hello

Greetings to each and everyone of you.


This section for English-speaking viewers –
and all those enjoying the culture –

has developed over the months and is now offering materials of all kinds:

texts, images, poems, videos, etc.

It will continue to provide you with rich contents week after week.

 

World Day of Prayer – 6 March

World_Day_of_Prayer_Logo.svgThe World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year. Through preparation and participation in the worship service, we can come to know how our sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the Biblical passages in their context. We can hear their concerns and needs and can feel ourselves in solidarity with them as we pray with and for them. In this way, it is possible to enrich our Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international, ecumenical expression.

The motto of the World Day of Prayer movement is Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action. Through our participation in the World Day of Prayer, we affirm that prayer and action are inseparable and that both have immeasurable influence on the world.

World Day of Prayer in Canada
The World Day of Prayer began in the 19th century when Christian women of Canada and the United States started to be involved in missions at home and in other parts of the world. Since 1812, women have encouraged one another to engage in personal prayer and take leadership in communal prayer within their mission auxiliaries and associations.

Source: Text: Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada  Image: Logo, World Day of PrayerCuba-cover-Art-website-257x300

World Day of Prayer takes place internationally on the first Friday of March every year. In 2016 that will be March 4th. If you can’t celebrate World Day of Prayer on the first Friday in March, choose another date that works for your community and you can celebrate in symbolic solidarity with women around the world!

The host country for WDP 2016 is Cuba. The women of Cuba call us to explore the depths of God’s love and accept the invitation to receive the realm of God as a little child (Mk. 10:13–16).

Source: Text & Image: World Day of Prayer USA

World Day of the Fight Against Sexual Exploitation – 4 March

sex exploit www.dreamstime.comEvery year since 2009, 4th March has been designated as World Day of the Fight Against Sexual Exploitation. Although there are exceptions, sexual exploitation overwhelmingly involves women and children, and it is a problem of worldwide proportions.

It has been estimated that every second of the day an average of eight women, girls and often young boys, are trapped by international criminal networks where the sole aim is to sexually exploit them, traffic them and enslave them. This process obviously robs them of their basic human rights, including their right to freedom, their dignity, their right to live where they choose and the right to control their own bodies.

Although the problem is a worldwide one, some places are more vulnerable than others. These include areas in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and some Latin American and Caribbean countries. Trafficked women from these areas are generally taken to destination countries in the so-called developed world for the purposes of prostitution. Although older teenage girls can be involved in this traffic, younger girls and boys who are involved in sexual exploitation will generally stay close to their region of origin.

UNICEF estimates that more than 3 million children worldwide are affected by prostitution and that children make up more than a third of all sex workers in Asia. (…)

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that nearly a million people are trafficked every year for purposes of sex ual exploitation. Although 98% are women and girls, this number also includes a significant number of boys and young men. The major international crimes are trafficking in drugs and weapons, but sexual trafficking follows closely behind and is now a highly lucrative international criminal industry.

According to the ILO, human trafficking for sexual exploitation makes between US$ 7 billion and $12 billion a year on the initial « sale ». However, once the victims of trafficking arrive in the destination country and are exploited, a further US$32 billion will be generated by the « industry ».

See more at: http://www.earthtimes.org/politics/world-day-fight-against-sexual-exploitation/2289/#sthash.kowtrjUw.dpuf
Source: Image: www.dreamstime.com    2nd Image: https://wcdevents.home.blog/march/worlddayoffightagainstsexualexploitation/

4th Sunday of Lent, C

In many public places, the decor of the waiting-rooms displays some works of art: it can be paintings, sculptures, framed texts, etc.
It is always interesting to look at such pieces and to look also at the titles given to these items.
More than once, I have observed that, surprisingly, the name given to the art works does not correspond to the subject matter of the exhibits. It simply does not reflect what is shown!

Strangely enough, I have the same feeling with the gospel story of this 4th Sunday of Lent (year C): the parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk.15:11-32).
To me, the title should be: The Prodigal FATHER.njchodae.net
In Jesus’ story it is not the son who is prodigal but the father!
It is indeed the father who is giving, and giving again, to his undeserving son, and forgiving him without questioning.

The attitude of someone prodigal is that of a person giving lavishly, over-abundantly, not measuring, not keeping count, piling up good things on a loved one. Such giving, giving with such profusion, some people would qualify of… extravagance!

This was the father’s way:
giving in to the son who wanted his inheritance there and then;
keeping hope that the ‘lost’ son will return one day;
watching the horizon to see if he is not on the way;
welcoming him back with deep joy;
no questioning, no checking on what happened, where the son went, how he spent the money and with whom – nothing of the sort: only a warm embrace that restores the son to his right place near the father, no matter the indignation and the recrimination of the other son.

I must admit that… I have never met such a father among the people I live with and those I meet wherever I go.
But… I can say that I have met one – the very One Jesus told us about – who gives more than can ever be expected, or hoped for…
No matter how far we have strayed, no matter how mean and selfish we have shown ourselves to be: an overwhelming welcome is given to us, day after day, after day….
I know from experience what ‘prodigality’ is – God’s own, I mean!

Source: Image: njchodae.net

Rare Diseases Day – 29 February

logo-rare-disease-dayRare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. The main objective of Rare Disease Day is to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives.

The campaign targets primarily the general public and also seeks to raise awareness amongst policy makers, public authorities, industry representatives, researchers, health professionals and anyone who has a genuine interest in rare diseases Since Rare Disease Day was first launched by EURORDIS and its Council of National Alliances in 2008, thousands of events have taken place throughout the world reaching hundreds of thousands of people and resulting in a great deal of media coverage.

The political momentum resulting from Rare Disease Day also serves advocacy purposes. It has notably contributed to the advancement of national plans and policies for rare diseases in a number of countries.

The campaign started as a European event and has progressively become a world phenomenon, with the USA joining in 2009 and participation in over 80 countries throughout the world in 2015. Hundreds of cities continue to take part in Rare Disease Day and we hope even more will join in 2016. Some countries have decided to raise rare disease awareness further, for example, Spain declared 2013 as the National Year for Rare Diseases.

Source: Text & Image: EURORDIS

3rd Sunday of Lent, C

TRAVELER DIGITAL CAMERAtraveladventures.org

  TIC, TOC, TIC, TOC……. The sound used to be familiar, the sound of the clock ticking. digital-clockNo longer so with all our silent gadgets still doing the same time, psychologytoday.comold task of… measuring time. And with the modern tempo of our busy lives, you will still hear the well-worn expressions: “Time flies”… “I didn’t have the time…” “You should be on time…” “If we have time…”

The segments of our days are often carefully planned: wake up time, departure time, meeting time, and still… we often lack the good periods of meal time, chatting time, and other important moments for our… sanity. Nowadays we are reminded that we should give ‘quality time’ to our loved ones – is there time for that?

This 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year C) has much to say about this aspect of our daily lives: TIME. In the gospel text (Lk.13:1-9) we hear Jesus tell the story of a master checking on his vineyard and telling the man looking after it to cut down a fig tree producing no fruit. The gardener replies: “Give me time…” Such a common request, is it not?

Time seems to be a commodity of which we never have enough. Perhaps it is good to ask: ‘Time for what?…’ Oh, there is always so much to do, things to buy, chores to be done, tasks to finish, people to meet, friends to call, neighbours to help, promises to fulfil, and… and… there is no time!

Ours is said to be a world where stress is always present, and the culprit is time, or more accurately the lack of it! Yet, on Ash Wednesday the apostle Paul was reminding us: (1 Cor.10:1-6,10-12) “NOW is the favourable time…” It may be that we need to learn the wisdom of the NOW, this special skill – yes, rare and precious – to live in the present moment!

In the gospel narratives, Jesus never appears to be… in a hurry. He is never heard to tell the apostles to hasten to do something. He had come to accomplish the salvation of the world – and yet… he had “all the time in the world”, as we say. Perhaps it was that… every moment carried out this salvation… Could it not be the same for all our ‘important things to do’?

Source: Images: en.wikipedia.org   traveladventures.org   psychologytoday.com

World Day of Social Justice – 20 February

social justice, fr.dreamstime.comWorld Day of Social Justice is a day recognizing the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment.Many organizations, including the UN and the International Labour Office, make statements on the importance of social justice for people. Many organizations also present plans for greater social justice by tackling poverty, social and economic exclusion and unemployment. The United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February annually, approved on 26 November 2007 and starting in 2009, as the World Day of Social Justice.

As recognized by the World Summit, social development aims at social justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and among countries and social justice, equality and equity constitute the fundamental values of all societies. To achieve “a society for all” governments made a commitment to the creation of a framework for action to promote social justice at national, regional and international levels. They also pledged to promote the equitable distribution of income and greater access to resources through equity and equality and opportunity for all. The governments recognized as well that economic growth should promote equity and social justice and that “a society for all” must be based on social justice and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.

Source: Text: Wikipedia   Image: fr.dreamstime.com

 

2nd Sunday of Lent, C

za.fotolia.com mirror b.Recently, a TV programme was speaking of a survey among a large sample of women. The findings were quite amazing. The report showed that in the group of women who had been part of the survey, every one of them, yes, every single one of them, would have liked to change something in their appearance. Given the opportunity – and the money – each woman would have wished her appearance to be different. They were not afflicted with serious birth defects, or ugly scars, or any disfiguring attribute, yet they would have liked to see themselves, and to be seen, in a different way.

fotosearch.com cosmeticsIs it any wonder that it has been published that “The revenue of the U.S. cosmetic industry is estimated to amount to about 62.46 billion U.S. dollars in 2016” (Statista, The Statistics Portal)? I had to read this more than once to let the meaning of the words sink in my mind!

Beautifying oneself, it seems that this is what everyone wants to achieve. And… this is what the gospel (Lk.9:28-36) and the text of the 2nd reading (Ph.3:20 – 4: 1) are about on this 2nd Sunday of Lent (Year C). Beautifying oneself… with a difference – the difference being that it is the Lord who will be doing the ‘beautifying’. Paul assures the Philippians – and it is valid for us as well: “The Lord Jesus Christ will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body.”

transfiguration, www.christianquotes.info

The gospel gives us a glimpse of Jesus glorious body. Our own bodies will have a share in this glory, a beauty no longer depending on meticulous operations to add this and remove that element of our appearance. Really? Really! Because the beauty will emerge from within. It will have been slowly ‘fashion’ by the Great Artist – the Spirit. We will no longer be subjected to suffering and pain, no longer submitted to beauty tips, face lifts, and the likes.

It happens that we speak words, we make statements, without much thinking. The words come to our lips without our minds giving much thought to them. This may be the case for what we say every time we recite the Creed. Sentence after sentence is pronounced, and we come to the words: “I believe in the resurrection of the body…” Do we? Absolutely? Without reservation or doubt? If so, the most wonderful beautifying is already in the making!

Source: Images: zafotolia.com   fotosearch.com   www.christianquotes.info

 

He has known something of God’s mercy…

In the prayer he wrote for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis mentions a number of people who have had a first-hand experience of God’s mercy in Jesus. Zacchaeus is one of them, as the text says: « Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus… »

In the following video, he tells us what happened…

1st Sunday of Lent, C

Looking at the gospel for this 1st Sunday of Lent, someone said :  “Oh, it’s the 1st the Sunday of Lent : it’s ‘Temptation Sunday’! ”
To which the other person in the room, without lifting his eyes from the newspaper, replied: “Well, for me its… ‘Everyday, Temptation Day’!”

Jesus_Lent_desert, www.piercedhearts.orgSarcastic? Pessimistic? Not really, rather… realistic. Is it not true that every day brings its share of… yes, temptation? 
But what is a temptation if not a test? A test of what I am, what I can do, what I can become.

The threefold temptation of Jesus is meant to illustrate this.
Was he going to choose the easy way out?
Was he going to cut corners? as we say.
Was he going to rely on himself or on God?

Our own temptations may not come in the manner which Jesus has lived his, but they will be a similar experience.
We may receive them under familiar expressions:

‘What’s the use? I’ve tried so often…’
– ‘I’ll do this tomorrow…’
– ‘I just can’t, it’s too much for me!’
– ‘It’s good enough as it is!’
– ‘If only I were another kind of person…’

This fight against the easy-going stance, the selfish attitude – this daily struggle is well known to us all.

But have you ever thought that a temptation may not always be a choice between what is good and what is bad but… a choice between the good and the best?!
It asks that we stretch ourselves to reach the most we can give, the best we can become.
Such temptations are called… inspirations! The kind of ‘temptation’ to take into consideration during this period of Lent!

An old song translates this very powerfully. It is entitled: The Impossible Dream from the 1965 Broadway musical Man of La Mancha and is also featured in the 1972 film of the same name.

To me, it provides genuine inspiration.

 

 

World Day of Children Soldiers – 12 February

Red Hand Day for Child Soldiersgdw_red_hand_day_logo

12 February every year: Raising awareness of the plight of children forced to serve as soldiers.
Red Hand Day is an annual commemoration drawing attention to the plight of children forced to serve as soldiers in wars and armed conflicts.

The Red Hand symbol has been used all over the world by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and many civil society organisations to say no to the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
The Day was initiated in 2002 when the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict came into force on 12 February.
Since then, the number of child soldiers has hardly changed – there are still 250,000 children used in wars as soldiers.

12 February has become a day for national and regional coalitions, NGOs, individuals and interested parties to hold events to highlight the issue of child soldiers.

Source: Text & Image: Think Global, The Independent Education Association