Loving Our Neighbor, by Tanya Higgins

Jesus asks us, tells us, commands us, to love our neighbors.  In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus answers the question “who is my neighbor?” with the parable of the good Samaritan.  The United States is currently wounded and in a time of pain.  How can we be good neighbors?  How can we heal together and become One Body in Christ? 

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote a pastoral letter in 2018 concerning racism in America entitled “Open Wide Our Hearts.”  On their website found here, they provide many resources and opportunities to learn, discuss, pray, including a page dedicated to Combating Racism which you can find here.  There is a lot of information.  It can be daunting, but starting with the pastoral letter can place you in God’s presence with a prayerful and open heart .

Here you can read the USCCB's letter, Open Wide Our Hearts--Our Enduring Call to Love; A Pastoral Letter Against Racism (2018)

Also, our Bishops came out with a list of practical steps to take, which you can find here. 

There are many emotions tied to racism and our history in the U.S.  It is good to learn and discuss these things.  And the bishops have created opportunities to learn and act.  Here are some recommendations to start discussions in your family:

For kids K-6, read this book Everyone Belongs.  It is written by the Bishops, and on the website there is a study guide that helps you discuss the ideas with your children. The activity sheets are on the order form page. 

For kids 10 and up and for adults, there are movies to watch together to start conversations.  Please always consult www.commonsensemedia.org before watching a movie with your kids.  Some good ones are:

Remember the Titans

            A movie about desegregating the schools and integrating a football team. Inspired by a true story.

Belle

            A movie about a daughter of a white British Naval captain and a black woman who lives with relatives in England in the 18^th century.  Inspired by a true story.

Hidden Figures

            A movie about black women mathematicians in NASA during the 1960s.  Based on a true story.

Selma

            A movie about Martin Luther King Jr.’s leading of the equal voting rights marches in 1965.  Based on a true story.

There are so many more wonderful and powerful movies to watch, but this is a start.

We must remember that we are all called to generosity and to give without counting the cost:

https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/to-give-and-not-to-count-the-cost/

Lastly, Archbishop Etienne's letter, A Call to Address Racism in Our Hearts and Community, can be found here. 

These are all fantastic resources to continue this conversation at home, and to continue combatting racism within our own hearts, in our own homes and communities, raising our children to hopefully become a generation more loving, more peaceful, more accepting, more compassionate, more forgiving, more merciful and more like Jesus.