively!

Is this an example of what humanity could be at its best?

During the week of Prayer for Christian Unity, many Christian denominations around the world embraced the unifying theme, “They are united in His Hand.” (Ez 37:15-24a) Those who are gathered, place their hope in Christ and in His Word.

When will we see Christians of all denominations dancing, singing, crying, shouting and proclaiming Christ as the “One who saves”? When will we take the responsibility of working together to make the whole earth a viable place for everyone?

Sr. Monique Thériault s.n.j.m.

Traduction: Sr. Pat O'Neill s.n.j.m.