Brazilian Bishop Performs Hunger Strike

I found this article on the BBC website and to be honest it's the first time I have heard about it. In Brazil Dom Luiz Flavio Cappio had to be hospitalized after performing a hunger strike for 27 days. He was protesting the diversion of the Sao Francisco river citing the detrimental effects to the environment. The Vatican has tried to convince him to cease the strike for the sake of his health, but he refused.

A Christmas prayer for peace

The Christmas season has always been my preferred time to refocus myself on my spirituality. Advent gives me the structure I need to start attending Mass regularly again – four Sundays in a row is a realistic goal for me. Time away from the stresses of life at Loyola (exams, moving, BOLOs…) has lended itself to me as time for quiet reflection. With my parents at work, I’ve got the house all to my self. We don’t get this much downtime often, so try taking advantage of it.

In that spirit, I’d like to share a prayer that LUCAP alum Carlos Navarro (’79) passed on to me today. Its written by Jesuit priest and peace activist John Dear, S.J. and was recently published in the National Catholic Reporter.

Here's an excerpt:

Thank you, God of peace, for announcing the coming of peace on earth and for coming among us to make peace. Thank you for siding with the homeless, the refugee, the marginalized, the immigrant, the outsider, the disenfranchised, the imprisoned, the enemy. Thank you for being good news for the poor and the oppressed.

Read the entire prayer.