Ash Wednesday Reflection: Sharing Our Oblate Cross

By Brother Tembo Michael OMI,

Oblate Sexton House of Studies - San Antonio Texas

Sunday, February 8^th, 2015, St. Bonaventure Parish in San Antonio, Texas organized a talk on Consecrated Life and two Zambian Oblate scholastics represented the Missionary Oblates; Brother Felix Nyambe OMI and Brother Michael Tembo OMI. The event had more three hundred students, First Graders to the Tenth Graders. 

Brother Felix encouraged the young people to take time and listen to their inner voice and see where God was calling them to be. He said, “The World is in need of healing. The world needs us. The world is waiting for doctors, teachers, priests, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers. You and I are God’s instrument of Joy. 

This world is hurting and needs someone to give it a smiling face. Yes! You and I are the answer to the problems our brothers and sisters are facing.  You and I have to share our joys with them. You and the entire religious men and women gathered here today must be read to make our hands dirty by reading the signs of time.”

In addition Brother Tembo OMI, asked the students to study hard and pay attention to the advice parents give them. He asked the young participants gather to share what they have with those children who don’t have what they have.

And from the audience echoed the voice: “Yes, it is our responsibility to share what we have. We have to share our toys, our clothes, food and time with those suffering.” This was from a Seventh Grader. This voice was so strong that those next to the young boy went silent.

After the talk was over, while waiting for Mass, to celebrate Year of Consecrated life, there was time to socialize with the participants. There were many questions asked to the religious present at St Bonaventure.

One young person pulled the mother and approached one of the Oblates and asked if she could hold the Oblate Cross.  This drew the attention of others who wanted to hold and kiss the Cross.

The Oblate Cross

The concerned girl asked many question regarding the Oblate Cross. I wish I had all the answer to the questions asked. I saw the tears of joy in the eyes of the young girl and others as they took turns kissing and wearing the OMI Cross. I saw how the young girl did hold the Cross with tenderness and love. I saw you her tearing, wanting to hold on to the Cross.

Of all questions asked, these have remained bothering me. She asked: “What is special about this Cross that I cannot have it also? What must I do to have this Cross in our house? Can I ask my parents to buy this Oblate Cross for me? I love this Oblate Cross? Please give it to me?"

The questions asked by the young girl calls for deep reflection on all of us. “What is special about Lent this year? What must we do to poses happiness in our lives, house and our hurting generation?

Can we ask ourselves as Oblates, does our community equip us effectively with means of evangelization? Can we use our talents and gifts and time for the betterment of others? Can we beg to have the pearl?

Like I responded to the young person, what was she was to do to have the Oblate Cross? I wish I had all the answers the many questions the hurting people are asking. But at times we have to love and live the hard questions about life.

I suppose the answer lies in sharing being, being present in the lives of those hurting through first of all, attending to their bodily needs. We are to share our being. The three pillars of Lent summarize our being: Almsgiving Prayer, and Fasting.

February 8 is International Day of Prayer & Awareness against Human Trafficking

By Mrs Mary O’Herron

Missionary Oblates JPIC Ministry

On February 8, 2015 Catholics around the world are encouraged to participate in prayer services and actions that will raise awareness about human trafficking.

Designated by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General, February 8 will now be an Annual Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human trafficking. 

This international day will focus on raising awareness and suggests praying about the violence and injustice that impact victims of human trafficking.

February 8 is also the feast day for Saint Josephine Bakhita, c. 1868–1947 who was kidnapped and sold as child into slavery in Sudan and Italy. Once freed, she became a nun and dedicated her life to sharing her testament of deliverance from slavery and comforting the poor and suffering. Pope John II declared her a Saint in 2000.

Resources:

With approximately 2 to 4 million people being trafficked within and across bor­ders each year, human trafficking has become a leading source of profits for organized crime. The overwhelming majority of those trafficked are women and children. Most are forced into sexual activity; others into forced labor.

What is Human Trafficking?

Human Trafficking involves the recruitment, trans­portation, and forceful detention of people either from one country to another, or within countries. The term ‘Human Trafficking’ is used to describe modern slavery because the term reflects the mo­bility of both victims and perpetrators. Easy mo­bility makes it easy – and cheap - to own a slave.

Threats, force and/or deception are typical. People being exploited are either unpaid or given very lit­tle payment for their work or sexual exploitation, and are not free to leave these abusive situations. Each year, there are between 600,000 and 800,000 people trafficked across borders throughout the world. There are many more trafficked within countries as well, including the many who are traf­ficked within the borders of the US.

Human Trafficking is growing rapidly, despite ef­forts by governments and organizations to con­trol it. 

There are more people in slavery than ever before in the world’s history – over 33 million. Wherever there is poverty, war, or natural disas­ters, unscrupulous people prey on the vulnerable.

Signs that someone may be a victim: See a comprehensive list visit: http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-the-signs  

If you suspect someone may be a victim of human trafficking contact your National Human Traffick­ing Resource Center hotline to report the situation.

Action:

Modern Day Slavery Supports our comfort­able lifestyles: Learn more at www.slaveryfoot­rpint.org

Breaking the Snares, a website op­posed to human trafficking created by the Sisters of the Divine Savior (Salvadoran Sisters) that has many resources - in English and Span­ish - for parishes and other groups wishing to educate and mobilize people. The easiest way to find this Parish Resource Packet is to google Breaking the Snares.

Human Trafficking Prayer

Oh God, Great Healing One, please comfort each of Your children who are hurting because of the powerful greed of those who hold them in bondage and help them become free of these hideous bonds. Please heal all the wounds and scars they bear from their horrendous treatment and lead them to healing people and places.

In addition, Dear God, move among those who hold others in bondage or in any way profit from it to change their hearts and minds so they do this no longer. Also, please enlighten those who are unwitting participants in this use of people.

St. Eugene, you loved and served the poorest of the poor, please pray for all those held captive by others and for those who hold them captive.

Amen.

Reflecting on Soweto Looting: Suffer Little Children

By Fr. Zweli Mlotshwa OMI, South Africa

Fr. Zweli OMI reflects on recent January 2015 tragic loss of lives and looting of shops owned by foreigners in Soweto, South Africa.  

Fr. Zweli is currently working in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, South Africa.

The revolution devours its children, in many a society the children are the direct victims of social upheaval and dis-functionality.  In 1976 Soweto children in South Africa went on the rampage to protest about the government system of poor education for Black children; police responded by shooting live ammunition; the youngest and first victim of the protest was one Hector Peterson, he was only 13 years old.

In the 1980s   the social and political scenario was on fire; children once again were devoured by the chaos. One child Stomie Moekesti became a symbol of the devoured children. The police detained him when he was only 12 years old. He became a member of the infamous Mandela United Football club, but he did not play soccer. Instead the group was known more as the bodyguard of Mrs. Nelson Mandela. It is this same group that is alleged to have killed him because he was accused of and suspected to be a police informant.  His little dead body was found in the open field where rubbish is dumped, he was only 4 years.

Incidence of stigma and discrimination towards people with HIV/AIDS has decreased in South Africa, but this was not always the case. Nkosi Johnson is I think a symbol of children and people who suffered discrimination. He was born with HIV 1989 when he came to the public eye around 1997, he became known as the longest surviving child born with HIV.

"Care for us and accept us — we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else — don't be afraid of us — we are all the same!"   These are the words he said responding to the stigma faced by those affected by the disease. He died in 2001,  he was only 12 years old.

The 22^nd of January 2015 will be the day when most people of Soweto will remember with shame. It was reported in the news that an informal shop owner shot and killed a 14-year-old boy who together with his friends attempted to rob him. The shop owner case is under police investigation.

The death of the child sparked a ripple effect series of violence and looting. People and especially young people responded by looting and harassing shops and informal mini marts owned by foreign nationals especially who have become the leading owners of shops in most South African townships. The whole of Soweto stood on edge as people watched children going wild looting shops and causing general mayhem.

South Africa Law enforcement are reported to have said that some people have arrested in connection with looting of foreign-owned shops in Soweto, among are Children who will appear in court. People arrested are accused of public violence and custody of stolen property after looting incidents in Soweto.

Catholic Bishops in South Africa have condemned the looting, burning of shops in Soweto and call on the people involved not to allow themselves to be incited to such destruction.

Below is the Bishops statement about Soweto:

Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)

"The Roman Catholic Bishops meeting in Pretoria condemns the looting, burning of shops and businesses in Soweto and call on the people involved not to allow themselves to be incited to such destruction.

To those who encourage and benefit from such looting we say that you are not only destroying buildings but the moral life of young people and the very name of our country. It is tragic that people have lost their lives and we extend our prayers to their families. To our brothers and sisters whose businesses and livelihoods have been destroyed we reach out to you in sincere sympathy. What has happened to you deeply disturbs us and we call on all Catholic and Christian communities and leaders to offer you all the practical help which they can muster.

We call on all parents in a special way to step in and offer guidance to their children and to all young people involved. We call upon all our faithful to offer full support, co-operation and information necessary to the police and community leaders in their defence of those who have been victimised. We assure the victims of our prayers. We want to say that this behaviour is not typical or acceptable by the majority of the Southern African people."

 Issued at Pretoria, St. John Vianney Seminary, 23rd January 2015

This reflection is not a debate of foreign nationals in the country but a lamentation of the suffering of children during social upheaval. It is important that South Africans take a step back and ask themselves, the root causes which is driving these children to act in this manner.  

These children are a symbol of how in a dysfunctional society children become the not just the collateral damage but actually become the target itself. There are children who are forced to be soldiers, carrying guns bigger than their growing shoulders, strapping bombs in their little bodies and fighting systems much bigger than them. These children continue to shame us the adults because they reveal how we continue to fail as a society, how we fail not only to protect them but actually send them to solve our adult problems.