“Charity is certainly
greater than any rule.
Moreover, all rules
must lead to charity.”

Today marks the beginning of COP28 in Dubai. Although Pope Francis is unable to attend here’s some resources to familiarize yourself with COP28. READ MORE.

Many wonderful happenings coming over the next few weeks including the Discerning Deacons Pilgrims Reflecting on their pilgrimage, An EarthConnection webinar and opportunities to pray for all Victims of Gun Violence. READ MORE.

On Dec. 15, Senate Bill 101, one of two bills in the Ohio Legislature to end the death penalty in Ohio, had its second of four hearings. This hearing was for proponent testimony. Sister Sally Duffy and Mackenzie Doyle were in attendance. READ MORE.

The Immigrant Dignity Coalition in Cincinnati had an exciting in-person meeting on Nov. 15. There were many action opportunities both local and national to participate in. READ MORE.

Tell your Representatives to pass the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act (BFFPPA). Recently reintroduced in Congress, this piece of legislation is our best shot at slashing plastic production, holding corporate polluters accountable, and protecting frontline communities. READ MORE.

The Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns invites you to add your name to a letter addressed to world leaders at the COP28 meetings. This letter supports the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund which is to help poorer nations deal with the effects of climate change. These countries contribute to the problem very little; yet will be the ones first and most harshly affected. READ MORE.

The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Leadership Council signed a letter for the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati urging the Biden administration to designate temporary protected status for the Democratic Republic of Congo. We urge you to do the same. Read More.

As the images from Gaza continue to show the heartbreaking human cost of war. Let us continue to fast and pray for peace. Read More.

The Immigrant Dignity Coalition’s purpose is to inform, connect, and mobilize the Southwest Ohio/Northern Kentucky community to defend and protect the dignity of the immigrant and refugee community by working in partnership with one another. READ MORE.

Learn about some of the justice events happening throughout the nation. READ MORE

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on any given night in 2022, 582,500 people were experiencing homelessness—with 72 percent of adults experiencing homelessness also having children present. READ MORE

As we reckon with another 18 people lost to gun violence and another 13 people injured in Maine, may we urge our lawmakers to enact gun legislation that protects people, not the gun industry. Let us urge the ATF to close the loopholes in federal law that let people sell guns online and at gun shows without conducting background checks. READ MORE

Sign the petition: Demand an immediate ceasefire to protect all civilian life. As families in Gaza race against the clock to flee their homes, they face a literal barrier. They will not be able to cross the border into Israel or Egypt. Which means in no uncertain terms, these families cannot escape the escalating violence. READ MORE.

Did You Know? Many of the providers of programs and services for folks who are experiencing homelessness have run out of funds to help rehouse people and to provide counseling and case worker services to folks experiencing homelessness. READ MORE.

Help NETWORK continue to advocate for a just budget for essential human needs programs and ensure the protection of immigrants. Contact your House Representative by calling 888-897-9753. For a sample script, please email Mackenzie at Mackenzie.Doyle@srcharitycinti.org

“Although the Season of Creation has ended our commitment to Earth Justice has not. The train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio has showed us how damage to the earth is also damaging to humans – everything is connected. Watch this video from Beyond Plastics to see how toxic the plastics industry is to us, the earth, and other creatures. Help us and Beyond Plastics take one small step by urging the EPA to ban vinyl chloride (a toxic substance used to make plastics).”

As there was yet another racially-motivated shooting in Florida that cost three more people their lives, SC Associate Deb Rose from our Peace and Nonviolence Justice Circle is asking for our help to urge Senators Durbin and Schumer to call a vote and get Assault Weapons Ban of 2023, S.25 out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Read more.

Air Conditioning isn’t great for the Earth because the HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), the refrigerants in air conditioning, increase greenhouse gasses. Read more.

The Immigration and Human Trafficking Justice Circle and NETWORK are asking for your help with signing a letter to Congress before they finalize the budget. The only source of federal funds for communities welcoming asylum seekers is under threat in the FY24 budget, and we need individual signatures to help Congress listen. 

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

In July the #NoDeathPenaltyOH coalition launched a Virtual Training series. This five-month training series is on the fourth Tuesday of every month and will focus on key grassroots organizing skills needed for the anti-death penalty campaign. There will be two opportunities to attend each training, noon and 6 p.m.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

Death Penalty Ohio is hosting an upcoming event, entitled Day of Hope, with the purpose of demonstrating the hope that the death penalty will be abolished in Ohio. It is also a time to honor all those who have been impacted by Ohio’s death penalty.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

The following weekly Eco-Tips are provided by Susan Vogt (www.SusanVogt.net). Caring for creation transcends religions and is indeed a universal undertaking. It cannot be done alone.

Scientists from around the world are telling us that our planet is in great peril. A previous blog cited the most recent findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This report cited that “Scientists are observing changes in the Earth’s climate in every region and across the whole climate system.

In honor of S. Louise Akers, one of the founders of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) and its first director, IJPC created a fellowship program to continue her legacy of peace and justice work in our region, named the IJPC S. Louise Akers Fellowship through Mercy Volunteer Corps.

February 1 marked the beginning of Black History Month, a time of acknowledgement, of reflection, and inspiration. In a statement from the White House President Biden affirmed, “National Black History Month serves as both a celebration and a powerful reminder that Black history is American history, Black culture is American culture, and Black stories are essential to the ongoing story of America — our faults, our struggles, our progress, and our aspirations.

Every Jan. 1, Catholics are urged to reflect on the important work of building peace. To begin the New Year, let us pray the Peacemakers’ Prayer, adapted by Fr. John Dear.

Every Jan. 1, Catholics are urged to reflect on the important work of building peace. To begin the New Year, let us pray the Peacemakers’ Prayer, adapted by Fr. John Dear.

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is Dec. 21, the first day of winter and longest night of the year. It is a day to remember those who have died without stable housing, to reflect on the inhumanity of homelessness, and to call for meaningful policy changes to ensure that no life is lived or lost in homelessness.

December 2, 2021 is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as forced labor, bonded labor, involuntary domestic servitude, sex trafficking, child soldering and organ trafficking.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is Nov. 25. Globally, even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, one in three women experienced physical or sexual violence.

November is Native American Heritage Month. The month is a time to honor the contributions, achievements, sacrifices, and cultural and historical legacy of the original inhabitants and their descendants, of what is now the United States.

As many of you know, we are one of 14 congregations of women religious that make up the Sisters of Charity Federation of North America (Federation). The mission of the Federation is to continue the original values of Saints Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac and Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Starting Oct. 8 and ending Oct. 17, 2021, faith communities across Ohio are joining together to call for the abolition of the death penalty.

September 21 is the International Day of Peace (Peace Day). The United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

Celebrate the “Season of Creation” following the example of other Christian denominations and the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines.

On Aug. 19, 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the United Nations (UN) Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

July 30, 2021 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. According to the United Nations, every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims.

July 18 is Nelson Mandela International Day in recognition of the former South African president’s contribution to a culture of peace and freedom. It is a global call to action for citizens of the world to help change the world for the better and in so doing, to build a global movement for good.

Merciful Creator, as we observe Independence Day receive our prayers for our nation, our public officials and all those who dwell here.

According to the United Nations, every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. There are several categories of forcibly displaced persons.

June 12 is World Day Against Child Labor. The International Labor Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency, defines child labor as work that deprives children and adolescents of their childhood, their education or training, their potential, their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

The United Nations’ International Day for Biological Diversity is May 22. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species on Earth, including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi. It allows agricultural systems to
overcome environmental shocks, climate change and pandemics.

May 21 is World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialog and Development. The day provides an opportunity to help individuals and communities understand the value of cultural diversity and learn how to live together in harmony. It was adopted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

For many countries, “Mother Earth” is a common expression for our planet and its biosphere as the giver and sustainer of life. It reflects the interdependence that exists among all creation, human and nonhuman.

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

March is National Women’s History Month, and this year the National Women’s History Project is honoring the important roles of multicultural suffragists and voting rights activists who have shaped U.S. history. Each of these richly diverse women succeeded against great odds.

Every person is entitled to human rights without discrimination. The Catholic Church proclaims that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. …

Every year the United Nations (UN) pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group targeted violence. One-hundred eighty-nine governments participated in writing and signing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, and according to UN Women, it is the “most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights.

World Day of Social Justice is Feb. 20, 2021. The United Nations states, “We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.”

Every year the United Nations (UN) pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group targeted violence.

Keeping in mind that the Sisters of Charity made a Congregational Stand to abolish human trafficking in October 2015, and the Associates supported that Stand, consider making a personal commitment in 2021 to take action to end human trafficking.

Today, Jan. 11, is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and begins a month-long effort to raise awareness and bring an end to human trafficking. In October 2015 the Sisters of Charity made a Congregational Stand to abolish human trafficking, and the Associates supported that Stand. …

In reverence of the World Day of Peace on January 1, 2021, the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops has offered the following abbreviated prayer for us…

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is Dec. 21. It is a day to remember our sisters and brothers who have died without secure housing and to commit to work for changes in our communities so that no others will die without a home.

December 2, 2020 is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as forced labor, bonded labor, involuntary domestic servitude, sex trafficking, child soldering and organ trafficking.

Since 1981, activists have marked Nov. 25 as a day against violence toward women. This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960 of three Mirabal Sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961).

November is Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly referred to American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

Loving Creator, We ask you to bless those who are preparing to vote. Guide them as they make their decisions…

In 1945 the United Nations recognized food as not a privilege, but a right. World Food Day, Oct. 16, is a day of observance to draw attention to the plight of those who experience hunger.

Here are several scenarios you may wish to explore to ensure your vote is counted. Pass this information on to family, friends, and young people you may know.

September 21 is the International Day of Peace. The United Nations General Assembly declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. It is a day of nonviolence and ceasefire.

August 26 is Women’s Equality Day. The date was selected to commemorate the certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granting U.S. women the right to vote in 1920.

July 30, 2020 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

Do you remember the 2020 Lenten Collection for our sisters and brothers experiencing homelessness? Despite having been abruptly cut short due to COVID-19, there is a happy ending!

One year ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R.6).

June 12, 2020 is World Day Against Child Labor. The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines child labor as work that deprives children and adolescents of their childhood, their education or training, their potential, their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. …

Many of you may remember donating water filtration systems to women in countries who had no access to clean water. Water With Blessings (WWB) is the nonprofit co-founded by S. Larraine Lauter, OSU that was, and still is, responsible for this outreach. …

Mother’s Day began as a call to action to improve the lives of families through health and peace. …

The first Earth Day in 1970 is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event. Every year on April 22, citizens of the world rise up in a united call for the creativity, innovation, ambition, and bravery that we need to care for our common home. …

Creator God, Free us from the illusion of invincibility, so that we might remember our actions affect others, especially the most vulnerable. Free us from the fear of scarcity, which leads to competition and hoarding. …

To close out Women’s History Month, here is a list of several women pioneers in health care …

During the liturgical season of Lent, we are asked to focus our efforts on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving by renewing our compassion for our sisters and brothers who experience hunger, homelessness, marginalization and exploitation.

On Jan. 16, 2020, S. Katharine Pinto and Associates Patty Broughton, Irene Diesel, Jan Metz, Debbie Weber, and Rita Wesseling took a tour of Cincinnati-based Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women – a shelter for women who experience homelessness.

In the U.S., cultural heritage months strive to give communities of color the recognition they deserve. Months such as Native American Indian Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, and Irish American Heritage Month highlight the achievements they have made in the United States (U.S.) a country where they often faced, and continue to face, discrimination.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It is a powerful reminder that slavery continues to be a moral and human rights issue in the United States.

Let us pray for and with our sisters and brothers who are forced to leave their homelands and for those who welcome them into a new land.

National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is Dec. 21, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. It is a day to remember those who have died without stable housing, to reflect on the shocking inhumanity of homelessness, and to call for meaningful policy changes to ensure that no life is lived or lost in homelessness.

The Sisters of Charity (SC) have partnered with Aunt Flow, a women-founded enterprise that is committed to ensuring people have access to quality menstrual products while at work or school.

Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit. To me, this definition describes modern day slavery. I believe that people in the United States don’t realize that human trafficking is happening in our own communities. There were 443 trafficking cases in 2018 – just in Ohio.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is Nov. 25. Living free from violence is a human right, yet millions of women and girls suffer disproportionately from violence both in peace and in war, at the hands of their countries, in their homes, and their communities.

The month is a time to honor the contributions, achievements, sacrifices, and cultural and historical legacy of the original inhabitants, and their descendants, of what is now the United States.

In 2018, an estimated 11.1 percent of United States households were food insecure at least some time during the year, meaning they lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members.

Catholic Social Teaching has been articulated through a rich tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. In the first of seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching, the Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.

September 21 is the International Day of Peace (Peace Day). The United Nations General Assembly declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. It is a day of non-violence and ceasefire.

The Season of Creation is an annual celebration of prayer and action to protect creation – human and nonhuman. It is celebrated globally by Christians of all traditions.

Toward the end of August, there are two special days you might wish to observe with prayer and reflection, World Humanitarian Day and Women’s Equality Day.

There are more than 370 million self-identified indigenous and tribal peoples and ethnic minorities in some 70 countries.

July 30, 2019 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. According to the United Nations, every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims.

Merciful Creator, as we observe Independence Day receive our prayers for our nation, our public officials and all those who dwell here.

War, human rights violations, underdevelopment, climate change and natural disasters are influencing more people to leave their homes than at any time since reliable data has been collected. There are several types of forcibly displaced persons.

The International Labor Organization defines child labor as work that deprives children and adolescents of their childhood, their education or training, their potential, their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

According to the United Nations, in the last 100 years, more than 90 percent of crop varieties have disappeared from farmers’ fields.

Mother’s Day began as a call to action to improve the lives of families through health and peace.

Global trade is not inherently bad. However, it often focuses on efficiency at all costs, lower prices, and little consideration for social, economic and environmental impacts. Large-scale consolidation of power in supply chains has resulted in fewer options for consumers, farmers and workers, and unprecedented wealth controlled by few.

Human trafficking occurs every day and across the United States. Sex trafficking is a common form. In simple terms, it is modern day slavery, where people profit and control the sexual exploitation of others. There are roughly 3,000 sex trafficking cases per year. Even with that number, we should not live in fear; we just need to stay alert, aware and informed.

Equal Pay Day (Tuesday, April 2, 2019) symbolizes the approximate day the typical U.S. woman must work into the new year to make what the typical U.S. man made at the end of the previous year. because women earn less on average than men, they must work longer for the same amount of pay.