Fr. Leo Shea spent many years as a missioner in Venezuela and more recently in Jamaica. He writes the reflection for this year’s celebration of the founding of the Maryknoll Society, on the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul.
Maggie Fogarty and her family lived as Maryknoll lay missioners in Bolivia.
Sr. Mary Reese has served the people of Tanzania for more than 50 years.
Br. Marty Shea has lived for years amongst the people of Guatemala.
Sr. Teresa Dagdag, MM recently finished her term as executive co-secretary of the Commission on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) for the Union of Superiors General in Rome. She continues to work as a JPIC promoter in Rome.
Sr. Mary Ellen Manz served as a missioner in East Africa for many years.
This week’s Middle East Notes highlights concerns about the ending yet necessity of peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, security preparations for the Pope’s visit, hate crimes and “price tag” operations, responses and reactions to the possibility of a Fatah/Hamas Palestinian government, reflections on Israel’s Independence Day, the Nakba, and other issues.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants campaign offers On Fire for Immigration Reform: A Pentecost Resource.
Sr. Genie Natividad, MM serves in Tanzania.
This week’s scripture reflection was prepared by Kathy Seib Vargas, who served as a lay missioner in Mexico.
This week’s Middle East Notes focus on responses and reactions to the unity arrangement between Fatah and Hamas, the collapse of the peace negotiations and Israel’s role in that collapse, Kerry’s use of the apartheid word in regards to Israel, implications of Israel as a “bi-national” state, objections to Netanyahu’s move to make Israel the national homeland of the Jewish people, “price tag” terrorism by Jewish settlers, and other issues.
Gerry Lee, who spent 10 years in Venezuela as a Maryknoll lay missioner, now serves as director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.
This issue of NewsNotes includes a few reflections on Africa, an update from the March 2014 election runoff in El Salvador, sobering news about China’s efforts to combat pollution, and much more.
Sam Stanton is the executive director of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners. He served as a missioner in Chile for 19 years.
This week’s Middle East Notes focus on the faltering Israeli/Palestinian negotiations, Kerry’s frustration, Israeli government obstacles, Abbas’ signing 15 UN documents, U.S. failure in using leverage to encourage fruitful negotiations, call for boycott of products from “illegal” Israeli settlements, increased settlement expansion, and the need for clear U.S. position statements on settlements, Palestinian incitement, the Jewishness of Israel, Israeli security, the terms for a peace accord, and other issues.
Deacon Steven DeMartino writes this week’s reflection on the Sunday readings.
This week’s Middle East Notes gives attention to peace negotiations in process between Israelis and Palestinians, the controversy over recognition of the “Jewish State of Israel,” the impossibility of a bi-national State of Israel, statements from the UN on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and recent UN Human Rights Council resolutions voted against by the U.S., the “Judaization” of Jerusalem and the West Bank, the use of boycotts to demand justice for the Palestinians, and other issues.
Christine Perrier is a former Maryknoll lay missioner who lives and works in Peru.
