Dear Friends,

2019 marks the 400th Anniversary of Black enslavement in the United States. Please join Pax Christi USA and the Episcopal Church on August 25th to continue the long walk to freedom and the critical work of racial healing.  See details from Pax Christi below.

Blessings

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August 19, 2019

From: Pax Christi USA – Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau

Subject: Celebrate the National Day of Healing to Commemorate 400 Years of African American History and Culture

Dear Faithful Members of Pax Christi USA:

On behalf of the Pax Chisti Anti-Racism Team, we are joining with the members of the Episcopal Church on August 25 to participate in a Healing Day of National Bell Ringing.  Please read this letter from the Episcopal Church for more details and information >>>  click here. 

We are inviting you to contact your local Catholic parish asking them to toll their church bells at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, to commemorate the 400 years of African History and Culture in the US and to continue (or begin) the work of racial healing.

If, wherever we are on Aug. 25, individually or as a community, we could find a bell somewhere in our homes and walk out on our porches, patios, yards, or open a window, and ring that bell for the liberation of our brothers and sisters too long denied human dignity and human rights.

Thank you for ringing a bell for long-deserved freedom.

Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau

Interim Executive Director, Pax Christi USA

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Sisters Home Visitors of Mary supporters may also wish to read the The 1619 Project, a major initiative from The New York Times observing the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery.

Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary, rooted in our faith and in Jesus’ model, work in prayer and action to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence. 

The most recent horrendous events again reaffirm that America suffers a gun violence epidemic.  We stand with the many who grieve these tragic deaths.  We pray with the families.  And we support public policies that reduce death and injury from gun violence. 

Gun violence is a complex issue.  Many areas need to be addressed.   As a beginning, in solidarity with the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, we call on our elected leaders to promptly enact legislation that:

• bans assault weapons
• requires universal background checks for all gun sales, 
• provides funding for gun violence prevention research, and 
• makes the trafficking in weapons a federal crime.

We commend those who have worked tirelessly to prevent gun violence and we join them in their efforts to advocate for policies that promote human dignity by protecting life.

Blessings in Christ,

Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary 

Fr Don Archambault

Join us a the beautiful St John Armenian Conference Center, Southfield, MI on Sunday, October 13, 2019, for the 15th Annual SHVM fundraising gala. 

This year’s gala joyfully honors Fr. Donald Archambault, retiring Corpus Christi pastor, for his many years of dedication as pastor in the City.   Dinner, Silent Auction, Dancing and Entertainment featuring Gisele Carver.  

Proceeds from the annual fundraising gala go to support the HVM missions in Nigeria.   Early childhood formation and family live have always been an HVM focus.  With your help we hope to build a permanent Home Visitors of Mary Day Care Center and move from the small space rented the past four years Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Cathedral in Abudja.  

It’s in an area where both parents must work for a living, struggling to exist.   The HVM sisters support these families by providing a safe and loving environment for the children’s early years of development. 

If any questions, please contact Sr. Rosemarie Abate at 313-869-2160 or email homevisitors@att.net. 

National Cathedral, Washington D.C.

“As leaders of faith who believe in the sacredness of every single human being, the time for silence is over.”

Opinion: Mariann Edgar Budde, Randolph Marshall Hollerith, and Kelly Brown Douglas,

Detroit Free Press, August 1, 2019

The escalation of racialized rhetoric from the President of the United States has evoked responses from all sides of the political spectrum. On one side, African American leaders have led the way in rightfully expressing outrage. On the other, those aligned with the President seek to downplay the racial overtones of his attacks, or remain silent.

As faith leaders who serve at Washington National Cathedral ¬ the sacred space where America gathers at moments of national significance – we feel compelled to ask: After two years of President Trump’s words and actions, when will Americans have enough?

We have come to accept a level of insult and abuse in political discourse that violates each person’s sacred identity as a child of God. We have come to accept as normal a steady stream of language and accusations coming from the highest office in the land that plays to racist elements in society.

This week, President Trump crossed another threshold. Not only did he insult a leader in the fight for racial justice and equality for all persons; not only did he savage the nations from which immigrants to this country have come; but now he has condemned the residents of an entire American city. Where will he go from here?

Make no mistake about it, words matter. And, Mr. Trump’s words are dangerous.

These words are more than a “dog-whistle.” When such violent dehumanizing words come from the President of the United States, they are a clarion call, and give cover, to white supremacists who consider people of color a sub-human “infestation” in America. They serve as a call to action from those people to keep America great by ridding it of such infestation. Violent words lead to violent actions.

When does silence become complicity? What will it take for us all to say, with one voice, that we have had enough? The question is less about the president’s sense of decency, but of ours.

As leaders of faith who believe in the sacredness of every single human being, the time for silence is over. We must boldly stand witness against the bigotry, hatred, intolerance, and xenophobia that is hurled at us, especially when it comes from the highest offices of this nation. We must say that this will not be tolerated. To stay silent in the face of such rhetoric is for us to tacitly condone the violence of these words. We are compelled to take every opportunity to oppose the indecency and dehumanization that is racism, whether it comes to us through words or actions.

The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith is Dean of Washington National Cathedral. The Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas is Canon Theologian of Washington National Cathedral.

Click here to view the full original opinion article in the Detroit Free Press.