Yes to "Querida Amazonia," the Beloved Amazon
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns gratefully welcomes "Querida Amazonia," Pope Francis's Exhortation in response to the Synod on the Amazon.
Latin America
The history of Maryknoll in Latin America is rich and deep. Our commitment to the promotion of social justice and peace in the region cost several of our missioners their lives during the years of oppression, including Fr. Bill Woods, MM in Guatemala (1976), and Sisters Ita Ford, MM, Maura Clarke, MM and Carla Piete, MM in El Salvador in 1980. Some, like Fr. Miguel D’Escoto in Nicaragua, have served in public roles in support of those who live in poverty. Countless others have accompanied the Central American people in their daily struggles for survival, for social justice, for an end to the violence that destroys their communities; for new life.
Among the particular concerns of Maryknoll in Latin America are poverty, its causes and consequences; migration and refugees; health care, especially holistic care that includes good nutrition and preventative care; access to essential medicines for treatable or curable illness; HIV and AIDS; the rights and dignity of women and children; the response of authorities to the growth in gang violence; mining concessions; just trade agreements; debt cancellation; small and subsistence farming and other work accessible to people who are poor; and environmental destruction.
First Anniversary of the Death of Jakelin Caal Maquin
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns remembers Jakelin and calls on the U.S. government to end the inhumane treatment of migrants.
Just peace in Bolivia requires constructive dialogue and reconciliation
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns released the following statement on the political crisis in Bolivia on November 27, 2019.
Trump Administration’s Latest Actions on Central America Will Fuel Migration, Not Address It
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joins over 40 U.S.-based faith, human rights, foreign policy, humanitarian, immigrant rights and border-based civil society organizations in a statement to express deep concern over the Trump Administration’s latest actions on Central America including the wholesale cutoffs of assistance to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
No to State of Emergency on the Border, Yes to Human Rights
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns condemns President Trump's emergency declaration and calls on Congress to enact immigration policies that protect human rights.
Faith leaders defend right to asylum
We call on Congress to reverse the course of the Trump administration.
Maryknoll Leadership Statement on the Migrant Caravan
A call for compassion and transformation.
Maryknoll leadership statement on the ongoing "zero tolerance" and family separation crisis
As the leadership of the Maryknoll Sisters, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, we denounce the cruel and immoral “zero-tolerance” immigration policy enacted by the Trump Administration which has resulted in the separation of over 2,300 children from their parents, the criminal prosecution of anyone who crosses the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, and severe restrictions on asylum applications.
NAFTA renegotiations: Put people and creation at the center
The Trump administration announced plans to renegotiate NAFTA.
Articles, alerts, events
El Salvador votes for water over gold
After a 12-year campaign, Salvadoran lawmakers have voted to ban mining for metals. The following article was written by Pedro Cabezas, coordinator of the International Allies against Metal Mining and originally published on Inequality.org.
Urgent! Protect Haitians in the U.S.
Right now, there are approximately 58,000 Haitians in the U.S. who could be deported after July 22.
Forcing these vulnerable people to return to Haiti – a country still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010 and a massive hurricane in 2016 – would be inhumane and untenable.
U.S. border wall proposal inconsistent with interfaith values
80 faith-based organizations tell Congress: Border walls are immoral use of public funds.
World Water Day: Protect clean water
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Flávio José Rocha writes from Brazil about Pope Francis' lessons about water in Laudato Si' and how we can take action.
Latin America: Brazil-based scandal spreads
On February 16, attorneys general from 15 countries met in the capital of Brazil to exchange information related to the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht and its involvement in corruption scandals in their countries.
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Scripture reflections
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 21, 2019
Erica Olson, a returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner who lived and worked in El Salvador, writes this week's reflection.
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 7, 2019
Christine Perrier, a former Maryknoll Lay Missioner who continues to live and work in Peru, reflects on making meaningful connections in a global culture distracted by social media.
Holy Trinity Sunday
June 16, 2019
Ted Miles, Executive Director of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, reflects on the power of love to heal our broken relationships and bind us together as God created us to be.
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 26, 2019
Maryknoll Father John Spain in El Salvador reflects on the lessons we can learn from the early Church.
Fifth Sunday of Lent
April 7, 2019
This week's reflection was written by Maryknoll Father Ray Finch in 2016. Father Finch lived and worked in the Andean regions of Latin America for many years, and is currently Superior General of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 3, 2019
Kathy McNeely, a returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner who lived and worked in Guatemala, reflects on the important gifts offered by the prophets among us.
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 11, 2018
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Marilyn Kott in Brazil reflects on the lessons the Scriptures offer on experiencing and responding to anger.
All Saints’ Day
November 1, 2018
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Kathleen Bond in Brazil reflects on the saints among us on this holy day.
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 23, 2018
Phil and Kathy Dahl-Bredine, who served as Maryknoll Lay Missioners and continue to live in Mexico, reflect on the urgent need to proclaim a Gospel of peace and simplicity.
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 2, 2018
Maryknoll Sister Madeline "Maddie" Dorsey, wrote the following reflection on caring for God's goodness amid great suffering.
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 12, 2018
Jean Walsh, a returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner who served in Mexico, reflects on the relationship between humans and the natural world, what Pope Francis calls integral ecology.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 22, 2018
Returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner Dan Moriarty reflects on the importance of inclusion and encounter in our church and society.
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 15, 2018
Maryknoll Lay Missioner Heidi Cerneka, currently on mission in Kenya after many years in Brazil, reflects on Jesus' instructions to the disciples to go out in the world.
Feast of Corpus Christi
June 3, 2018
Maryknoll Father Bill Donnelly reflects on the faith of the people of Guatemala who have endured years of violence and oppression yet live in hope that justice will prevail.
Feast of the Ascension
May 13, 2018
Maryknoll Sister Melinda Roper in Panama reflects on the struggles of small farmers to survive.