April 2019 WE COMMIT OURSELVES:

Volume 5, Issue 2 A social justice newsletter of the Sisters of St. , Third Order St. Francis

Sr. Cecilia Marie Morton, Sr. Donna Wilhelm, Sr. Dorothy Pagosa, Jennifer Dillon, Sr. Marjorie White, Sr. Rose Grabowski, Sr. Shannon Fox —Social Justice Committee

In This Issue by Sister Marjorie White Special Interest As we celebrate Easter and the birth I found the values stated by the Articles: of new life let us remember those whose Women’s History month very • Sr. Marge White: lives have been altered due to violence, encouraging. I included an article on This April Issue discrimination, and a lack of secure blackface since it speaks to shelter. unrecognized racism. • In Memory of opefully, together, we can continue Dorothy Stang, In this newsletter I have presented H SSND issues that resonate with our own Fran- to educate and challenge ourselves to be ciscan call to be with the marginalized, more authentic in our Franciscan call to • In Honor of the downtrodden. be women and men of the gospel.  Mary Oliver

Earth Day: April 22, 2019 “In nature, nothing exists alone.” – Rachel Carson, 1962

Nature’s gifts to our unsustainable agriculture, demand immediate pollution and pesticides to planet are the millions of action. name a few. The impacts species that we know and Earth Day Network is are far reaching. love, and many more that asking people to join their remain to be discovered, Protect our Species cam- If we do not act now, paign. Their goals are to: Unfortunately, human extinction may be humani- • Educate and raise beings have irrevocably ty’s “most enduring lega- upset the balance of na- cy.” Here are some quick awareness about the ture and, as a result, the facts on the current wave accelerating rate of Individual world is facing the great- of extinction and addition- extinction of millions of Highlights: est rate of extinction since al information about this species and the causes we lost the dinosaurs more problem here. and consequences of Earth Day: than 60 million years ago. this phenomenon. April 22, 2019 1 All living things have an • Achieve major policy But unlike the fate of the intrinsic value, and each victories that protect National Women’s dinosaurs, the rapid ex- plays a unique role in the broad groups of species History Theme 2 tinction of species in our complex web of life. as well as individual world today is the result of species and their Catholic Connection human activity. The good news is that habitats. to Blackface 2 the rate of extinctions can • Build and activate a The unprecedented still be slowed, and many global movement that Laudato Si’ global destruction and rap- of our declining, threat- Reflection 4 embraces nature and its id reduction of plant and ened and endangered values. Facts Worth wildlife populations are species can still recover if directly linked to causes we work together now to • Encourage individual Pondering 6 actions such as adopting driven by human activity: build a united global plant based diet and climate change, defores- movement of consumers, tation, habitat loss, traf- voters, educators, faith stopping pesticide and  ficking and poaching, leaders, and scientists to herbicide use.

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The National Women’s History Theme for 2019

Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence The theme for 2019 is tradition of using inclusive, founder and Director of “Visionary Women: Cham- democratic and active the Esperanza Peace & pions of Peace & Non- means to reduce violence, Justice Center; violence.” achieve peace, and • Deborah Tucker, promote the common President of the Board of This year we honor good. Directors of the National women who have led Center on Domestic and From women’s rights efforts to end war, violence, Sexual Violence; and injustice and pioneer- and racial justice to • Dr. E. Faye Williams, ed the use of nonviolence disarmament and gun President/CEO of the to change society. control, the drive for nonviolent change has National Congress of These Honorees em- been championed by Black Women; braced the fact that the visionary women. • Sister Alice Zachmann, means determine the SSND, Founder and ends and so developed These women con- former Director of the nonviolent methods to sciously built supportive, Guatemala Human ensure just and peaceful nonviolent alternatives Rights Commission USA; results. and loving communities as • Elise Boulding (deceased), well as advocating change. Creator of Peace and For generations, They have given voice to Conflict Studies; women have resolved the unrepresented and • Sarah Brady (deceased), conflicts in their homes, hope to victims of violence Gun control Advocate; schools, and communities. and those who dream of a • Dorothy Cotton (deceased), They have rejected vio- peaceful world. Civil Rights Activist; lence as counterproduc- • Peace Pilgrim (deceased), tive and stressed the need The women honored Spiritual Leader and to restore respect, estab- on March 30, 2019 are: Peace Activist; lish justice, and reduce • Kathy Kelly, Coordinator • Mary Burnett Talbert the causes of conflict as of Voices for Creative (deceased), Anti-lynching the surest way to peace. Nonviolence; activist, Orator, and Suffragist. From legal defense • Zainab Salbi, Founder and former CEO of and public education to Women for Women To read more about direct action and civil dis- International; these women, click on this obedience, women have • Graciela Sanchez, Co- link: 2019 Honorees  expanded the American Catholic Connection to Blackface By Jesse Remedios *This article appeared in the National Catholic Reporter, February 26, 2019 Jesuit Fr. Joseph Brown audience, Brown and his the building, my father was was in high school when father were surprised and not going to say something," he and his father attended put in an uncomfortable Brown said. "We were not a show sponsored by a position, when performers going to talk about it.” in blackface appeared on local chapter of the Knights Recent revelations in of Columbus in 1960. The stage. They were at a minstrel show. Virginia involving the gov- show he said was adver- ernor and attorney general, tised as a fundraiser and a "At that time, as the both of whom have admitted

Jesuit Fr. Joseph Brown, Ph.D. "great time" for the entire only two black people in community. Sitting in the Continued on pg. 3

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Catholic Connection to Blackface …continued from p. 2 to using blackface in the the most popular forms of cipation in blackface minstrel- 1980s, have brought American entertainment, sy "helped to shape the national attention to the the U.S. simultaneously meanings of blackness, long history of blackface experienced a wave of whiteness, ethnicity, and minstrelsy in this country. Irish-Catholic immigration. American nationalism—all According to the Library of issues that dominated the Little noticed in that Congress, the Irish, fleeing minstrel stage during the mid- history is the Catholic the Potato Famine of 1845, 19th century." This reproduction of a Church's connection to the made up nearly half of all 1900 William H. West By the turn of the 20th cen- offensive practice—a immigrants to the United tury, minstrelsy was no longer minstrel show poster, connection that goes back States in the 1840s. to the very beginnings of the preeminent form of popu- originally published by blackface minstrelsy. Initially, according to lar entertainment in the U.S. the Strobridge Litho Co., Ball State University Eng- However, communities, schools shows the transformation According to the Nation- and Catholic churches across lish professor Robert Nowat- from "white" to "black". al Museum of African Amer- zki, the Irish were consid- the country continued to stage ican History and Culture, ered racial "others," in part blackface minstrel shows for – Graphic and text from blackface was first popular- due to their Catholic relig- decades, perpetuating nega- Wikipedia, the free ized in 1830 when white ion, and were similarly tive and offensive stereotypes Encyclopedia entertainer Thomas Dart- ridiculed by minstrel show of African- among mouth Rice rose to fame characterizations. However, multiple generations. by painting his face black Irish-Americans quickly and performing as the char- began donning blackface Brown, who is now a pro-

fessor of Africana Studies at acter "Jim Crow," a disabled and participating in minstrel- African-American slave. sy themselves in order to Southern Illinois University, “We embrace our believes the prominence of Historian Rhae Lynn become more "white" and immigrant roots and "American" by denigrating minstrel shows in parishes identify with the struggle Barnes wrote on her web- was tied to the segregation of African-Americans. of all people to find a site, U.S. History Scene, the church in the first half of that the minstrel show for- "Blackface was at one the 20th century. Because of home in this world.” mat was born a decade and the same time a that separation, there weren't SSJ-TOSF Congregational later when a theater troupe displaced mapping of many who questioned the called the Virginia Minstrels Commitments ethnic Otherness and an ethics of blackface minstrelsy 26 th General Chapter performed in New York City early agent of accultura- in white communities. in 1842 — "a full night of tion," cultural historian Eric blackface entertainment Lott wrote in his book Love "[The Rev. Martin Luther] featuring black political mim- and Theft: Blackface King and [James] Baldwin icry, exaggerated African Minstrelsy and the said it: the most segregated inspired plantation dances, American Working Class. times in America were and dialect songs.” Sunday mornings," Brown In his paper, "Paddy said. "There was nobody As minstrel shows rose Jumps Jim Crow," Nowatzki there to challenge it."  to prominence as one of argued Irish-Catholic parti-

Resources on Understanding Immigration

The U.S. Immigration system is complex and difficult to understand. These resources provide key data points, historical State by State Impact information, and background on hot topics in immigration: Find demographic data on your state’s • How the United States Immigration System Works immigrant population—including the • Asylum in the United States most recent estimates of population, education, and labor force.  • An Overview of U.S. Refugee Law and Policy

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From the Global Catholic Climate Movement LAUDATO SI’ REFLECTION She struggled tireless- , ending with This Laudato Si’ Re- ly for land reform and the phrase “Blessed are flection is dedicated to the human rights, amidst the peacemakers for they life and memory of Sr. death threats from wealthy shall be called children of Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN, ranchers. God.” “Martyr of the Amazon.” After some moments of Sr. Dorothy spent over On February 12, 2005 hesitation, the gunmen 30 years working as a while walking on the road fired six shots, killing Sr. missionary among the she was approached by Dorothy.  rural farmers and peas- two gunmen. She pulled ants in Amazon . out her and began reading from the

Hearing Creation’s Song

Sr. Dorothy had a great love for Imagine that you are breathing in the beauty of the cosmos. creation. She once wrote “I’m trying daily What images come to mind? to fill my lungs with the beauty of Can you imagine that this is God our cosmos – her energy – so all breathing life in you to be your that is to be woman can be felt in fullest person? me.” Give thanks for the gift of Take a moment now to take a creation, of air, and the cosmos.  few deep breaths.

Hearing Creation’s Cry

“We must make great efforts to save our planet.

Earth is not able to provide anymore. Her water and air are poisoned and her soil is dying of exaggerated use of chemicals.” –Sr. Dorothy Stang

Sr. Dorothy was killed because of her commitment to the poor and the earth. The lives of those fighting for environmental justice continue to be at risk.

Brazil is the deadliest place for environmental activists, with at least 57 killed in 2017. In the last few months alone, an indigenous leader and two leaders of the landless movement were murdered in Brazil for their justice work.

This month we pray for the safety of all environmental activists around the world.

All quotes as well as the photo of Sr. Dorothy Stang SNDdeN courtesy of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

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In Honor of Mary Oliver

I considered Mary Oliver to be one of nature’s mystics who kept us aware that we are not the only ones to grace this lovely planet. It is for this reason that I share the following poem in her honor. Mary Oliver died on January 17, 2019.

Marge White

When Death Comes When Death comes like a hungry bear in autumn when death comes as takes all the bright coins from his purse to buy me, and snaps his purse shut; when death comes like the measle-pox; when death comes Mary Jane Oliver was an like an iceberg between the shoulder blades, American poet who won the National Book Award and the I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering; Pulitzer Prize. what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness? In 2007 The New York Times And therefore I look upon everything described her as “far and as a brotherhood and sisterhood, away, this country’s best- and I look upon time as no more than an idea, selling poet.” and I consider eternity as another possibility, – Wikipedia and I think of each life as a flower, as common as a field daisy, and as singular, and each name a comfortable music in the mouth tending as all music does, toward silence, and each body a lion of courage, and something Tell me, what is it you plan precious to the earth. to do with your one wild and precious life? When it’s over, I want to say: all my life Mary Oliver I was a bride married to amazement. I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms. When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened or full of argument. I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world. Mary Oliver (New and Selected Poems, Volume I)

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint: Around the Congregation my trips more, when • I do not use my air Here is what some of our possible. conditioner unless it is sisters and associates said • I'm trying to drive a little oppressively hot. they were doing in 2016: slower when traveling, • I am washing clothes • I am trying to define my helping conserve gas. in cold water instead neighborhood; then I • I take public transport- of hot or warm. shop there rather than tation as much as I can. What are YOU doing traveling further. • I recycle daily, as today to reduce your • I am trying to combine needed. carbon footprint?

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Facts Worth Pondering 200 million gallons of 44% of the workforce in gasoline are used each the U.S. earns under $15 year in the U.S. to cut For the 4th straight year, lawns. an hour, and 32% earns under $12 an hour. the number of hate groups 3 trillion gallons of water has grown across America are used in the U.S. each *Oxfam “We respect the earth to a record high of 1,020. year to water lawns. and recognize that all *National Resources Defense In 2018, the number of Council, Environment and white nationalist groups life is interconnected in Muslims make up the 2nd Human Health Inc. and the surged by almost 50% a continuing cosmic largest religious Environmental Protection from 100 groups to 148. evolution.” Agency population in the world and are discriminated This trend follows 3 SSJ-TOSF Congregational against in 121 countries straight years of decline Commitments The US is the only major 26 th General Chapter worldwide. during the previous Western economic power *Pew Research Centers administration. without universal health Religion Public Life care system in which *The Southern Poverty Law Center health care is considered a human right.

*Commonwealth Fund

The “carbon footprint” of a 1/2 pound hamburger is equivalent to:

$ 200 hours of a 60 watt light bulb; $ 24 hours of air conditioning; $ Driving 42 miles in a Prius. Chickens need about 20% of the land and produce 10% of the greenhouse gas emissions as cows. *National Geographic

Noncitizens contribute to the American safety net disproportionately to what they receive. Between 2000 and 2011, undocumented immigrants contributed between $2.2 billion and $3.8 billion more than they withdrew from Medicare Trust Fund each year. This created a total surplus of $35.1 billion over the 11- year span, staving off Medicare insolvency. *Journal of General Internal Medicine April 22: Earth Day www.earthday.org REMEMBER… We welcome your submissions in the form of • “Sightings” • Brief write-ups of your activities, “prototypes,” suggestions for workshops, books, articles, films, resources. Please send these to Sister Donna Wilhelm by May 24th for inclusion in the June issue of our newsletter, We Commit Ourselves. ~Your Social Justice Committee