Looking for ways to get started? I recommend forming Study Groups, Book Clubs, and Discussion Groups. Start small; remember, the early followers of Jesus were small groups that gathered for meals, study, and discussion of Jesus' words. The followers then figured out action plans together. Today, all of this can be done live, on Zoom,... Continue Reading →
More than a century later, have you read Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum?
More than a century later, Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum (1891), a deep examination of economic and social issues, still resonates with the complexities of today's world. Its main ideas on economic fairness, workers' rights, and government roles remain just as important now as they were in the past, grounding us in a strong historical... Continue Reading →
Do we still hear the plea from Laudato Si’? By Julie Peller Ph.D.
Green Junction May 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’, on Care for our Common Home, his written plea to humanity to address environmental degradation through conversions of the heart. Like many Catholics, I expected significant shifts by church leaders toward care for creation after the release of this encyclical. National Catholic... Continue Reading →
Is Pope Leo XIV urgently directing our attention to the mega-ethical issue of our time?
Those of us who work in the spirit of Joseph Cardijn, Leo XIII, and the core message of the Encyclicals, we see a vision in the new pope that resonates with our understanding of Joseph Cardijn's work and with those who embraced his mantra in their lives. Indeed, Pope Leo XIV is drawing global... Continue Reading →
Habemus Papam Socialis Iustitiae
We have a Social Justice Pope. What's in a Name? A Whole Bunch! Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's decision to be known as Pope Leo XIV is not just a name change but a deliberate reference to the last Leo, who guided the Catholic Church during a challenging period and assisted in its transition into... Continue Reading →
A Tribute to Pope Francis by Julie Peller, Ph.D. Think Planet and People.
Green Junction The MaryKnoll Office of Global Concerns recently summarized the focus of Pope Francis’s work as “care for creation, justice for the poor with an emphasis on migrants and refugees, and the pursuit of peace.” Pope Francis was the one of the greatest voices for the natural world, which he beautifully noted as Our Common... Continue Reading →
Synodality: Manifest the kingdom of God here and now.
Pope Francis views synodality as a fundamental aspect of the Church's nature and mission in the third millennium. According to him, synodality involves walking together, listening to one another, and discerning the will of God as a Christian community. SEE-JUDGE-ACT Key aspects of Pope Francis' understanding of synodality include: Guided by the Holy Spirit: Pope... Continue Reading →
Is Leo XIII speaking to us? Are we listening?
One hundred thirty-four years ago, on May 15, 1891, Leo XIII gave Christians a timeless treasure: the renowned encyclical Rerum Novarum. This document, along with its successor Quadragesimo Anno by Pius XI, continues to shape the social doctrine within the Catholic Church, bridging the past and the present for all who seek to realize the Kingdom of God.... Continue Reading →
Innovate ~ Educate ~ Collaborate 