The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) since 1914. It is always an occasion to express concern for different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for them as they face many challenges; and to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers. Mary Mother Peace and Justice Ministry has assembled ...
Fr. Ed Hays offers this meditation on what he calls the “Prayer of Napping”: A Prayer for Nap Time (or for any time when we desire to be “out-of-control” or to do “nothing-of-profit.”) Well, Lord, it’s not yet time to quit— all around me life is ...
Human Trafficking – Hiding in Plain Sight According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Social Teaching proclaims the dignity of human persons and all human life. Modern day slavery-where men, women and children are bought and sold like merchandise- inherently rejects that principle, showing absolute contempt...
Friendship can be a contemplative practice in itself. Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue (1956–2008) offers this piece on the blessings of an “anam cara” (soul friend). He adds, “Prayer is the ...
Human Trafficking – Hiding in Plain Sight In the U.S. some of the most vulnerable populations for trafficking include American Indians, Alaska Native Communities, Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender questioning individuals, individuals with...
Human Trafficking – Hiding in Plain Sight According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) 24.9 million people are victims of forced labor. Tactics used by recruiters and their associates are often the same tactics used by batterers and mirror dynamics of domestic violence. Traffickers lure their victims with false promises of economic opportunity, withholding identification, work authorization, travel documents, demanding repayment for ...
E. Reninger suggests walking meditation as a way to focus on the Divine Presence in the here and now: It’s wonderful to practice walking meditation any time that we are walking. When we're first learning the practice, however, it's best to set aside a particular time for it - say, first thing in the morning, or during your lunch break, or right before...
Human Trafficking - Hiding in Plain Sight According to the U.S. Department of State, Human Trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Human trafficking includes 1) living with the ...
Welcome, allow, surrender, and permit are all words very closely associated with contemplative practice. All of these words point to the fact that there is very little doing on our part in the practice, other than to be present to the total reality of the moment as it unfolds before us. Our “job” in contemplative practice is simply to be, in the midst of all else that is…