The latest news about the Maryknoll Affiliates
From February 11, 2019 Blog:
The situation in Haiti is extremely dire. We are in the 5th day of demonstrations, people are fed up with the high cost of living, the rampant corruption, and the pace of inflation. But as always, there is violence and destruction that accompany these demonstrations. Nothing has been heard from the President or other leaders in the country. Nobody has even addressed the legitimate grievances. The whole country is paralyzed, banks and other institutions are closed, shops and markets are not functioning. Supposedly this will go for the whole week and longer, until the president resigns, although that is not necessarily a solution.
This whole situation is stressing everyday people to the limit. I would like to share a letter that a first year medical student sent me yesterday. She is studying in Port au Prince and it so movingly expresses how she feels. Nothing else to be said, except that you have to live this situation to really understand. Asking for prayers!
Hello Affiliates,
Last Fall, by way of introducing myself as the new Chair of the Affiliate Board, I wrote an article sharing some of my initial thoughts about the Maryknoll Affiliates. In it I emphasized the importance of what I think are two necessary characteristics of a successful movement; connection and communication. Board members and Regional Coordinators have begun a number of initiatives to address and strengthen these. These are equally and importantly directly related to key responsibilities of the Affiliate Board. Namely:
I think anyone would agree it would be quite difficult to come close to achieving these without connection and communication, especially considering the nature and loose structure of the Affiliates. With that said, however, to be successful will require effort and commitment of both Affiliate leaders and members. It will require dialogue.
So, at this time I wish to express my personal commitment in this effort. Over the next several months, I wish to engage in an experiment of having monthly conversations with a small group of Affiliates. All Affiliates are invited to participate. If you are reading this; you are invited. These conversations will be conducted using either the Affiliate conference call number via telephone or over the internet using Zoom video conferencing. I would anticipate these conversations would be scheduled early to mid-morning EST on a Saturday to ensure that any Affiliate from anywhere in the world can connect. I would expect the conversations to be free-flowing and limited in duration to 1-1/2 hours. Again, the purpose of these conversations is just one attempt for leadership to listen to and be engaged with the wider Affiliate movement.
I think for these conversations to be manageable, effective and meaningful, they should be limited to no more than 6 participants (including myself) at a time. As this is an experiment, the first 5 interested Affiliates to respond will be asked to participate in the first conversation. Affiliates responding after the 5th one is selected will be asked to participate in the next month's conversation.
I anticipate scheduling the first conversation to be Saturday, February 23 at 8:30 a.m. EST. Announcements will be forthcoming for subsequent conversations.
So, if you are interested in participating in this experimental experience, please e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Let’s have morning coffee together!
Blessings.........Rich Lessard
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The Maryknoll Affiliate leadership is interested in creating ways for Affiliates to connect with each other and with other Maryknollers. We desire to strengthen the bonds of our Affiliate movement and to create opportunities for dialogue at all and among all levels of Affiliate membership. One such way the leadership is trying is the "Question of the Month." Each month, a "Question of the Month" will be e-mailed to all Affiliates who have their e-mail addresses on file. The purpose of these questions is twofold. The first is to provide a forum for dialogue; not only does leadership need to engage and hear from Affiliates, but it is equally important for Affiliates to engage and hear from each other as well. Secondly, we hope all (Affiliates and leadership) will be informed from these questions and their responses; information that can help each of us guide and support the Affiliate movement. The following month, responses to the previous month's question will be shared. This month, we start off with a question to get the ball rolling, but afterwards, it is our intent and hope that the "Question of the Month" used will come from individual Affiliates or Chapters. The questions are equally as important as the responses to them are. So, following the question below, you will have an opportunity to suggest another question that will be considered for a future "Question of the Month." All submissions are anonymous. However, if you wish to have your name published along with the "Question of the Month" that is used, please submit your name in the text box provided below. We look forward to and thank you for your participation in helping to make the Maryknoll Affiliate movement stronger. |
CONNECTING AFFILIATES TO STRENGTHEN OUR MOVEMENT - "QUESTION OF THE MONTH"
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"QUESTION OF THE MONTH" |
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The latest Spanish language Affiliate newsletter is available on the web: www.afiliadosmaryknoll.wixsite.com/guate/ntlh. It is always well done and, even if you don't read Spanish, you can get a general feel for what's happening within the Affiliate world of Latin America.
The Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns (MOGC) is a tremendous resource on countless levels. So many of us in Maryknoll have benefited from the breadth and depth of information available to us through MOGC. Though probably most known for its global outreach in areas of justice and peace, it also offers other resources as well like. “Encounters” and Scripture reflections. The latter are reflections written by Maryknoll missioners, Affiliates and staff that cover the readings for each Sunday and holy day from the first Sunday in Advent until the Feast of Christ the King for the three cycles of the liturgical year. Missioners share their reflections based on their experiences in Nepal, Guatemala, Tanzania, Oaxaca, to name only a few of the places where Maryknollers have served. Here is a direct link to that site: https://www.maryknollogc.org/scripture-reflections
At about five years old, the Northeast Ohio Chapter (Akron area) is among the most recent to become part of the Maryknoll Affiliate movement. It is also among the most unique.
All Chapter members have a strong sense of global justice (global vision pillar). Even before they were officially recognized as an Affiliate chapter, members would regularly travel as a group to a developing region of the world to be with the people there and, through the people of the given country, become enlightened (and impassioned) by what they had heard and seen and shared. Very often, though not exclusively, these were Maryknoll Lay Missioner Friends Across Borders (FAB) trips.
Chapter member Gerry Mullaney joined the Affiliate Board about two years ago and is a very positive, wise and gentle force within that body. Last week, Kathryn Ress was honored as Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. In her straightforward and unpretentious manner, upon receiving the award, Kathie simply said, “Well, this was an honor. The National Association of Social Workers cares about immigration!” As is her way, she put the cause and people she serves in the forefront.
CONGRATULATIONS KATHRYN & THANK YOU NORTHEAST OHIO!!
Affiliate Book Group
The Affiliate Book Group resumes April 2019! Come join us. We suggest reading and discussing ~
Choosing Peace edited by Marie Dennis (https://www.orbisbooks.com/choosing-peace.html)
Email Bob at affiliatebshort@gmail.com with your best day and time for a weekly telephone conversation, and any additional books or authors you’d like us to consider.
Thought for this day:
As you read Scripture, if you sense any negative or punitive emotions like morose delight, feelings of superiority, self-satisfaction, arrogant dualistic certitude, desire for revenge, need for victory, or a spirit of dismissal or exclusion, you must trust that this is not Jesus’ hermeneutic (science of interpreting any sacred text) at work, but your own ego still steering the ship.
As mentioned in a previous Monday Morning Update, thanks to Ginny McEvoy's efforts, a new section [THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED] has been added to the website. It is found in the blue side box under the Who Are We tab and is, in a small way, meant to remember and honor those Affiliates who have passed on to new life in recent years. It is neither intended to be a comprehensive overview nor an obituary but a statement expressed in a few sentences that speaks to the person’s commitment as a Maryknoll Affiliate. For a quick look, go to this link: https://maryknollaffiliates.org/those-who-have-passed.html
When someone does pass on from your chapter, please give that information to Bob Short so that he can include it in this section.
Thank you.
MAC 2020 – First Notice
A small, initial team – Celine Woznica (Chicago Central), Ginny McEvoy (Long Island) and Bob Short (Greater Boston) – has begun work on our next Maryknoll Affiliate Conference (MAC 2020). Soon more will join together to continue the work of creating a momentous experience in the tradition of past MACs. At this early stage, we can announce that:
For a very interesting reading just posted on the Developing Global Consciousness section on the website, click on this line: http://maryknollaffiliates.org/developing-global-consciousness.html
https://www.gofundme.com/patti-gerry-cancer-fight-fund?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_dn_cpgntopnavlarge_r&fbclid=IwAR2ObGDWRndNZvRe5xbmHhzPS15rwbCJbgV5G-1QgIe46GKtPe4DvHymCMs
Ken Eppes, of the Dallas/Forth Worth Chapter and Regional Coordinator for the South Central Region sent out an email inviting all interested to the Texas Mission Council annual event in beautiful San Antonio. Note that acclaimed author, Ronald Rolheiser will be the featured speaker.
Fellow Missioners,
If it weren’t for the last minute, no one would register for the Texas Mission Conference. Well, friends, the last minute is here. Registration closes absolutely at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28.
The time to register is now!
The conference is February 1-3, at the Oblate Renewal Center in San Antonio. So, don’t miss Ron Rolheiser and a roster of dynamic speakers on front-burner issues, such as Immigration and Reconciliation.
For further information and to register, see http://www.txmissioncouncil.
If you have questions, give me a call at 214.686.4454. I look forward to seeing y’all.
Blessings,
Ken Eppes, Chair
Kitty Madden, Affiliate in Nicaragua, sent the message below taken from The Revolutionary Love Project. Kitty saw it as a very indicated message for this Christmas season.
The government shuts down upon threats of a wall. A child dies in the custody of U.S. officials at the border. The President orders sudden troop withdrawals that provoke global instability. All this took place in the last week alone.
Some may see the holidays as a time to retreat from the cascade of crises facing our nation and world.
We choose to see the holidays not as a time to try to escape but as an opportunity to ground ourselves in joy. Joy returns us to everything that is good and beautiful and worth fighting for. Joy gives us the energy to continue our labors to make a viable life and more just world. Joy comes when we draw our attention to the present moment -- a child's laughter, a neighbor's cookies, a lit candle. In a time such as this, joy is an act of moral resistance.Feliz Navidad