November-December 2025
Vol. 50, No. 6. A bi-monthly newsletter on international justice and peace issues.
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Maryknoll Seminarian Joe Odundo in Chicago reflects on God’s temple. One of my favorite African theologians, John Mbiti, said in his book, African Religion and Philosophy, “Africans are notoriously religious.” This is neither an exaggeration nor a coincidence. Regardless of the religion people convert to, wherever Africans are, they carry their religiosity with them. This…
Faith Organizations Speak Out Against Deep Sea Mining
Twenty-six faith organizations tell Congress to oppose the Trump administration’s executive order to fast track deep sea mining in the open ocean outside of U.S. territorial waters, destroying habitats that have taken millions of years to form, and endangering marine life and coastal communities. Read the letter as a PDF October 30, 2025 We, the…
All Souls’ Day
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Kathy Bond reflects on God’s love for us all. “Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5) Today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans speaks to us…
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Sr. Maureen Hanahoe reflects on God’s merciful love. How do we evaluate the quality of our lives? Is it through our comparison with others and a sense of self- righteousness, or is it through the willingness to accept who we are with honesty and transparency, embracing both our strengths and limitations, knowing we are…
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Fr. Joseph Healey works with small Christian communities in Africa and online. He invited members of one such community, the St. Isidore of Seville International Online Small Christian Community, with members in Ireland, Kenya, Tanzania and the United States, to write this week’s reflection. Here is a personal witness story. I am 22-year-old Mary…
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Sarah Bueter reflects on the power of God’s grace. In this week’s readings, those explicitly on the “outside”–the Syrian, the Samaritan, the foreigner– show us that God desires healing for all, and teach us about a faith that “saves”—a surrender of the self, a disposition of humility and trust, and gratitude that…
Faith Leaders Denounce Political Violence
“Our sacred texts are clear: violence is never the answer,” say more than 100 faith leaders in statement denouncing political violence and attacks on free speech and nonprofit independence in the United States. October 1, 2025 As faith leaders, we denounce all forms of political violence. Just this year alone, our country mourned the horrific…
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Sr. Leonor Montiel reflections on God’s vision of love. The first reading and the gospel for the twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time provide us a glimpse of the reality of the people at the time. The first reading mentions violence, destruction, discord, strife and misery. The gospel describes a world of servants and masters…
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Fr. Frank Breen reflects on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Today’s gospel from Luke, about the rich man and Lazarus the poor man, is one of many passages that highlight a major thematic issue in Luke, namely the relationship between wealth and poverty. The gospels in general do not give a…
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Gabe Hurrish in South Sudan reflects on the Parable of the Unjust Steward. Today’s Sunday readings struck me right in the face. I live in South Sudan where almost everything written in the readings resonates with the current struggles of the people. The leaders of this extremely poor East African country have…
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner Kathy McNeely tells a story from Guatemala. We all have our stories. These stories are shaped by our cultural experience, by what our parents teach us and by the way we choose to respond to the world around us. While living and working in Guatemala among indigenous Qeqchi’ people the stories I…
September-October 2025
Vol. 50, No. 5. A bi-monthly newsletter on international justice and peace issues.
Stop Illegal Weapons Trafficking to Haiti
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and 95 organizations sent the following letter to the leaders of the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security asking for immediate action to stop the flow of illegal weapons from the United States to Haiti. August 26, 2025 We, the undersigned 96 organizations, are writing to express our…
Maryknoll OGC joins letter opposing U.S. military action in Latin America
On August 15, 2025, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined 36 civil social organizations in signing this letter to members of the U.S. Congress asking them to use their power to prevent the Trump administration from taking military action in Latin America. We, the undersigned good governance, veterans, immigration, human rights, protection of civilians,…
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Julie Lawler in Cambodia reflects on the need to retreat and re-center on God’s call. Today’s gospel reading leads us to reflect on and examine our priorities. What is most important? It is hard to choose between God and other commitments, but God is inviting us to choose God above all else,…
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Maryknoll Fr. John Siyumbu reflects on the gift of encountering God in new ways when experiencing racial and cultural differences. I lived in Cochabamba, Bolivia, as part of my formation and preparation for ordination to the Maryknoll missionary priesthood. Having lived with the Dazas, a wonderful host family, during my language school program, I moved…
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Who is saved? Jesus was asked if the saved will be many or a few. “You might be surprised,” Jesus responds. Don’t be too sure of yourself. There is a door in today’s gospel story; it is open for some, and closed for others. Strangely, those who are the most confident of entering the house…