Talk story: Listening with an open heart

OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY

“Fraternity means to lend a helping hand.  Fraternity means respect, listening with an open heart…It is the challenge of our times.” (Pope Francis, Feb. 4, First International Day of Human Fraternity)

While many might argue that the COVID-19 pandemic is the most profound challenge in the world today, Pope Francis contends that the true “challenge of our times” is actually humanity’s struggle to build solidarity among nations, cultures and religions.

During the first-ever International Day of Human Fraternity, our Holy Father appeared in a virtual celebration to talk story about the importance of human fraternity and the need for global unity. The 40-minute online meeting organized by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity, in collaboration with the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, marked the second anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. The document was signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, on the pope’s trip to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on Feb. 4, 2019.

The text also provided the essential framework that inspired Pope Francis latest encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” in honor of St. Francis’ words describing: “Brothers and Sisters All.”

The celebration also honored Latifa Ibn Ziaten, a French-Moroccan Muslim mother, who has dedicated her life to promoting peace. The mother of five lost her son during a series of Islamist terrorist attacks in 2012. But instead of seeking vengeance, she found ways to channel her pain by starting the Imad Ibn Ziaten Youth Association for Peace, a tribute to her dead son. The organization helps support young people in poor areas, while promoting interreligious dialogue.

Pope Francis praised Ibn Ziaten’s strength for rising above her pain and loss through an open heart with words and actions that foster forgiveness and fraternity. “Only a mother knows what it is to lose a child. Through your pain, you bring yourself to say, ‘we are all brothers,’ and to sow seeds of love. Thank you for your testimony and thank you for being a mother to your son and to so many boys and girls. For being a mother of this humanity that is listening and learning from you the path of fraternity.”

The season of Lent provides an opportunity for practicing fraternity by opening our hearts and lending a hand to others in need. Through our prayer, we encounter Jesus, who is present in the face of every member of our human family. When we fast, we encounter the obstacles that stop us from fully loving God and our neighbor. When we give alms, we share what we have with others. This Lent, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl takes us to Madagascar, El Salvador and Timor-Leste where too many families face hunger and malnutrition each day. One out of 10 people worldwide doesn’t have enough to eat.

Sometimes this is caused by natural disasters like floods and droughts. Other times, families don’t have enough money to buy food. CRS helps communities find solutions to each of these problems. Farming families learn new skills and grow stronger, healthier harvests. Communities train health care workers so children can get regular check-ups and parents can learn nutritious recipes to make sure their families get a balanced diet.

Jesus calls us to help those in need. For more on how Lenten prayers, fasting and sacrificial gifts help us encounter Christ around the world, please visit crsricebowl.org.

Here in Hawaii, many efforts have emerged to help our brothers and sisters in need, especially during this pandemic. The Institute for Human Services (IHS) helps some of the most vulnerable homeless persons on Oahu. IHS is seeking food donations for their shelters for men, women, families and elders who are homeless. Hawaii’s Food Bank and the Big Island’s Food Basket are also helping hungry families hard hit by the pandemic.

For more ways to practice the fraternity that Pope Francis speaks about and Jesus demonstrated in the Gospel, please go to ihshawaii.org, hawaiifoodbank.org, hawaiifoodbasket.org, and officeforsocialministry.org.

Mahalo,

Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry

CRS Rice Bowl: Story of hope from Madagascar

“I dream that my children will stay healthy. I hope that Thorin may become a doctor or a leader in our community.” (Frankline)

Half of all children in Madagascar are undernourished. Community health workers trained by CRS use puppets to teach families about how doctor visits, hand washing and “rainbow” foods — different colored foods like tomatoes and carrots that have important vitamins and nutrients — are necessary to stay healthy.

Frankline and Labaladezy have eight children. Their youngest, Thorin, is almost a year old. While Frankline was pregnant with Thorin, she and her husband watched the puppet shows and learned new ways to support Thorin’s growth and development. When Thorin was born, his parents fed him more nutritious foods and took him to the health center for regular check-ups. Thorin is growing fast and reaching all his developmental milestones.

Frankline is happy her youngest son is doing so well and she sees the positive effects of their new rainbow diet on the rest of the family. She says, “I dream that my children will stay healthy. I hope that Thorin may become a doctor or a leader in our community.”

Every parent wants their children to reach their full potential, and CRS is helping make sure they can do just that.  For more please visit crsricebowl.org/stories-of-hope/week-2.