Shalom / UN-NGO Newsletter
Volume 20, Issue 2

August 2019

A plastic bag and a stork in Spain
By Sister Beatriz Martinez-Garcia, Director of SSND UN-NGO OfficeSomeone once said that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Recently at the United Nations, I watched a photo exhibition
entitled “The Planet or Plastic,” compiled by the National
Geographic Society. One photo by photographer John Cancalosi evoked somuch in me that I have to tell you about it.
This particular picture was of a stork in Spain that had become engulfed in aplastic bag. Can you picture this image? Next to the photo was written: “Plasticbags are one of the most common types of single-use-and deadliest hazards towildlife.” Another sign said: “A trillion plastic bags are used worldwide everyyear.”According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), 127 State members have some kind ofplastic bag legislation. Ninety-one State members have laws that ban or restrict manufacturing,importation, and marketing distribution of plastic bags.
Sadly, even with all this legislation, there is still a problem with plastic bag pollution. As I looked at thepicture of the stork in the plastic bag, it was obvious to me why the stork became trapped.
It made me think and ask myself some questions: Where did this plastic bag come from? Why do we use
plastic bags if this could be a possible result? How many plastic bags do I/people use daily? What do people
do with “used” plastic bags? Do we even need plastic bags at all?
Again, a picture is worth a thousand words. Here is a link to the photo online. Can we start a newconversation about using plastic bags? Have a discussion about this with your community, family, friends,
or co-workers.
Are there alternatives?
For more information about plastic pollution visit: www.unesco.org

International Day of Peace: September 21

Climate Action

The theme for World Peace Day on
September 21 is “Climate Action forPeace,”drawingon
Sustainable
Development Goal 13: Climate Action.
Goal 13 is a call for immediate action by all
to lower greenhouse emissions, build
resilience and improve education on climatechange. #peaceday #climateaction

Shalom / UN-NGO Newsletter, August 2019

“It is possible to achieve
our goals, but we needdecisions, political will andtransformational policies
to allow us to still live inpeace with our ownclimate.”– Secretary-General
António Guterres,

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SEDOS Seminar: “Mission in a Pluralistic World”
By Sister Kathy Schmittgens, International Shalom Coordinator
Mission in a Pluralistic World was the theme for thisyear’s SEDOS Seminar (Service of Documentationand Study on Global Mission), 28 April – 2 May in
Ariccia, Italy. It involved looking at dialogue among
different faiths. Each day focused on a different
religious perspective – Judaism, Islam and Buddhism– with a presentation by a person from that faith, apresentation from a missionary who was involved indialogue with that faith, and a presentation on some
aspect of dialogue.
We were challenged by the caveat “nothing is as
deceptive as the transposition of terms from one
religion to another” (Jacques Bacot 1877-1965). Looking at the terms “justice”, “freedom” and “charity”
from the perspective of how these terms are understood in another religion was enlightening.
Four sisters (pictured above, left to right), Antoinette Cornelius, Kathy Schmittgens, Dominica Sento, andMaria-Theresia Knippschild, attended the seminar; all felt enriched by the experience.
Sister Dominica: My main ministry as an SSND right now is as staff of the campus ministry room at Kyoto
Notre Dame University. Every day, several students come in, stay, and go. Most of them are non-Catholic.
I just stay there, listen to them if they want to talk, and let them be themselves. After I came back from theSEDOS seminar, I feel I can accept each student with a broader heart.
Sister Antoinette: I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the SEDOS Workshop which
exposed me to women and men of different religious congregations, nationalities, cultures, andexperiences.
The attitude of Openness to the process and showing keen interest is key to dialogue. The attitude ofRespect – we approach each other with reverence and humility because we do not hold the absolute truth– each has just a piece of the truth
Empathy – to feel with and for – that is putting yourself in the position of the other and trying to walk inthe shoes of the other. The shoe might be very tight on you or very loose on you but you try to wear it tofeel with the other person.
Sister Maria-Theresia: For me, attending this year’s SEDOS seminar was a moving experience with somany religious from different communities and from different countries and cultures. In her opening
address, Mission as Interreligious Dialogue, Sister Kathleen McGarvey, OLA, raised the question ofwhether interfaith dialogue should be understood as a path of mission or mission as an interfaith dialogue.
No matter which direction you go, one basic concern remains: “As people of faith, Christians and Muslims,
men and women, we are called to open to one another as
gifts within and through which the mystery of God, God’sWord, and the mystery of humanity, is continuouslyrevealed.” It is through this attitude of openness that
(interfaith) dialogue becomes possible. As an SSND, I add:
Read and live the points of Love Gives Everything. They
provide the help, which is necessary for interfaith dialogue.
(See SEDOS Bulletin Vol. 51, Num.5/6 for talks from theseminar.)
Graphic used to promote the SEDOS Seminar 2019.

Shalom / UN-NGO Newsletter, August 2019

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Living Laudato Si’
By Sister Kathy Schmittgens, International Shalom Coordinator
On May 15, JPIC promoters in Rome had the privilege of hearing Fr. Joshtrom
Kureethadam, SDB, Coordinator of the sector on Ecology and Creation in
the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Develop (DPIHD).
The first and foremost mission of the dicastery is to make Laudato Si’
known and implemented. This includes the animation of the “Seasonof Creation”, promotion of an authentic Theology of Creation, promotion ofEcological education at various levels, and collaborating with all others
involved in care of creation.
They hope to establish study groups on various aspects of Laudato Si’ –integral ecology and integral human development, concept of the common
good, the sustainable development goals, young people and the care of ourcommon home, indigenous communities, and fundamental human rights,etc.
They have concrete action plans which include switching to renewable energies, cutting waste and the useof plastics. The hope is to make the Vatican completely “carbon neutral”. Most exciting were the plans
he shared for Laudato Si’ 2020.
Special plans are underway for World Day of Peace, the Lenten Season, World Water Day, an “Economyof Francis” meeting in Assisi, and a “Villaggio per la Terra”, a week-long celebration with public
participation for Earth Day.
For the Season of Creation they will open the Laudato Si’ Living Chapel. This will be an artistic
installation with plants and earth materials modelled on the Porziuncola chapel in Assisi. The chapel isdesigned as a material embodiment of Laudato Si’. It is designed to “pilgrim” around the world, beginningwith Assisi.
For us, also, it is important to consider how we will help with the promotion of Laudato Si’ and convey theurgency of keeping our planet viable for future generations!
Read also: “1.5 degrees celsius: a physical, moral and theological threshold” (08 October 2018, THE TABLET)

Commission on the Status of Womenby Sister Eileen Reilly, Director of SSND UN-NGO Office
SSND was well represented at the UN Commission on the Status of Women by five SSNDs and 19 of ourstudents and colleagues from Hungary, Brazil and the USA. Notre Dame of Maryland University and highschools in the USA, Brazil, and Hungary sent students and faculty.
The week-long experience gave the participants opportunities to explore the many dimensions of the themeof providing social protection to empower women and girls and promote gender equality.
Moreinformation is available on the congregational website (https://gerhardinger.org): Ministry > UN-NGO >SSND at CSW63

Shalom / UN-NGO Newsletter, August 2019

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THE AMAZON CRIES OUT!
By Sister Beatriz Martinez-Garcia, Director of SSND UN-NGO Office“Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home.”– Pope Francis
This quote summarizes the essence of my thoughts from several presentations I
attended last April at the 18th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), which captured my attention because many sessions
focused on the Amazon. My first thought was: “How does the Amazon impact therest of the planet?” By the end of the forum, I learned several things, for example,
We are indigenous
the Amazon is home to 390 different communities with their own cultural identities;
its forest produces 20% of the world’s oxygen and has the most extensive biodiversity on the earth; andmost importantly, its natural and cultural heritage is threatened by extractive industries and infrastructure
projects. For us, as School Sisters of Notre Dame, it is most important to remember that we are present inBrazil and Peru which are two of the nine countries that cross the Amazon.
This information helped me realize that the Amazon, is not “just a place” on the map; its survival is crucial
to the rest of the planet. There is a domino effect that happens every time something or someone misusesor disrespects the environment and the people of the Amazon. As a result, the Amazon is crying out forhelp. How is it that a place has a voice?
That voice comes from two people who know, love, and have lived in the Amazon. Jair Reis’s voice
pleaded with us: “The Amazon cries out from so much destruction and oppression. Today, life is very
difficult for us because our land is being destroyed and taken away from us.” And, Justino Rezende, SDB,PhD, an indigenous priest, said: “Many people are dying, not only physically, but also spiritually because
they are deeply connected with mother nature; if the Amazon dies, they die too.” As the voice of theAmazon, he closed his remarks saying, “If you are listening, speak up and share this information with allpeople.”Now, I have also become a part of the Amazon’s voice, as I pass on these thoughts to you. If you arereading this note…you too can become the Amazon’s voice crying out for LIFE!
For more information about this topic visit GreenPeace: Amazon Rain Forest and The Synod of Bishops
for the Pan-Amazon Region.

A word from Sister Eileen Reilly
On July 1, after nine amazing years as your SSND UN-NGO
Representative, I concluded my time in this ministry. SisterBeatriz Martinez-Garcia (CP) has now assumed this role. I
will forever be grateful for having had this opportunity toserve the congregation and to meet so many sisters in so many
places. You give me hope for our future when you respondto invitations to observe UN days like World Peace Day,
when you welcome me into your homes and ministries, andwhen you and your students participate in UN events. Thankyou for all of your support and encouragement – which I feel
confident you will continue to give Beatriz as she moves into
this ministry.
Shalom/UN-NGO Newsletter is a triannual publication of the School Sisters of Notre Dame:
via della Stazione Aurelia 95, 00165 Roma · tel: +39.06.6652.01; fax: +39.06.6652.0234.
Shalom / UN-NGO Newsletter, August 2019

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