January – February 2024

Wartime Christmas Messages from Churches in Holy Land

As war goes on, church leaders in occupied Palestinian territories share messages of hope for peace.

Voices from Gaza and the West Bank

Read the moving words of people living in Gaza and the West Bank during the Israel-Hamas war.

Sudan: Peace Talks to Resume

Two generals in Sudan began warring for control of the government in 2023, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.

Hope Away from Home in South Sudan

Three Maryknoll missioners spoke about their experiences of mission while serving international displaced people and refugees from South Sudan.

Tanzania: Maasai Land Rights Defended by EU

The European Parliament adopted a resolution urging Tanzania to immediately halt ongoing forcible evictions of Maasai pastoralists from their ancestral lands.

Guatemala: Struggle for a Peaceful Transition

President-Elect Bernardo Arévalo is scheduled to take office on Jan. 14, but a peaceful transition of power is far from guaranteed.

Haiti: Distressing Report from Rural Community

A rural community in Haiti asks U.S. groups to work to stop the flow of illegal guns into their country as they deal with spiraling gang violence and hunger.

UN: Climate Conference COP28 Confronts Fossil Fuels

Nearly every nation in the world has agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, the main driver of climate change.

UN: Plastic Elimination Treaty Stalled

A UN conference aimed at creating an International Legally Binding Instrument for plastic waste reduction was hampered by divergent views on how to reach the destination.

Nuclear Ban Week: A Call for Global Disarmament

Archbishop John Wester amplified the call for nuclear disarmament in a sermon delivered on Nuclear Ban Week at Our Savior Church, New York City.

Violence in Philippines Threatens Peace and Human Rights

A bombing of a Catholic Mass, jeopardizes plans for peace talks with the rebel groups in the region.

Church Leaders Defend Asylum

As part of negotiations over Pres. Biden’s supplemental funding request, the Senate is considering proposals that would permanently gut asylum and compromise legal immigration pathways.

U.S. Refugee Resettlement Growing Stronger

The U.S. Department of State resettled over 14 thousand refugees from October 1 to December 1, its strongest two-month showing in seven years.

Solidarity Economy: Serving the Common Good

There is a global movement to build a just and sustainable economy that prioritizes people and planet over profit.

Lenten Reflection Guide: Caring for Creation

Download the 14-page guide produced by the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.

Resources

Articles, videos, webinars, and events.