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 Elephant Day – 12 August

12 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: carbon, conservation, endangered, environment, feeding patterns, planet, rain forest

Turns Out Elephants May Play a Crucial Role in Saving The Planet

Preserving populations of critically endangered forest elephants is crucial not just for the animals themselves, but to protect the carbon-sucking capacities of the environments they live in, a new study demonstrates.

The rainforest of central and west Africa, which is the second largest on Earth, could lose 6 to 9 percent of its atmospheric carbon capturing capacity if elephant communities were wiped out – further accelerating the warming of the planet.

Forest elephants play a crucial role in the carbon cycle, ‘thinning out’ the rainforest canopy by eating fast growing taller trees that capture less carbon. This creates more space and sunlight for the slower growing trees beneath which capture more carbon from the environment.

« If we lose forest elephants, we will be doing a global disservice to climate change mitigation, » says biologist Stephen Blake from Saint Louis University in Missouri.

« The importance of forest elephants for climate mitigation must be taken seriously by policy makers to generate the support needed for elephant conservation. The role of forest elephants in our global environment is too important to ignore. »

Using data from previous studies and new information collected in the field, the team analyzed nearly 200,000 records of forest elephant feeding patterns in Africa, covering more than 800 individual plant species.

The preference that elephants have for the lower carbon density trees seems to be down to the nutritional value they get from them rather than they’ve availability: they’re more palatable to the animals and easier to digest.

Source: Text: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/technology/  Story by David Nield    Image: Wikipedia

19th Sunday of Year A – 2023

11 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: 1 Kings 19:11-13, 1 Kings 19:9, Avenger, earthquake, fire, gentle breeze, negative theology, Power of God, wind

 

GOD – his name alone leads people to different reactions.
Some fear his interventions, while others deny his very existence.
But many people want to know him, and they persistently search for him.

Trying to know God is quite an experience, it is something of an adventure.
Theologians, Bible scholars, spiritual writers, all of them try to know him,
or, at least, to discover something about who he is.
Throughout history, these specialists have designed methods leading to a better comprehension.

One such method is entitled ‘negative theology’ telling us what God is not.
It is believed that knowing what God is not, we will come to perceive what, or better still, who he is.

This came to my mind as I read the 1st reading of today’s celebration  (1 Kings 19:9,11-13).

The text gives us to meet Elijah, the prophet, who has come to the mountain of Horeb to meet God.
The scene is vividly described for us to form a mental picture of what takes place.

We witness a powerful wind, an earthquake, a huge fire –
but, each time, we are told that GOD was NOT there.
Is it, perhaps, an expression of… ‘negative theology’?

Then, “a gentle whisper” (another translation speaks of: « a soft breeze ») is perceived –
this to Elijah is the revelation of God’s presence.

Different interpretations are given to this Scripture passage.
This scene may help us understand something of God’s true identity:

 

  • God is NOT the Avenger God
  • God is NOT the Destroyer
  • God is NOT the Overwhelming Force crushing all under him.

God’s Power is experienced in gentleness.
God’s Strength is expressed in forgiveness.
God’s Domination is seen in service.

We know that Jesus’ whole life was the positive and clear representation of this… ‘negative theology’ –
gentleness… forgiveness… service…
 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/19e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: Wellspring Christian Ministries

 

International Day of Indigenous Peoples – 9 August 2023

9 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: agents of change, culture, economy, education, self-determination, technology, Women, Youth

Indigenous youth as agents of change for self-determination

Violations of the rights of the world’s Indigenous Peoples have become a persistent problem, sometimes because of a historical burden from their colonization backgrounds and others because of the contrast with a constantly changing society.

In response to this problem, let’s remember every August 9 that Indigenous Peoples have the right to make their own decisions and carry them out meaningfully and culturally appropriate to them.

In this context of demand for self-determination, Indigenous youth are working as agents of change at the forefront of some of the most pressing crises facing humanity today.

For instance, Indigenous youth are harnessing cutting-edge technologies and developing new skills to offer solutions and contribute to a more sustainable, peaceful future for our people and planet.

But their future depends as well on the decisions that are made today. Their representation and participation in global efforts towards climate change mitigation, peacebuilding, and digital cooperation are crucial for the effective implementation of their rights as indigenous.

This International Day of Indigenous Peoples 2023, under the title of « Indigenous youth as agents of change for self-determination« , revindicates the role that indigenous youth must occupy in decision-making while recognizing their dedicated efforts in climate action, the search for justice for their people, and the creation of an intergenerational connection that keeps their culture, traditions, and contributions alive.

Did you know?

  • Globally, 47% of all indigenous peoples in employment have no education, compared to 17% of their non-indigenous counterparts. This gap is even wider for women.
  • More than 86% of indigenous peoples globally work in the informal economy, compared to 66% for their non-indigenous counterparts
  • Indigenous Peoples are nearly three times as likely to be living in extreme poverty compared to their non-indigenous counterparts.

 

Source: Text: https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day   Image: UN Composition with photographs by PAHO (left), Martine Perret (center) and UNICEF Ecuador-Arcos (right)

Sunday of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Year A – 2023

4 août 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: fear of God, God's compassion tenderness kindness faithfulness, God's presence, Matthew 17:1-9

 

When we experience something good, we would like this experience to last.
What we enjoy, we would want to keep on enjoying.

Today’s gospel text shows us a vivid example of this (Matthew 17:1-9).
Three of Jesus’ apostles see him transfigured, he appears glorified before them.
So, Peter says spontaneously:

“Lord, it is good for us to be here.
If you wish, I will put up three shelters –
one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

But when this experience becomes one that envelops them in God’s presence,
suddenly, the reaction of the apostles changes completely.
We are told:

“When the disciples heard this, (God speaking to them, addressing them personally)
they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.”

Amazing, is it not?
So often, we want to reach God, we try to get closer to him.
And… when he, himself, gets close to us, we are terrified!

Jesus touched the apostles. He said: “Don’t be afraid.”

The lesson we need to learn, and learn again…
NOT to be afraid of God!

Why would we perceive his presence as a threat?
Why do we interpret his closeness as something we should fear?
Long ago he has revealed himself as:

“A God of tenderness and compassion…
 rich in kindness and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6).

Tenderness, compassion, kindness, faithfulness…
We could repeat these words like a mantra… and remain ever at peace…

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/dimanche-de-la-transfiguration-du-seigneur-annee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: LiturgyTools.net

 

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons – 30 July 2023

30 juillet 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: exploitation, impunity, policy, prévention, support, survivors, trafficking, victim

THEME 2023: « Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind »

The campaign for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2023 aims to raise awareness of disturbing developments and trends identified by UNODC and calls on governments, law enforcement, public services, and civil society to assess and enhance their efforts to strengthen prevention, identify and support victims, and end impunity.

In the context of trafficking in persons, leaving people behind means

  • failing to end the exploitation of trafficking victims,
  • failing to support victim-survivors once they are free from their traffickers, and
  • leaving identifiable groups vulnerable to traffickers.

At the implementation mid-point of the 2030 Agenda and ahead of the SDG Summit 2023 this year, it is crucial to raise awareness and reinforce global commitments to eliminate trafficking in persons.

To end human trafficking, we cannot allow this crime to be met with increasing indifference and impunity. We must strengthen resilience against exploitation and the underlying socio-economic and cultural issues that are conducive to trafficking. We must sensitize everyone to the topic of human trafficking and thus push attention towards those who can make a difference in terms of changing policy and national resource management to strengthen prevention measures, improve identification of victims, increase support of survivors and end impunity.

 

Source: Text & Image: https://www.unodc.org/

17th Sunday of Year A – 2023

28 juillet 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: actions, choosing, daily lives, émotions, faith in God, keeping, réactions, Romans 8:28, sorting out, throwing away

 

Everyone would agree: our lives are filled with all kinds of things.
Actions, reactions, relations, sensations, emotions, anticipations…
Beliefs, regrets, hopes, fears, joys, memories…
Bits and pieces of experiences of all kinds!

We may see some of them as good and helpful.
Others we may judge as negative and discouraging.

Could it be that we would need to do what we see fishermen do in today’s gospel text (Matthew 13:47-48)?
These men are busy doing some sorting out – keeping and throwing away.
They choose what is good and save it, and they discard what is not.

Choices… Attachment… Detachment…

Looking closely at our daily lives, we may discover some paralyzing souvenirs.
The memory of some events overwhelms us with shame and prevents us from living with joy.
We may find out that the guilt of some past actions leads us to unhealthy reactions.

We may also be deeply sorry that we have abandoned our faith in God.
We long to turn back to him but… we hesitate… we wait… we wonder…

If this is where we find ourselves just now, we need only to remember the words of the apostle Paul in the 2nd reading:

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).
 
In all things – whatever they are, no exception, no qualification… ALL.
He can make all of our human experiences stepping-stones to get closer to him.
 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/17e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image: Scripture Images     GOD’S WORD translation

 

World Youth Day – 26 July 2023

25 juillet 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: cultural festival, faith, music dance, pilgrimage, Pope Francis, prayer, worship

“This is an opportunity for young people to celebrate their faith, meet other youth from around the world and to have a special encounter with Pope Francis,” said Isabel Correa, National Coordinator of the Canadian delegation to the World Youth Day 2023. “Over time, we have heard and seen the powerful experience that World Youth Day has been in the lives of so many Canadian youth and we expect that this year’s pilgrimage will be no different. It is a transformative and inspiring moment that they will cherish for years to come.”

Michelle Pacheco, a 26-year-old Canadian delegate from Toronto, currently works as a missionary with the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Youth Office and says that she has devoted all her preparation time to prayer. “Above all else, I have been asking people to pray for me and have also asked them how I can pray for them during my pilgrimage to World Youth Day,” she said.

“Since this is my first World Youth Day, it is difficult to say exactly what I will be able to take away from it,” said Justin Nguyen, a 28-year-old Canadian from Vancouver. “But what I do know is that it is a journey of faith – it is my first time attending WYD, my first time in Portugal and in Spain. I just hope and pray that it will be a time that allows me to focus on my relationship with God, then return home, and continue the mission that God has entrusted to me in service to my local community.”

World Youth Day is an opportunity to hear talks from leading Catholic speakers, and notably, including Bishops from every continent. In addition to catechetical sessions, there are opportunities for prayer and divine worship. A special element of World Youth Day also includes a cultural festival with music, dance, and creative expression, drawing on talented young people from around the world.

Pope Francis will spend five days in Portugal, most of them in Lisbon, where he will meet university students, enjoy lunch with young people, pray with them and preside at Mass, while also making a stop in Fatima, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the world.

Source: Text: https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/5000-canadian-youth-join-pope-francis-in-portugal-for-world-youth-day/
Image: Archeparchy of Winnipeg

 

16th Sunday of Year A – 2023

21 juillet 2023
Nicole Gregoire
Aucun commentaire
Catégories: Anglophones et anglophiles
Mots-clés: blessing, forgiving, images of God, John 3:16-17, lenience, pictures, Wisdom 12:13-19

Many of us have a collection of pictures and images.
Some people hold on to photos of past holidays with family and friends.
Others may have old cuttings from magazines about cinema stars, or athletes.
Others still may have religious pictures of different saints.

But there are other kinds of images, perhaps more precious.
They cannot be held in your hands, or stuck in a book, but they are no less real…
They are mental pictures, the images that our minds bring to us.
These representations are sometimes vividly present to us, or sometimes less so.

Among these images are the ones we have formed about… God.
Each one of us have his/her own pictures of who God is.
Over the years, these images may have changed –
some have been abandoned, others have been clarified, others are… still being sketched in us…

Today’s 1st reading from the Book of Wisdom (Wisdom 12:13-19) gives us a very beautiful picture of God.
It describes God as we should recognize him.
In the words of Solomon, we can perceive how God wants to be known to us.

“There is no god, other than you, who cares for everything…
Your sovereignty over all makes you lenient to all…
You are mild in judgement,
You govern us with great lenience…
You have given your children the good hope that after sin you will grant repentance.”

It is as if God’s greatness and power were… for our benefit!
He delights, not in showing strength, but in showering gifts on us.
His justice is expressed in blessing and forgiving.

 

This text of the Old Testament was in anticipation of what Jesus would tell us about God:

“God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost…
God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world
but so that through him the world might be saved.”    (John 3:16-17)
 
This is the true picture of God – the God of Jesus, our God…

 

Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French, at: https://image-i-nations.com/16e-dimanche-de-lannee-a-2023/

 

Source: Image (text added): pexels (Ian Turnell)