Justice & Peace
Eight hundred years ago St. Francis of Assisi profoundly changed the world with his message of peace, his concern for the poor and his love for all creation. Today we work to bring about justice and peace, to end violence and war, poverty and oppression, and the destruction of our planet. We hope you will join us on our journey.
A Saint’s vision for today
Francis of Assisi, our founder, showed us that in order to follow Jesus and live the Gospel we must respect and care for creation, advocate for human rights, care for the poor and marginalized and be peacemakers. It is these values that motivate each and every friar to maintain a reverent attitude towards nature in such a way that they may restore it completely to its condition of brother and to its role of usefulness to all [humankind] for the glory of God the Creator. As true followers of Francis, they are to place themselves in solidarity on the side of the weak and poor and to live in this world as messengers and agents of peace and to be gentle, peaceful, unassuming, courteous and humble in their dealings with others.
Don’t just sit there stewing about an injustice. Do something! Send an e-mail, make a phone call or write a letter to your elected officials. Here’s how.
Walking the Walk
At age 85, Br. Juniper Crouch, OFM, keeps busy. Lately he has been volunteering with Freewheels of Houston.
Wisdom of Pope Francis
“Having doubts and fears is not a sin. The sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses, to limit our choices, to compromise respect and generosity, to feed hostility and rejection.”
Br. Bill Spond works to save lives with prayer and peaceful protest.
Care for Creation
Start them young: Here are 10 ways parents can teach kids to care about Earth Day.
For Fr. Kenan Freson, who planted most of the trees you see around St. Anthony Shrine, every day is Earth Day. And Arbor Day as well. We asked Kenan how his love of nature mushroomed into a one-man mission to reshape the landscape at the Shrine by planting trees. His responses are recorded in this short video.
Issues and events around the world
In The News
New research by University of Victoria geographer Sophia Carodenuto reveals troubling questions about the sustainability of chocolate as reported in Victoria News, Jan. 29, 2019. Two years ago many of the world’s leading cocoa chocolate companies made a public commitment to end the deforestation associated with the global cocoa supply chain. Working with government officials to ensure socioeconomic progress of cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon, they are supporting domestic policies to reduce deforestation and alleviate poverty.
“The number of human trafficking victims is on the rise” as criminal gangs and terror groups prey increasingly on women and children to make money and bolster their numbers, according to a January 30th CBS News report. The UN report, The Global Trafficking in Persons, says that children account for 30 percent of all trafficking victims and include “far more” girls than boys. Sexual exploitation is the main motivation for the trafficking, the report says, accounting for about 59 percent.
Congress ended the federal shutdown — at least for now — but the problems that come with economic insecurity still worry millions of Americans living on the financial edge. Most of these Americans work, but they’ve been crushed by stagnant wages and rising costs for everything essential to live. And, much like the federal workers who were left scrambling with little savings after their pay was cut off, many Americans don’t have anything left over to save.
CONSIDER A FUTURE
WITH THE FRIARS
Help us continue to serve the poor, care for the retired friars and our men in formation.
LET US PRAY