Happy New Year!
“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord let his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord look upon you kindly
and give you peace.”
Numbers 6:24-26
January 1, 2018
51st World Day of Peace
Read Pope Francis’ message
“Migrants and Refugees: Men and Women in search of peace”
Upcoming Events
New Year’s Day Mass—11am on January 1st at the Redeemer Chapel. All are welcome!
Eucharistic Adoration –1st Friday of each month. All are welcome to make a visit to our Redeemer Chapel between 3– 5pm on January 5th.
Urban Plunge— January 8-10th we will welcome students from Notre Dame as they seek to experience and learn more about the reality of poverty in Philadelphia.
World Day of Migrants and Refugees—January 14th. Read Pope Francis’ message “Welcoming, protecting, promoting, and integrating migrants and refugees”
Redeemer Associate Gathering— January 14th. Associates meet the 2nd Thursday of each month to share in the charism, mission and core values of the Sisters of the Redeemer through times of prayer, service and celebration while maintaining their own lifestyle. Learn more
Excerpt from Pope Francis’ message for World Day of Peace
“Offering asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and victims of human trafficking an opportunity to find the peace they seek requires a strategy combining four actions: welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.
“Welcoming” calls for expanding legal pathways for entry and no longer pushing migrants and displaced people towards countries where they face persecution and violence. It also demands balancing our concerns about national security with concern for fundamental human rights.
“Protecting” has to do with our duty to recognize and defend the inviolable dignity of those who flee real dangers in search of asylum and security, and to prevent their being exploited. I think in particular of women and children who find themselves in situations that expose them to risks and abuses that can even amount to enslavement.
“Promoting” entails supporting the integral human development of migrants and refugees. Among many possible means of doing so, I would stress the importance of ensuring access to all levels of education for children and young people. This will enable them not only to cultivate and realize their potential, but also better equip them to encounter others and to foster a spirit of dialogue rather than rejection or confrontation.
“Integrating”, lastly, means allowing refugees and migrants to participate fully in the life of the society that welcomes them, as part of a process of mutual enrichment and fruitful cooperation in service of the integral human development of the local community. Saint Paul expresses it in these words: “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.” [Ephesians 2:19]
Read Pope Francis’ entire message Migrants and Refugees: Men and Women in search of peace”