Sr Mary McGlone's reflections on this Sunday's readings

 

Image credit: waldenu.edu

Sr Mary McGlone's reflections on this Sunday's readings have a lot of encouragement and good advice for Vincentians.

Sr. McGlone starts by highlighting that, since the twelve apostles who walked with Jesus full time often seemed to have great difficulty understanding Jesus' message and putting it into practice, how much less qualified were the seventy more or less random and 'part-time' disciples have been like? Yet, with no special training or credentials, Jesus instructed them to go out and bring peace and healing to those in need. Jesus sent those seventy disciples out in utter vulnerability, without resources or support, trusting that God's power would work through them.

"Today's Liturgy of the Word dares us to be sheep among wolves, to be evangelizers in a world dying for lack of love. The wolves of our time are purveyors of the fear and hatred that spawn every type of bigotry, division, violence and lies."

The only good news that we can share authentically is sharing our personal experiences of love, hope, and possibility rooted in living Christ's message. As disciples let us know our faith deeply and live it authentically.  People are drawn to faith through attraction rather than rational proofs and arguments. The experience of God's love and reign is contagious and can't be proven, only shared. Those who are hurting and hungry, who are open and seeking, will be drawn to this experience; those who are complacent and secure will be less receptive.

Read Sr McGlone's full article in the National Catholic Reporter here.

Affordable Housing in York Region in 2024

 

Image generated by Meta AI

Affordable Housing in York Region in 2024

Chronic homelessness — defined as long-term or recurring loss of housing — more than doubled.

York Region recorded more than 2,500 people experiencing homelessness in 2024 — a 35% increase from 2023.

The wait list for subsidized housing grew 17%, reaching 18,419 households.

Only 236 households secured housing in non-profit, co-operative or Housing York properties while there are 713 new applicants on average every year.

The average wait time for a subsidized unit was 9.6 years in 2023.

Meanwhile many families have to choose between buying food or medicine or paying the rent.

Information sourced from YorkRegion.com

Indigenous History Month?

 

TRC Call to Action #59

As Indigenous History Month starts drawing to a close, let's ask ourselves what new thing did I learn about Indigenous history this month?
It's not too late to learn at least one new thing.

Do you know anything about the Catholic Church's role in colonization?
... about the history and legacy of residential schools?

Do you know why apologies to former residential school students, their families, and communities were necessary?

Do you know what a treaty is in Canada?

Do you know that the first formal treaty between the British Crown and Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island (North America) is considered to be the Two Row Wampum, established with the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy) in present-day upstate New York? This agreement dates back over 400 years.

Two Row Wampum.
Image credit: https://www.onondaganation.org/culture/wampum/two-row-wampum-belt-guswenta/

Do you know that all of us in Canada, Indigenous First Nations peoples as well as Colonial Settler descendants, are treaty people, and still bound by the subsequent treaties that were made between the British Crown and the First Nations of Turtle Island?