Where Faith, Ecology and Global Economy Intersect

“Deepening our understanding of the places where

faith, ecology and the global economy intersect”

January 2009

INTRODUCTION

Understanding the ways in which climate change has made us all aware of the limits of our planet’s natural resources, we will be focusing on the ways in which our faith, ecology and the global economy intersect. We are aware of resource-poor and indigenous communities and their principle of sufficiency. This world view is in sharp contrast to how the principal agents driving the global economy who allow profit and the endless pursuit of growth to blind them to the grave physical and moral consequences of ignoring resource limits and the natural processes for the regeneration of life.

We ask that you come together in a small group and follow the reflection process outlined below. You may choose to meet more than once, as we have two suggestions of videos to watch to get the discussion going. We invite you to draw on your own experience of the intersection of your faith, the ecology and the global economy.

We ask that you send us your reflections before May 1 to help shape the way we move forward with our Faith Ecology Economy Project. This year is filled with possibilities as global climate change discussions continue, as the United Nations calls a special assembly on the economy and as a new U.S. president begins to sift through climate and economic priorities.

SMALL GROUP PROCESS

1. Read allowed Luke 12: 27-34 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012:%2027-34;&version=31;)

2. Watch together EITHER:

• “The Story of Stuff” available for download at: http://www.storyofstuff.com*

• OR Chris Martenson’s “Crash Course Chapter 18: Environmental Data” available for download at: http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse/chapter-18-environmental-data**

3. Questions to consider:

• What do we feel are the most important values needed to respond to the issues raised in the video?

• Considering the issues that the video surfaced, what are the most important issues facing our community, locally and globally, today?

• Are there any real life experiences that the video brings to mind?

  
  

  Closing prayer:

LEADER: “Loving God, we come in gratitude for the gifts surrounding us. Thank you for the earth, its flowers and grasses that you cause to regenerate over and over again so that we might know beauty and be fed by your bounty. Be with us as we celebrate your gifts and examine the many ways that you care for us. Help us to embrace your great and sufficient support. Guide us as we seek to promote your will on earth.”

ALL: I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?
My help comes from God, Who made heaven and earth.

WRITTEN SUMMARY: Please take time to summarize your reflections in the comments to this blog post.

Please include:

1. The list of the most important values and issues that you raised.

2. Other experiences you know of which relate to this intersection of faith, Ecology and global economy.

3. Please also include any evaluative comments people had about participating in this process.

Thank you again for your enthusiasm and your commitment to global concerns!

Maryknoll Affiliate Midwest Region

Goals -- 2009

The following are notes from the first Maryknoll Affiliates Midwest Region Chapter Leaders meeting on Saturday, January 17, 2009. The purpose of the meeting was to define a set of steps which will result in '2009 goals and objectives for the Midwest Regional Coordinator'.

A group of MM Affiliate leaders in Midwest met on January 17, 2009 at the Maryknoll house in Hyde Park, IL, based on recommendation from Father Carl Meulemans MM. Those meeting were; Dave Rezek (chapter coordinator for Chicago West), Celine Woznica (chapter coordinator for Chicago Central), Dan Maloney (chapter coordinator for Chicago North), Father Jerry McCrain MM, Father Carl Meulemans MM, Fran Rossi and Bob Doyle. The purpose of the meeting was to define goals and objectives for the Affiliate Midwest Region in 2009.

About a week prior to this meeting, Bob asked Carl and Fran Rossi, who was a Maryknoll Sister and is now retired living in Chicago Western suburbs to work together as a team on the Midwest Region goals for 2009. Bob and Fran will meet 2 or 3 times per month and together, they will be in contact with Carl by email and conference calls at least twice per month.

The following are the first draft of goals for 2009.

Have a chapter visit and/or communicate with their ‘neighbor’ chapter[s]. Minutes of chapter meetings distributed to other chapters can be a source of new ideas for chapter actions.


Two yearly functions were envisioned for the Midwest Region.

An regional affiliate assembly of the 14 chapters in 2009 which would take place on the first weekend after Labor Day, Friday evening of September 11 to Sunday noon September 13.
A retreat in 2010 which would take place similarly the first weekend after Labor Day.

We will decide where, which chapter will host the assembly, and how it will be funded. In 2010 for the retreat we could request the services of Fr. John Sullivan and Sr. Maria Rickelmann.



To share ideas on what works for each chapter we ask chapters to submit minutes to Bob who through the MM Affiliate’s blog would share them on the web. Or we may use of the 14 chapter coordinators’ emails addresses. A copy of them was available. Periodically [once a year] there would be a summary of what the 14 chapters are doing. [Not said: is this for the affiliates in the 14 chapters, or for the board?]


Invite mission oriented resources in local area to chapter meetings. We will talk to Greg Darr, the Maryknoll Hyde Park Director about resource availability for an event in Chicago to use for a Chicago area chapters conference. For example, Catholic Relief Services had an international conference in Chicago last year. Three members from Africa volunteered to make a presentation to the Chicago Chapters and this was highly valued by the Affiliates in the Chicagoland chapters. Similarly chapters should be aware of resource people in their area to invite to chapter meetings.


Ask if a list of returned Maryknoll missioners, and their addresses by state be made available to Chapter coordinators. They could be invited to make a presentation at Affiliate meeting[s]. The personnel offices of the three entities would know the list of Maryknoll members who live in the Midwest Region. An open invitation should be extended to our returning missioners to visit when the affiliates meet. This would include Maryknoll priests, brothers, sisters and lay missioners and even retired missioners who are now living in the Midwest.

Have 'New Chapter Leader Starter Packet’ available on the Affiliate Web site for current Chapter Leaders to access and use to improve chapter meetings.



A picture of our financial obligations needs to be clarified. More attention needs to be given to making the program self-reliant.