One of the last events I participated in as Legislative Director at FAN was the June 24 Sisters Speak Out rally. Seeing so many sisters and allies from all over the country show up to DC in 100º heat, while others held parallel events all over the country, was inspirational and emotion-provoking for me. We all came together to speak and pray about issues facing our country and bills in Congress that would hurt vulnerable populations. As someone who has had a complicated relationship with her faith, I felt validated and grateful for our community seeing people with my shared faith foundation speak out on issues that I feel passionately about and am actively working on. It was a reminder that as Catholics and followers of Christ, we are called to speak out for and protect the vulnerable. It is very easy to get caught up in the ritual, tradition, and technicalities of our faith, but at our core, this is who we are. Jesus reached out to the poor and called us to care for them. Exodus 22:15 commands us that we “shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.” St. Francis said that, to God, “Praise we can give. And care for and of all God has created outside the Trinity, beginning with Jesus himself who sums up and contains all of creation in his own divine nature.” Catholic Social Teaching stems from scripture and catechism, all of which are fundamental to our faith. We, as Franciscans and people of faith, need to remember our roots and what we are called to do. To once again quote what St. Francis said near the end of his life, “I have done what is mine to do. May Christ teach you what is yours.” I want to thank each and every one of you for all of your engagement with and support throughout my year serving at FAN through the Franciscan Mission Service. I learned so much, and credit much of that learning to interacting and working with FAN’s network. Peace and all good! Eileen DeGuire Former Franciscan Action Network Legislative Director Suggested Action: Reflect on what you value from your faith, and what it calls you to do. How can you act on that call? Suggested Petitions: That we answer God’s call to protect and respect the dignity of all creation… we pray For all of those suffering in some way right now, particularly those who are in unsafe situations… we pray Prayer (from unknown author): Today, O God of all days, give me an experience of your heart. Draw me deep into your very being, into the core of your love for me, others, and the world. Give me a glimpse of others the way you see others: loving them, forgiving them, and delighting in the way they give glory to God through their very existence. Help me to discern out of that open place of deep affection so that I too might be a useful vessel of your love in the world. |
