Category: Front Page

Words, Wordlessness and Coping with Despair

by Suzanne Belote Shanley – The cascade of global and national catastrophes is so devastating that we hear repeatedly on newscasts phrases such as “There are no words to describe Yemen.”  Nevertheless, a human rights official managed to locate a few: “Hell on earth for millions of children…starving and in jeopardy.” Wordlessness yields to words as collectively we struggle to give language to misery and innocent suffering.  “Every ten minutes, a child dies in Yemen.” Imagine if we in the US heard: “Millions of American children in Boston are near starvation.” It would never happen. Why is this? What do we need to comprehend about the privilege of white, western protection from indiscriminate use of our first world bombs on other people’s children?

Read More »

Listening to the Anguish of Racism

By Brayton Shanley – It all started in 2016 with Donald Trump’s Muslim taunting.  Our Mission Council members were gathered for our winter meeting and the planning our next St. Francis Day when John Paul Marosy, one of our crew asked of our group:  “What is our world going to need by the time we reach October?”

Read More »

Are We Contemplative Enough?

by Father Warren Savage – My mother would always say to us, do not forget where you come from. You are a child of God. Titles get in the way. We only should be introduced as children of God.  We all come from a creator who does not have partiality, but who created us in love.

Read More »

On the Side of God, Light and Justice

by Edgar Hayes – A wonderful start to the conversation of race in America–the day, music, panelists, food, attendees were all wonderful at Francis Day. Yet, it only scratched the surface. Its seedling is just bursting forth from the earth.  One day, it will produce Godly abundance. For me, to keep the conversation within the realm of religious is key to its dismantling. It will never be reached pragmatically, metaphysically, existentially, and definitely not politically.

Read More »

It’s Not Easy Living with the Truth

by Ruth Bass Green – The experience on October 6, at Agape will stay in my heart and mind forevermore.

I was challenged in more ways than I’d hoped

Never did I think I’d be enhanced by the sage smoke

Nor the panelist and the topics they shared

Which was no joke

Read More »

Way More Than A Day

by George Aguiar – In fact, 28 days.  This year my Francis Day stars aligned in such a way that I’d be spending 28 days at Agape Community in Massachusetts helping to organize Francis Day as I transitioned to midcoast Maine after a summer in Azeitão, Portugal immersed in learning Portuguese and  getting to know the people, history and current political situation in order to better understand the wildfire situation within the context of climate catastrophe. 

Read More »

Holy Cross Rural Immersion 2018

The week after Francis Day, Agape facilitated a Rural Immersion for six students from Holy Cross. Intern Aria and Mission Council member Sam assisted for the four days. Following the

Read More »

Photos From Francis Day 2018

As promised, here are some photos from Francis Day 2018, “Confronting Systemic Racism”. All photos taken by David Legg except the last three. Enjoy these scenes from the event. Hover

Read More »
Categories