"You have been appropriating things that are meant to be for the common use of everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not to the rich."

With these prophetic words, St. Ambrose eloquently highlighted and linked together the Catholic social teaching principles known today as the "preferential concern for the poor and vulnerable," the "common good," and the "care for creation."

And in our day, Pope Francis has voiced similar concerns; especially in his encyclical letter "Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home" - a must read.

In his own prophetic way, the Holy Father warns: "When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities - to offer just a few examples - it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected."

Yes, everything is connected! We have no time to waste in recognising, healing, and strengthening these connections.

We are linked together in a common bond. And it is crucial to become aware that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Thus, we need to shore up every single link of the Creator's good and wonderful creation.

And there's no better time to begin than now, during this "Season of Creation" which runs from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 - the feast of St. Francis of Assisi patron saint of ecology.

Season of Creation

More than ever before, much of our planet, and many of our people, are greatly suffering. Here are just two of the many tragic examples: 2023 was the world's hottest year on record and global hunger is at a historic level with 42 million people in 45 countries languishing on the brink of starvation.

A popular phrase from Pope Francis' "Laudato Si" captures this dreadful reality quite well: "We must hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor".

Don't miss the inspiring film featuring Pope Francis called "The Letter: A message for our Earth". Consider making it a parish event.

One of the social justice, peace, pro-life bumper stickers on my car reads: "Make Everyday Earth Day." Yes, indeed, not just one day, and even not just during the "Season of Creation," but furthermore may we remember that each day of life beckons us to cherish, protect, pray for, and celebrate our awesome God's awesome creation!

The inspiring Catholic social justice and peace activist, and "Servant of God" Dorothy Day, said, "Like Dostoevsky, I began to believe that the world would be saved by beauty."

Looking upon the sun, the moon, and the stars, Day said to her atheist live-in partner, "How can there be no God when there are all these beautiful things?" With further reflection she concluded, "It was this beautiful, natural world that slowly led me back to God."

Like Dorothy Day, may each of us allow God's beautiful creation to lead us to a far deeper appreciation of our awesome Creator and his awesome creation!

• First published by Clarion Herald
• Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated Catholic social justice and peace columnist. He is available to speak at diocesan or parish gatherings.

This was the case in India and is still the case today.

While not directly involved in the environmental field, in recent years Jesuits have increasingly taken initiatives in what can be called environmental justice.

Promoting ecological awareness, reforestation, water purification measures, defence of tribal natural resources are some examples. Others have studied biodiversity or created botanical gardens.

One man of science who stands out among Indian Jesuits is Fr Savarimuthu Ignacimuthu (pictured).

He is primarily a biologist, but his scope is very broad, having published over 800 scientific papers and 80 books with two US and 12 Indian patents.

It is worth noting that a species of insect bears his name, Jacthrips ignacimuthui, as well as a natural molecule, Ignaciomycin.

He is one of the top one percent of scientists in the world based on the number of citations of his work by other scientists. We interviewed him.

Father Ignacimuthu, you are a man of science and a man of God; where do you find unity in your life?

The basic foundational experience of the Divine from my childhood and the awe and wonder I experience when I encounter nature have helped me integrate my spirituality of seeing God in all things and all things in God.

Recognition of God's presence in the created beings and things in the universe is the outcome of my union with God.

By means of created things, whether big or small, the divine confronts me, penetrates me and moulds me.

Thus, creation and spirituality converge upon the same view of the reality, that is, vision of God in the concrete world. In this way I experience the unity of being a man of science and a man of God.

What has your work as a biologist taught you?

The most important lesson I learnt from my work as a biologist was the understanding that everything and every life are inter-connected and inter-dependent in this world.

The orderly nature of the universe and the diversity of life forms on earth are very evident everywhere.

They constantly proclaim unity and relatedness.

The complexity of life and its perfect coordination are indeed stepping-stones for awe and wonder.

The mathematical principles that govern everything in this universe and the world are the foundation for this.

For example, the elegance and the organization of the DNA and RNA, their multiple consequences of the copying mechanisms and their implications in expressions are fascinating.

The extensive interaction of miniscule independent cells with one another and the formation of various organs that contribute to life's success are indeed the evidences for the relatedness of all.

My research outputs have contributed to the welfare of the poor in the following ways: Read more

• The Secretariat for Social Justice and Ecology (SJES) undertook this interview: [From "Jesuits 2024 - The Society of Jesus in the world"]

The rector of the sanctuary agreed to the Swifties' request on the condition that they raise funds to buy food and drinks to give to the homeless on the Catholic Church's World Day of the Poor, which took place on Sunday.

In one day of crowdfunding, fans raised about 180,000 reais (NZ$61,254), which covered the cost of 20,000 loaves of panettones, a traditional sweet yeast bread, and bottled water for Rio's homeless. Read more

Edric Baker was an inspirational New Zealand medical doctor who worked in an isolated rural area in northern Bangladesh for 35 years.

His vision of 'health care for the poor by the poor' led him to set up of the Kailakuri Health Centre.

The centre provided care for the poor free of charge, regardless of creed or race.

People used to call him "doctor bhai", i.e. "brother doctor".

His funeral was attended by thousands of Christians, Muslims and Hindus.

Many of those at the funeral recalled how he won the hearts and minds of people through his love.

People were struck by his kindness and saw that his goodness was due to his Christian faith.

He spread the Gospel through his service.

Kailakuri has 92 staff members, of whom Edric was the only one with any formal medical qualifications.

Everybody else has been trained on the job.

All staff take part in weekly training and re-training sessions.

Edric was head trainer, consultant and Medical Officer in Charge.

Currently the Centre is providing health services annually:

• 20,000 poor out patients
• Very ill inpatients — 11,000 bed nights
• 1,119 diabetics
• 89 tuberculosis sufferers
• 700 pregnant and young mothers in 17 villages

Born in 1941, Baker obtained a medical degree from Otego Medical College in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1965.

He then joined a government medical team and served in war-ravaged Vietnam.

He went to Bangladesh in 1979 and worked in a Christian mission hospital in southern Bangladesh for two years.

He later moved to a hospital in Tangail and worked there for eight months.

In 1983, he joined a clinic run by the Church of Bangladesh, and learned Bangla to better understand his patients.

With funds from friends in New Zealand, Europe and the United States, Baker set up the medical center in 1996 and ran it through private donations.

Source

• www.asianews.it
• morganfoundation.org.nz
• sites.google.com/site/kailakurihealth
• ucanews.comucanews.com

The Hale Wai Vista Support Housing Services program, launched in collaboration with Prudential Locations, is a 215-unit affordable rental project.

"This is a great example of a nonprofit organisation and private sector company partnering to address a business and a social need," said Catholic Charities Hawaii President and CEO Jerry Rauckhorst.

"The program advances our mission to provide services to the poor and most vulnerable in our community while assisting a private business (to) improve its financial viability."

Source

• Pacific Business
• Image: i.ytimg.com