Water

Through the waters of Baptism, we are accepted into the community of faith. As members of this community, we are called to respect all of God’s Creation, including the waters of rivers, lakes and oceans.

Water was created to bring life, healing, transformation and wholeness to the human community.

Let us recognize the damage being done to the waters in our region and around the globe. Let us reflect on how to meet the challenges we face as our water supplies are threatened.

We are blessed with water, and we are called to share our blessings, especially in a time of growing crisis: more and more people have less access to clean water and adequate sanitation.

Let us pray to God to deepen our concern for the precious gift of water. Let us pledge to protect this gift.

Global Water Crisis—Fast Facts

1.1 billion people have no clean water; that means 1/6 of the world’s population lacks access to safe water.

In 2006, 700 million people lived in “water stressed” countries (countries that have problems with drought, and with access to sufficient water supplies); by 2025, 3 billion people will live in “water stressed” counties.

2.6 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation; that is 1/3 of the world population.

Water—borne disease kills 1.8 million children in developing countries each year, or 1 child every 3 minutes.

Disease caused by bacteria and viruses in polluted water kills more people than HIV/AIDS or malaria.

The poor are paying more for water as supplying it becomes a business: slum dwellers in Manila pay more for water than people living in London or New York, who have access to public supplies of clean water.

(statistics are from www.unesco.org/water/wwap as of 2006)

The UN promotes the right to water as a basic human right and is encouraging the development of policies to protect current water supplies, to develop sustainable strategies to ensure future water supplies, and to make clean water available to those in poverty at no or low cost.

The united Nations, as part of its “Water for Life” Decade. 2005-2015, has proclaimed every person in the world should have access to at least 20 liters (or 21 quarts) of clean water a day.

We are grateful for God’s gifts. The lakes, rivers and seas of the world are sacred gifts and sacred trusts from our Creator. May their waters run deep and clear. May we be nourished and healed from their bounty. May we become good stewards of all the waters of Creation. Amen.

Adapting to Climate Change

A Catholic Relief Service Story from India

In India, rapid economic development, coupled with poor management of the environment and natural resources, has left a deep impact on communities who rely on farming to make a living. In many places, people are witnessing the impact of climate change in the form of floods, droughts, irregular rainfall and rising sea levels. These changes in climate are likely to affect the poorest populations in India as their livelihoods are largely connected to agriculture and dependent on natural resources.

Farming families in Markatola, a rural village in India, have been suffering a multitude of problems due to the exploitation of their natural resources and a limited awareness of the consequences. The reduction of forest areas by more than 50% over the past 20 years and a practice called “mono-cropping”, a form of agriculture that relies on only one crop per year, have contributed to recurring poor harvests.

There has been a lack of adequate structures to collect rainwater which causes the washing away of the most fertile top soil, leaving only the silt deposits in natural bodies of water which are useless for irrigation.

With less available water , farmers faced poor yields at harvest time, leading to malnutrition and even starvation. Many of these families migrated to the bigger cities looking for work.

CRS, along with funding from the U.S. government, worked with the remaining families and developed a watershed. Now there is an increased amount of available ground water year-round.

Narottam Lal Tandia took part in the program of “second cropping” and took his chances by planting wheat in a small area as his second crop. The first year he planted late and overwatered the fields but he still was able to earn $125.00. He used his profit to buy good quality seed for a rainy season crop and used the rest for his children’s education.

Narottam says, “This program helped to increase the bond between the villagers and stopped migration from the village.” “Due to this program, open grazing has stopped and villagers have sold all unproductive animals from the village to save their crops and jungles.”

The community has created a “user” group which each member pays $1.20 per acre to irrigate the land. Because more water is available for household and agricultural needs, families are no longer migrating from the village. In fact, Narottam, plans to reap an even larger harvest this year.

Catholic Social Teaching: We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is a requirement of our faith.

(United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)

Lenten Project

Lent it is a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Highlighted below is just a few ways in which you can put your faith into action and make this Lent a journey with Jesus and be in solidarity with our neighbors around the globe.

PSM: “Care for God’s Creation”

In this weekend’s bulletin you will find a brochure that highlights ways in which you and your family can learn, and take steps in which to preserve God’s creation of the earth.

As a family take the St. Francis Pledge and pray the Prayer of St. Francis daily.

Each week put into practice some of the ideas to reuse, recycle and consume less in the brochure.

Read the stories of the poor affected by our carbon footprint around the world in this section each week.

Everything we do affects others here at home and globally.

Stewardship Committee: “My Lenten Promises”

This comprises a list of actions in which one can practice during Lent to become closer to Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Attending Mass during the week

Praying the rosary as a family or in the car and making time for prayer on a daily basis

Coming to the Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings

Reading a spiritual book, practicing forgiveness

Helping others in need

Ashes to Easter: “Almsgiving Boxes”

The Austin Diocese gives support to certain missions around the globe. We are given an opportunity during Lent to sacrifice some of our luxuries to give to others. Go to www.crs.org and find recipes from around the world and donate the money saved to the “Ashes to Easter” box.

Each week put money in the Ashes to Easter box to help missions such as:

*Jeeva Nivas: “House of Life” for HIV orphaned or abandoned children in South India

*Medical Mission: Mexico and Central America

*Weavers of Hope: Helping Central Mexican families’ students to continue their education.

Valentine’s Day

What is true love? Is it the love that our culture says it is? Is it spontaneous and fleeting?

Our Lord tells us what love is in the scriptures.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. (Mk 12: 30-31)

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16)

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Lk 6: 27-28)

God is love and anyone who abides in love abides in God, and God in them. (I Jn 4:16)

Pope Benedict XVI explains what true love is in his encyclical “Deus Caritas Est.”

“Love is the light—and in the end, the only light—that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working. Love is possible, and we are able to practice it because we are created in the image of God.” (#39)

“Love is never “finished” and complete; throughout life, it changes and matures, and thus remains faithful to itself.” (#17)

“Love grows through love. Love is “divine” because it comes from God and unites us to God; through this unifying process it makes us a “we” which transcends our divisions and makes us one, until in the end God is “all in all’” (#18)

Reflection:

Who do I need to love better?

In what ways can I show love for others?

Do I love those people who are different than I, in race, creed and culturally?

God is Love and God is Justice