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A Sacred Voice is Calling: Personal Vocation and Social Conscience How do we know when we are doing what we are meant to do in life? How can we be assured that at the end of our life we will feel that we have lived it well? John Neafsey draws on his experience as both a clinical psychologist and college theology teacher to provide guidance for all those seeking their vocation, their calling in life. He leads the reader on the path of discerning their authentic calling in the midst of the competing, counterfeit voices in our culture. Weaving together spirituality and psychology and referencing a number of different religious and native traditions, he challenges the reader to listen, to discern and then to live the truth discovered. He reminds us that the call isn’t only for ourselves, but a response to the cry of the poor and suffering. In his words, “Vocation is not only about ‘me’ and my personal fulfillment, but about ‘us’ and the common good. In [Frederick] Buechner’s words, our callings are found in the places where our ‘deep gladness’ and the ‘world’s deep hunger’ meet, on the holy ground where our heart’s desire comes together with what the world needs from us.”
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Resources / Links
A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples: Worship, study and dialogue with hundreds of people of faith at the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days. Join in taking action on U.S. legislation that will welcome immigrants, protect refugees, and prevent displacement of millions. March 19-22, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Crystal City, Va., just outside Washington, D.C. For information and registration call 202-481-6942 x 225 or go to http://advocacydays.org . Walking Our Spiritual Paths: An Introduction to the Spirituality of the Cherokee People: Co-sponsored by the Catholic Committee of Appalachia (CCA) and the Appalachian Ministries Education Resource Center (AMERC), this five-day workshop will introduce participants to the spirituality of the Cherokee people. Learning about the myths, rituals, history, art, food and even a sweat lodge experience will slowly reveal the depth of Cherokee spirituality and offer participants a background to reflect on their own expression of spiritual growth. Times of prayer and theological reflection will integrate the learning with the participant’s own background. March 10-14, 2010, Cherokee, N.C. Cost is $350 for a shared room and $500 for a private room. For information and reservations contact Mary Herr at 828-497-9498 or maryherr@dnet.net .
Live a Climate-Neutral Lifestyle: “By building
clean renewable energy projects, you can reduce the amount of CO2 pollution that goes into
the air, and help slow global warming. By reducing CO2 pollution as much as you emit, you
can enjoy a Climate Cool ™ lifestyle, certified by the Climate Neutral Network,
an independent non-profit certifying organization.
“Your support will help construct Native American-owned and
operated wind farms. NativeEnergy is a Native American majority-owned company. You
don’t have to switch your utility or make a long term commitment. Just offset an
average CO2 footprint or use our online calculator and offset your own. Then be proud that
you’re certified Climate Cool. Think of it like planting trees for their CO2 benefits,
but better. You’re helping ‘plant’ a new wind farm for a share of its
CO2 benefits, and actually reducing our consumption of fossil fuels.”
To read more about how you can make a difference, go to www.nativeenergy.com/coop or
call (800) 924-6826.
San Damiano Scholars: Students working toward ordained
ministry, religious life, or lay leadership positions in the church are eligible to become
San Damiano Scholars at Marian College in Indianapolis, Ind. With generous support from
Lilly Endowment, Inc., and others, this Franciscan college provides a unique educational
experience to students. San Damiano Scholarships are open to students of any faith tradition.Any
student working toward a career in ministry or lay leadership in his or her church may
apply. Students of any faith can reap the benefits of learning to live an examined life
through the “Rebuild My Church” program at Marian College. To find out more about
the program and the remarkable future you can build there, call Marian at 1.800.772.7264
or visit them at www.marian.edu/rmc/.
Through Our Eyes: A Look at Homelessness: Students
from Mother of Mercy High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, paired up with homeless and formerly
homeless individuals and interviewed them about their experiences. The students then wrote
their own reflections on the project and added artwork and photographs. The students have
published their work in a book, Through Our Eyes. It can be purchased through the Greater
Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Call 513-421-7803, or send $12 to GCCH c/o Through
Our Eyes, 117 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
What is Fair Trade? Global Exchange’s Fair Trade
Program provides a sustainable model of international trade based on economic justice.
We offer people the opportunity to purchase beautiful, high-quality gifts, crafts, jewelry,
coffees, and chocolates from producers who were paid a fair price for their work. As an
alternative to sweatshop production, our Fair Trade Stores generate income for thousands
of artisans and their families in more than 40 countries. Visit our Fair Trade Stores where
you will find hundreds of Fair Trade gifts: Crafts; Gift Baskets; Coffee & Chocolate;
Books; Video & Audio Cassettes. Visit Online at www.globalexchange.org/store;
contact storemaster@globalexchange.org,
or call 1-800-497-1994 Ext. 237. You can place orders online, by phone or mail! The Berkeley
store is located at 2840 College Ave., 510-548-0370; the San Francisco store is at 4018
24th St., 415-648-8068.
The Education For Justice Web Site: An Exciting
New Resource to Promote Catholic Social Teaching: Thousands have used the Center
of Concern’s critically acclaimed workbooks, Catholic Social Teaching
and Human Rights and Celebrate Jubilee and Justice! The Center’s
Education for Justice Web Site continues the tradition of these quality resources, now
in an online publication format that ensures timely materials that are updated regularly
and always current. Members will have access to weekly postings, hundreds of pages of
resources and interactive materials to promote justice and peace, and online dialogue,
readings and reflections—the equivalent of several workbooks plus much more. Become
a member by going to www.educationforjustice.org.
Responsible Shopper Initiative: There is a web site, www.ResponsibleShopper.org,
where consumers can find out where some of the largest consumer product companies stand
on labor, environmental, civil and human rights issues. It also allows visitors to send
e-mail letters to these companies, letting them know how their practices cause us to patronize
or avoid them. The web site is the centerpiece of a much large consumer action campaign,
the Responsible Shopper Initiative.
Recycle, Reuse, Renew Hope for Nicaraguan Kids! Join
the Quest for Peace’s 18th Clean Your Desk Campaign (CYDC). We collect used, but still
usable and new school supplies, sports equipment, musical instruments and backpacks for
Nicaraguan students who have none. A family earning $250 a year can’t afford supplies
for several children. Parents must come up with additional salary, desks, materials, school
repairs, water and electric bills and cleaning materials for their “public” schools.
Visit the Quest web page at www.quixote.org/quest for
more information
Computer Cartridge Recycling Program: You can support
Marian College in Indianapolis, Ind., a liberal arts college sponsored by the Sisters of
St. Francis of Oldenburg, Ind., and help the environment by recycling your empty laser
and inkjet cartridges found in computer printers, fax machines, and desktop copiers. Funding
Factory is the recycler and Marian College receives points for your donations that they
can use for educational technology purposes.
There is no cost to you. Funding Factory provides free collection
kits and prepaid return shipping via UPS. The program also allows participants to recycle
old cell phones, which can be placed in the toner recycling boxes as well. For information
contact Janet Van Lone Trieschman at 317-955-6328 or janet@marian.edu or
go to www.fundingfactory.com.
To register call 888-883-8237.
Recycle Old Cell Phones: Last year Americans set
aside 40 million cellular phones. Mobile phones contain lead, mercury and other toxic chemicals
that can contaminate ground water and soil. Collective Good of Atlanta, Ga., is
a company that refurbishes mobile phones and sells them to people in developing countries
for 33-50% less than they would cost in the U.S. People can also choose to have them donated
to a charity. Contact Collective Good at 770-856-9021 or www.collectivegood.com.
Recycling Computers: If computers aren’t recycled,
the harmful chemicals they contain – notably lead and mercury - usually end up in
landfills along with the plastic and metal. Through the IBM Recycling service, PC’s,
including system units, monitors, printers and optional attachments can be shipped to IBM
for refurbishing or recycling. Refurbished units will be donated to Gifts
in Kind International (GIKI), and the donor will receive a receipt for a potential
federal tax deduction. Donors pay a fee of $29.99 for the recycling which includes shipping.
To learn more go to www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/products/pcrservice.shtml or
call 1-888-SHOP-IBM (746-7426).
Web Site Links Donors with Non-Profits: This web
site, www.ExcessAccess.com,
brings together people with unwanted items and non-profit organizations that need those
items. Donors pay a $5 annual fee for the right to post as many classified ads as they
want. Once a non-profit group claims the item on the web site, they have access to the
donor's contact information so they can arrange a pick-up. It's a win-win situation for
all involved.
Catholic
The Holy See
National Catholic Conference of Bishops (NCCB) and the
United States Catholic Conference (USCC) St. Anthony Messenger Press
Zenit: Catholic News from Rome
Environmental
Earth Ministry
Secular Franciscan Order’s Ecology Commission
USCC Environmental Project
Union of Concerned Scientists
Web of Creation
Franciscan
Franciscan Action Network (FAN)
The Franciscan Center for Social Concern at St. Bonaventure
University
Franciscan Resource Pages
Franciscans International at the United Nations (Geneva
and New York)
Order of Friars Minor (OFM) International Web Site
OFM JPIC Office in Rome
Justice
Bread for the World
Center of Concern in Washington, D.C.
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Friends Committee on National Legislation
National Right to Life Committee
Network: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Consistent Life (formerly Seamless Garment Network)
Peace
Catholic Peace Fellowship
Global Peace Services USA
The Nonviolence Web, with links to several hundred sites
with nonviolent themes
The Institute for Peace and Justice
Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service
Pax Christi USA
Pendle Hill, A Quaker Center for Study and Contemplation
1,000 Years of Peace, sponsored by St. Anthony Messenger
Press
Teaching Tolerance
Los Alamos Study Group
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Province of St. John the Baptist of the Order of Friars Minor ©2005