JFI Call-In Day - Liturgy of the Hours Retreat

World Day of Peace, January 1, 2014: Last week, the Vatican released the text of "Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace," Pope Francis' first World Day of Peace Message. Here are some highlights:

• "The family is the wellspring of all fraternity, and as such it is the foundation and the first pathway to peace, since, by its vocation, it is meant to spread its love to the world around it."
• "In many parts of the world, there seems to be no end to grave offences against fundamental human rights, especially the right to life and the right to religious freedom."
• "Fraternity generates social peace because it creates a balance between freedom and justice, between personal responsibility and solidarity, between the good of individuals and the common good."
• "It is a truly pressing duty to use the earth's resources in such a way that all may be free from hunger."
• "'Love one another' ... is the good news that demands from each one a step forward, a perennial exercise of empathy, of listening to the suffering and the hopes of others, even those furthest away from me, and walking the demanding path of that love which knows how to give and spend itself freely for the good of all our brothers and sisters."

The USCCB has prepared a two-page bulletin insert. For those of you who want to read the complete text, visit the Vatican website.

National Call-In Day, Jan. 8: USCCB's Justice for Immigrants program is sponsoring another National Call-In Day on Wednesday, January 8, as part of National Migration Week (Jan. 5-11). The U.S. Bishops ask Catholics and supporters of immigrants to call their Congressional Representatives with this simple message: "Support a path to citizenship and oppose the SAFE Act." The toll free number for the National Call-In Day to Congress on Wednesday, January 8, is: 1-855-589-5698. After the recording, callers will then be prompted to enter their zip code on their telephone keypad and will be connected directly to their Representative's DC office.

Liturgy of the Hours Retreat, Jan. 24-26: The Archdiocesan Liturgy Office is sponsoring a retreat weekend to learn about the theology of the Liturgy of the Hours and the spirituality of the Psalms. Please check out the information on the Liturgy Office website if you or anyone you might know of are interested in participating.

May your Advent be filled with peace and your Christmas with joy,
Jim