Peace & Justice Blog

Stay up to date on peace and justice issues, both locally and internationally, and learn how you can take action.


 

Dominican Month for Peace 2022

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, and Thailand. Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the country’s largest city, is home to bustling markets, numerous parks and lakes, and the towering, gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, which contains Buddhist relics and dates to the 6th century.    

CapitalNaypyidaw Population54.41 million (2020) World Bank

Click here for more information on Myanmar.

Myanmar’s people and history are a glorious mishmash of settlers and invaders from all fronts. The Mon and the Pyu peoples are thought to have come from India, while the now dominant Bamar migrated through Tibet and, by 849, had founded a powerful kingdom centered on Bagan. (Mandalay RegionThe Bagan Kingdom was the first Burmese kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern-day Burma, later renamed to Myanmar. For the next millennium, the Burmese empire grew through conquests of Thailand and India and shrank under attacks from China and internal rebellions.

TIMELINE OF BURMESE HISTORY 

500 BCE Iron working settlements

180 BCE beginning of Pyu city-states:  Between the 1st century BCE and the 9th century CE,  speakers of Tibeto-Burman languages known as the Pyu established city-kingdoms

200 CE The Pyu convert to Buddhism

832 Pyu city-states destroyed by Nanzhao (Tai kingdom/southern China)raids

849–1297 The Kingdom of Pagan was the first Burmese kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern-day Myanmar.

1277- The first Mongol (an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia) invasion followed by the Pinya Kingdom.  Other Kingdoms included Ava, Prome,Mongol, Pagan, et. al.

1385 Forty Years’ War

1527 Confederation of Shan States

1547 First Burmese invasion of Siam begins.   Siam becomes Burmese vassal until 1584

1600 Portugal ascends with Burmese Army – introduces Catholicism and attempts to

destroy Buddhism.  Civil war ensues

1619-1677 English East India Company and Dutch India Company establish their presence

1824 Start of First Anglo-Burmese War

1885 Third Anglo-Burmese War; end of Burmese monarchy.  Burma is proclaimed a British colony.

1937 Burma is separated from British India and becomes a separate colony

1941 Burma Independence Army formed with Japanese help

1945 Return of British rule

1947 Panglong Agreement:  independence from the British[

1947 Constitution guarantees the Federated Shan States

1948 Burma gains independence from the United Kingdom with U Nu as Prime Minister

1950 Insurgencies begin Burmese Army repels Nationalist Chinese invasion of Shan State (to 1961)

1960 U Nu’s party faction wins decisive victory in 1960 elections, but his promotion of Buddhism as the state religion and his tolerance of separatism angers the military.

1961 U Thant was a Burmese diplomat and the third secretary-general of the United Nations from 1961 to 1971, the first non-Scandinavian to hold the position. He held the office for a record 10 years and one month.[b]

1962 Democratically elected government of U Nu is overthrown by Ne Win, who abolishes the federal system and inaugurates “the Burmese Way to Socialism” – nationalising the economy, forming a single-party state with the BSPP as the sole political party, and banning independent newspapers.  Government guns down student protesters

Posted in News, Peace & Justice Blog

Celebrate the Season of Creation: A Prayer Service for October 2

In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2022, Pope Francis said that the sweet song of creation is today “accompanied by a cry of anguish…” and it is “our sister, mother earth, who cries out.”

For this Sunday, October 2, Associate Judy Hardy of the Eco-Justice Committee speaks of sadness, and of hope. 

The readings of this last of the Sundays of the Season of Creation are somber and full of warning.  They challenge us to look at, recognize and own our part in Earth’s anguish: in the waters and creatures, in the sufferings of our sisters and brothers.  But we are not without hope—we call on faith in our forgiving and restoring God who can empower us as servants who listen well to the voice of creation all around us.

A reading from Lamentations 1:1-6

  • How bitterly so many weep at the destruction they see, at the powerlessness they feel in the face of the planet’s increasingly evident stress. We weep in solidarity with those who mourn we act in hope to bring comfort and renewal.

Responsorial Psalm 137

  1. By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept.
  • Will we let our hearts be broken open so that we recognize our oneness with all that suffer?


A reading from the Second Letter to Timothy
(2 Timothy: 1-1:14)

  • Paul reminds us all that arguments over doctrine and terminology do not really solve our need for conversion. Words that we can trust are the reminder of our solidarity with the Christ who entered into Creation and gave all for its ultimate salvation.

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (Luke 17: 5-10)

  • What if we really considered ourselves servants whose whole desire is to carry out the loving desires of the Creator: for an Earth flourishing with peace, wholeness, and abundance for all.  Will we see this dream as our duty to fulfill?
  • Paul reminds us all that arguments over doctrine and terminology do not really solve our need for conversion. Words that we can trust are the reminder of our solidarity with the Christ who entered into Creation and gave all for its ultimate salvation.

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (Luke 17: 5-10)

  • What if we really considered ourselves servants whose whole desire is to carry out the loving desires of the Creator: for an Earth flourishing with peace, wholeness, and abundance for all.  Will we see this dream as our duty to fulfill?

Click here to download a Microsoft Word document with this service, or click here to view the PDF version.

Posted in News, Peace & Justice Blog

Celebrate the Season of Creation: A Prayer Service for September 18

In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2022, Pope Francis said that the sweet song of creation is today “accompanied by a cry of anguish…” and it is “our sister, mother earth, who cries out.”

For Sunday, September 18, Associate Judy Hardy of the Eco-Justice Committee looks at the sorrow of Earth and how each of us may lead a life peaceful to those around us and to Earth.

Please click here to download the WORD version or click here to view and download the PDF version of a special service that you can use in your own parish or private worship. 

__________________________________

Introductory Comments – The Season of Creation is the annual Christian celebration to listen and respond together to the cry of Creation: the ecumenical family around the world unites to pray and protect our common home

1st reading – Jeremiah 8: 18-9:1
Reflection – Where can I find a wayfarers shelter?

Responsorial Psalm – 79:1-9
Response – Help us God, our Savior
Reflection – How can we avoid the guilt of former generations

2nd reading – 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Reflection – How may we lead peaceful and quiet lives with devotion and propriety?

Gospel – Luke 16: 1-13
Reflection – What in my life am I a slave to?

Music suggestions – optional

E – entrance | O – Offertory | C – Communion | D – Dismissal

E – We Gather Together To Ask The Lord’s Blessing:
O – Here I am Lord
C – I am the Bread of Life
D – How Great Thou Art

Posted in News, Peace & Justice Blog

Celebrate the Season of Creation: A Prayer Service for September 11

September 1 begins the annual celebration of the Season of Creation, a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home. As part of our observance of the Season of Creation, the Eco-Justice Committee is providing special services that you can use in your own parish or private worship. We are grateful to Sister Barbara Kane, OP, for writing this week’s service.

Season of Creation
Second Sunday – September 11, 2022

Introductory Comments
The scriptures of the second Sunday challenge the idolatry of wealth and consumption in today’s world while assuring us of God’s forgiveness and readiness to welcome our return, what Pope Francis has called our “Integral ecological conversion.” And they point us toward the mission that God is offering us despite our past destructive lifestyles.

A reading from Exodus (32:7-11, 13-14)

  • The golden calf is an apt symbol for the destructive sinfulness of these times that threatens the planet and all who call it home. What is it that we ‘worship’ that might disregard and sacrifice poor and marginalized peoples, nature, and the web of life?

Responsorial Psalm 51:3-4,12-13,17,19

R I will rise and go to my Father.

  • Can we trust that God will accept our broken and contrite hearts?

A reading from St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy (1:2-17)

  • Paul acknowledges his destructive actions before his conversions but thanks God for God’s mercy and that God chose him for mission to show how great God’s patience and mercy are for us. Can we acknowledge what we have done to hurt creation? What mission might God be calling us to?


A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (15:1-32)
 

  • The Pharisees criticize Jesus because he “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Jesus does that because his mission is to embody God’s love and forgiveness. How do we embody God’s love and forgiveness for creation and all marginalized people?

 

Music Selections – optional

E – Entrance | O – Offertory | C – Communion | D – Dismissal

E – Sing to the Mountains (OCP)
O – For the Beauty of the Earth (Folliet S. Pierpoint)
C – Shepherd Me, O God (GIA)
D – Canticle of the Sun (GIA)

Click to download and print a PDF of this service.

Posted in News, Peace & Justice Blog

Celebrate the Season of Creation: A Prayer Service for September 4

September 1 begins the annual celebration of the Season of Creation, a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in prayer and action for our common home. As part of our observance of the Season of Creation, the Eco-Justice Committee is providing special services that you can use in your own parish or private worship.

Season of Creation

First Sunday – September 4, 2022

Introductory Comments

Today is the first Sunday in the Season of Creation, the time set aside by the church to both celebrate the gift of all God’s creation in our Common Home and reflect on our role in caring for it

This year’s theme is a strong call to “Listen to the Voice of Creation”. We know, only too well, that we are at a crucial time for our common home with both climate change and biodiversity loss already impacting the lives of many peoples, their livelihoods and all life.

Let us continue to pray together and ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us as we begin our

Celebration of the Season of creation and take steps, no matter how small, to live in harmony with all of God’s creation, as we learn to walk more gently on God’s ‘holy ground’.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 18:1-11

  • How can we change our ways so as to be more pleasing to God?

 

Responsorial Psalm 139: 1-6; 13-18

R For so many marvels, I thank you!

  • Can we trust in God and pray with joy and thanksgiving?

A reading from the Letter to Philemon 1-21

  • Can you welcome someone once gone but now returned and changed from before?

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke14: 25-33

  • What must I still give up to more fully follow Jesus?

 

Music Selections – optional

E – entrance | O – Offertory | C – Communion | D – Dismissal

E – We Gather Together To Ask The Lords Blessing
O – Fairest Lord Jesus
C – I Am the Bread of Life
D – All Creatures of Our God and King

 

Click here to download and print a PDF of this document. 

 

Posted in News, Peace & Justice Blog