Manny Hotchkiss – Finance Chair (& Elvis)

Hello, everyone! I know that I have met at least two or three hundred of you over the past 20 some years at the international Affiliate Conferences in New York, at the Regional Conferences (Seattle, San Francisco, Portland, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, New Orleans) or just traveling across the good old USA, visiting Affiliate Chapters along the way. Do I remember all your names? Probably not, but I usually will recognize your smile, and sometimes that will pop your name out to me as well. In all the years I’ve been an Affiliate, I have loved meeting you, talking with you, eating with you, and especially praying with you.

Spring weather and ongoing challenges have us anxious and on the move. Where are you going? The Albany Affiliates are helping college students process their immersion trips. The Los Angeles Affiliates march for peace and for the homeless. Many other Affiliates and Maryknollers have marched and are advocating for science, for the environment, and for action on climate change. John Moritz and the Northeast Florida Affiliates are helping many Catholics to become aware of Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’.

Bob Short and the Guatemala Affiliates remind us that our Maryknoll charism leads us to Buen Vivir and a better connection with the environment. Bob says, ”The everyday faith commitment of Maryknoll Affiliates who continue to “show up” in the way they live and speak up to confront the voices of nationalistic empire that appear to be getting louder each day” are a sign of hope.

Tell us about your challenges, your hopes, and what you’re doing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Articles in this issue: 

Widening Visions: Sharing Laudato Si’ at a Diocesan Gathering – "I feel that using the theme was a more effective way of engaging people in a non-invasive and non-threatening manner."—John Moritz 

BUEN VIVIR Through Maryknoll – "We are invited to move out of ourselves and be open to the diversity around us."—Lizbeth del Rosario Gramajo Bauer

Where Are You Going? – "Returnees from immersion trips need a forum in which to process their many experiences."—Santa Orlando

Palm Sunday Peace Parade Addresses Homelessness – 'When I was homeless, I felt that I was in a subculture and I always wanted to be a part of my community."—Dorothy Edwards

Laudato Si and Water – "As more cities around the word authorize the privatization of water, access to clean drinking water is becoming more difficult and more expensive."—Flavio Rocha

Mining Ban in El Salvador – "The government had denied mining permits to a new project; the company then sued for lost profits."

Protect Our Mother Earth – "Please post your actions and/or photos on the Maryknoll Affiliates’ Facebook page..."

Affiliates in Action – Houston – "Several members will be traveling to Guatemala in November to participate in MAC 2017."

Ralph Maughan—Persistent Affiliate – "The area they visit in Northeastern Myanmar has been one of the most problematic and dangerous parts of the country."—Janet Quillian 

From the Board and Executive Coordinator:

Abundant Generosity

From the Desk Of… 

And don't miss our Features:

A place to learn: Maryknoll Mission Institute 

Report on an author's speech: Contemplation, Asceticism, and Advocacy 

To view this issue in its print form, download the May/June 2017 PDF.

John Moritz – Northeast Florida Chapter

Since the sharing last year by Maryknoll Mission Educator Matt Rousso on “Laudato Si,” our Affiliate community in Northeast Florida has had the opportunity to reflect on what the encyclical letter of Pope Francis is teaching us and calling us to. In a local social and economic environment that is substantially sustained by the use of fossil fuels and where many people are biblical literalists, the development of ecological awareness is both delicate and challenging. 

David Schaffner – Affiliate Board Chair 

As I report on the state of Affiliate finances, I must mention your generous response to our recent appeal for Peruvian Flood Relief. In a short time, over $5,500 was contributed—thank you for your abundant generosity in support of our Peruvian Affiliate sisters and brothers who were caught up in this natural disaster of unimaginable proportions. You helped fund a team that has travelled to the Department of Ancash to assist where much of the devastation occurred. 

Here at home, our Affiliate appeal year runs from November 1 to October 31. We are responsible for our operating budget: travel, computer/technology, and office expenses. In recent years we have made or exceeded our fund raising goals, and that has allowed us to provide travel grants to Affiliates from around the world to attend MAC2017, to be hosted by the Guatemala chapter this November.

At this time, about half way into our appeal, we have received $10,000 toward our $22,000 budget goal. This is somewhat less than where we have been in recent years at this time. While I am confident that by November we will have met goal, at the same time it is important for all of us who have not already contributed what we are able to offer, to put the Affiliate appeal on our “to-do” list.

Thank you for your past and future support. Having served since 2009, this is my last report to you as Finance Committee Chair. Long-time Affiliate Manny Hotchkiss, Portland Chapter, is joining the board at our spring meeting and will assume Finance Committee Chair responsibilities. We welcome Manny and thank him for joining us.