No Borders
PASSION FOR CHRIST, PASSION FOR HUMANITY
Dear Friends of NOBORDERS,
A renewed effort to confront global poverty as the key to a more peaceful world was the focus of the Holy Father's message for the World Day of Peace on January 1. This issue wishes to share important stories and resources for youth and young adult ministry, and all those concerned with ending poverty in the world. Let's make a difference in the name of Christ!
Confessions of an Anti-Poverty Activist & Mom
Two things mainly define me these days: I'm an anti-poverty activist and a
mom of two preschool kids. I'm sometimes asked how I do serious work while raising small children full-time. While it definitely makes things tricky, kids provide motivation for being visible in faith and activism. We talk about sharing and caring, but preschoolers learn best by observing. I let them see what I do and seek out charity events where they can participate, too. I don't expect them to become lobbyists. Yet I try to nurture generous hearts and hope they won't take so long to realize that their voices can change the world. Still, moments are rare and precious when I see the message getting through. They appear unexpectedly like the night I was upset about extreme dawdling at bedtime. Just as I was about to yell, they marched up with proud smiles and presented me with a sign they'd made all by themselves with their own special spelling: "BRED FORE THE
WRLD HELP PORE." With teary eyes, I thanked them and I thanked God for giving me little helpers to do His work. By
Cindy... More...
Fight Poverty and Promote Peace in the World
In response to the Holy Father's 2009 World Day of Peace call "to fight poverty to build peace," the US Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services will re-launch the Church's global anti-poverty effort on February 23 as the Catholics Confront Global Poverty initiative.
Pope Benedict XVI's Message of Peace revealed a number of important themes:
POVERTY CONTRIBUTES TO CONFLICT
POVERTY IS A THREAT TO HUMAN DIGNITY
WEALTHY NATIONS SUFFER FROM SPIRITUAL AND MORAL POVERTY
CHILDREN ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE VICTIMS
AND MORE...
Read the text of the 2009 World Day of Peace Message
Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty
Fullness in Difficult Time
Fr. Petrus Hardiyanto, SX is a young Indonesian Xaverian Missionary who was just ordained in June of 2006. He is presently serving in a small village of the Mentawai Islands, following Christ till the ends of the world. He shares:
"Oftentimes I'm asked the following question: "Why do you want to be a missionary is such an isolated area?" In fact, that was the question someone from my own town asked me during my diaconate experience in the mission station of Sikabalua in the Mentawai Islands.
Usually, I answer that since Christ has become the center of my life, as a missionary I find the fullness of my life, even during times of difficulties. I repeat, even during hard times, I have found the fulfillment of my life. A brief account of my last trip from Padang to the island of Siberut might illustrate this thought, even for me, a young missionary with many hopes."
Read more on Focus on Mission for Young Adults #52...
5 Ways You Can Help Combat Poverty
1. Take part in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development
(CCHD)'s Poverty Awareness Month in January. Visit povertyusa.org to learn about life living in poverty in the United States-and then educate others!
2. Visit the web page of the Catholics Confront Global Poverty
Campaign, a project of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services, for information about combating global poverty:
usccb.org/sdwp/globalpoverty. Visit
catholiccharitiesusa.org
to learn about the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America. More...
[Fighting Poverty to build Peace 
]
