OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“No one can face life in isolation … Let us dream, then, as a single human family, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.” (Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fratelli Tutti,” October 2020)
Talking story online has become part of a social routine as we strive to stay connected during this pandemic. Recently, Georgetown University hosted a large Zoom webinar attracting 3,000 participants to hear a panel discussion of Pope Francis’ latest encyclical “Fratelli Tutti: On Human Fraternity and Solidarity,” which was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi.
Cardinal Michael Czerny from the Vatican’s Migrants and Refugees Section shared how the encyclical calls us to follow the example of the Good Samaritan to see, hear, and feel with all wounded “others” in our midst and on the margins, as our brothers and sisters, opening our hearts to one another and deepening our hospitality as one family caring for each other and our common home. The cardinal said this new papal letter is an inspiring pastoral application about how to live Catholic Social Teaching.
Sister Nancy Schreck, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa, is pictured in an Oct. 5, 2020, screenshot during a Zoom conference about Pope Francis’ new encyclical “Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship.” The conference was sponsored by Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. (CNS screenshot/Mark Pattison)
Franciscan Sister Nancy Schreck spoke of how “Fratelli Tutti” can help us see past the chaos and collapse around us by looking at life from the perspective of St. Francis –– who left a life of comfort to be with the outcasts, relocating the loyalty of his heart to encounter God with the vulnerable. This provides her hopeful encouragement in ministring with the rural community in Mississippi where she can see and feel with the poor. She also acknowledged Pope Francis’ call to imitate Christ in seeing and loving all as neighbors and healing divisions by building relationships with all the “others” around us, even our perceived enemies, so we can all really be one family of sisters and brothers.
Claire Giangrave, Vatican correspondent for Religion News Service, is pictured in an Oct. 5, 2020, screenshot during a Zoom conference on “Fratelli Tutti” (CNS screenshot/Mark Pattison)
Vatican correspondent Claire Giangrave admitted the encyclical is challenging because it can’t be boiled down to a juicy quote. She said it must be read thoughtfully and thoroughly in order to grasp its deeper teachings, which can help us reflect on difficult issues such as racism, migration, inequality and the relation of politics and economy, along with the need for inter-religious collaboration. She noted how Pope Francis lifts up indigenous peoples as examples to help us live together in harmony. She remarked how Pope Francis shows us it is possible to dream together of a better future and encourages all, especially young people, to together build a future which we all need.
Edith Avila Olea, former associate director of justice and peace for the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., is pictured in an Oct. 5, 2020, screenshot during a Zoom conference on “Fratelli Tutti” (CNS screenshot/Mark Pattison)
Edith Avila Olea, a young immigrant advocate in Illinois, shared her experiences as a DACA Dreamer, who came to the U.S. as a baby, growing up feeling unwelcomed by her neighbors. She said “Fratelli Tutti” helped her feel heard and understood, and assured by God’s presence. She shared how the encyclical confirmed how the pandemic is impacting many migrants who are essential yet marginalized workers, and also how communities can come together to transform shared vulnerability into solidarity, seeing each other truly as brothers and sisters in the same family.
Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, is pictured in an Oct. 5, 2020, screenshot during a Zoom conference on “Fratelli Tutti” (CNS screenshot/Mark Pattison)
Cardinal Czerny succinctly wrapped up the discussion of the Pope Francis’ encyclicals by saying his previous one, “Laudato Si,” taught us that “everything is connected” and “Fratelli Tutti” teaches us that “everyone is connected — and together these papal teachings offer all the hope that, if we see each other as brothers and sisters, we can dream and build together a world as one family caring for each other and our common home.
Sister Nancy closed the “talk story” online session with a prayer that all “relocate the loyalty of our hearts in encountering God with the vulnerable on the margins.”
To view the entire webinar, please visit the Georgetown Youtube Channel at: youtube.com/watch?v=yPXb3HrhEqo
Here at home, a compelling example of “Fratelli Tutti” is HOPE Services Hawaii, who this month is celebrating its 10th anniversary of inspiring hope and changing lives with some of the most vulnerable brothers and sisters in our midst. Since 2010, HOPE has been leading efforts to end homelessness on the Big Island, while offering support to men and women returning from prison, shelter for victims of natural disasters, social services to help young children get off the streets and developing resources to ensure everyone on the Big Island has a home and connection to their community as brothers and sisters all of One Ohana.
The community is celebrating a decade of HOPE’s growth and contributions that include the Sacred Heart Shelter for lava evacuees, Keolahou (Hawaii Island’s first Ohana Zone), and the formation of a Street Medicine program. HOPE’s future programs include more affordable housing for seniors and the soon-to-be opening of a transitional shelter called Kukuiola in Kona, as well as the addition of permanent supportive housing at Keolahou in Hilo. Please visit their website hopeserviceshawaii.org to find out more about “inspiring hope and changing lives” by serving with the vulnerable “ as brothers and sisters all” and building a future we need as One Ohana, caring for each other and our common home.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
