Author Archive
Spirited Reflection: Leave something for the stranger
January 16, 2017
“Do you want to be holy?” the Bishop beamed at my son. He paused before asking again, with a thunderous laugh, “Do you want to be holy?” “Yes”, my son smiled, “how”? He said, “Honour your father and mother”. The…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
GREAT NEWS! Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment does not close Acción Ecológica
January 13, 2017
GREAT NEWS! Yesterday the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment decided not to grant the request to close Acción Ecológica. National and international pressure was key. Dearest friends, We want to publicly acknowledge the thousands of letters, embraces and messages that we…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Latin America
KAIROS Blanket Exercise, Gladue Summit, Thunder Bay
January 13, 2017
“A very generous and talented videographer created this short video of the Mass KAIROS Blanket Exercise I co-facilitated in Thunder Bay on November 29, 2016 for 100+ participants at the Gladue Summit, which was organized by the Ministry of the…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
The KAIROS community is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Art Manuel
January 13, 2017
The KAIROS community is deeply saddened by the recent passing of Art Manuel. Art’s relationship with KAIROS stretches back almost two decades to the pre-KAIROS days of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC). Art informed many of our education and action…
Post filed in: Uncategorized
First-year law students participate in KAIROS Blanket Exercise
January 12, 2017
Interactive exercise walks law students through history as they learn how Canadian law throughout the years has affected Indigenous individuals and communities. Photo (L to R): Blanket exercise facilitators Jodi Stonehouse, Koren Lightning-Earle and Dr. Tracy Bear, pictured here with…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
KAIROS Blanket Exercise deepens RCMP Alberta Division’s cultural awareness
January 11, 2017
Marilyn McSporran couldn’t forget the moment years ago when one of her husband’s colleagues in the RCMP made an ugly remark about Indigenous peoples. When an Elder in Saddle Lake, Alberta gently encouraged her to introduce the KAIROS Blanket Exercise…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Spirited Reflection: Shifting from human-centred to ecological-centred
January 9, 2017
What will be the condition of earth for our grandchildren and great grandchildren? What kind of world will they inherit? It depends on our engagement now in trying to understand our ecological problems. This has been called ecological guidance –…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Spirited Reflection: Jubilee – a new year reset
January 1, 2017
“Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Students learn indigenous history by reenacting colonization in unique blanket exercise
December 26, 2016
Blankets, a script and a circle of people provides a powerful lesson to classes from the Toronto Catholic board The blankets represent Turtle Island (North America) before the exercise. As part of its endeavour to get students to learn history…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Concern for KAIROS Partner Acción Ecológica
December 23, 2016
Acción Ecológica is a well respected partner of KAIROS, in Ecuador. On December 23, 2016, KAIROS wrote to the President of Ecuador asking for a halt to a Ministry of the Interior process that would withdraw the legal status of…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Bracing for violence, praying for justice
December 21, 2016
DR Congo update – December 21, 2016. The Congolese people are bracing themselves for social unrest and violence after the mandate of President Joseph Kabila expired at midnight on Monday, December 19. Gerard Kwigwasa, the executive secretary of Héritiers de…
Post filed in: Africa
Spirited Reflection: Remembering the innocents of every age
December 18, 2016
Perhaps arising from my very catholic-thinking Anglican grandmother’s nurturing, perhaps because it’s exotic to reformed Protestants like myself, but I have always been interested in the feast days of the saints around Christmas. Stephen’s Day on December 26th reminds us…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Upcoming KAIROS Blanket Exercise Facilitator Trainings
December 16, 2016
These sessions prepare you to lead the Blanket Exercise, a powerful teaching tool to foster truth and reconciliation. When and Where: Upcoming Facilitator Training: KAIROS Blanket Exercise Toronto Facilitator Training Thursday, January 19, 2017 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Coffee and…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
Hope in the struggle: KAIROS Christmas video for sharing
December 15, 2016
“Christmas offers a welcome reminder that God came among us in the very midst of repression, disrupting empire with a most unexpected peace.” Dear Friends, Here is the KAIROS Christmas video. I invite you to take a moment to watch…
Post filed in: Executive Director, Spirited Reflections
National day of prayer in solidarity with Indigenous peoples
December 15, 2016
For the past two years, after having followed a training course with KAIROS — of which Development and Peace – Caritas Canada is a member — I have the honour and privilege of being able to facilitate “the Blanket Exercise”…
Post filed in: Indigenous Rights
New briefing paper: We can fight climate change and hunger at the same time
December 13, 2016
While droughts and warming temperatures are exacerbating global hunger, scientists are showing that it is possible to simultaneously fight food insecurity and climate change. The most recent KAIROS Briefing Paper describes how farming practices that capture carbon dioxide and store…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice
Spirited Reflection: We are the ones to listen
December 13, 2016
Psalm 80, Vs 3-7 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
16 women of courage to inspire us during the #16Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign
December 10, 2016
A different woman of courage will be highlighted on Facebook every day. Please share with your networks.
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Recognition to outgoing KAIROS Regional Reps for their outstanding contribution to the KAIROS Network
December 9, 2016
Earlier this fall, Bev McDonald stepped down from the role of KAIROS Atlantic Regional Representative after 8 years of service. The role of Regional Rep is a big commitment that requires a lot of dedication and perseverance and all of…
Post filed in: Uncategorized
Congolese human rights defenders need our support
December 6, 2016
KAIROS asks you to keep the women and men of Congo in your thoughts and prayers in the midst of that country’s ongoing political crisis. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a political tinderbox ready to explode as President…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage
Spirited Reflection: Listening to voices of young women
December 5, 2016
Advent readings: Isa 35.1-10 | Ps 146.5-10 | Mt 11.2-11 | Jms 5.7-10 Not many teenage girls make national headlines. One who has caught our attention in recent years is Malala Yousafzai, of Pakistan. Her courageous advocacy is a significant…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
Canadian government must support women’s rights organizations in these troubled times
November 30, 2016
More than words is needed to address gender-based violence around the world. In the wake of the U.S. election, when hope seems very dim for those committed to women’s rights and gender justice, we can be inspired by women’s rights…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Op Eds
KAIROS response to federal government decisions on pipeline projects
November 30, 2016
KAIROS is dismayed with the federal government’s decision to approve the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, as announced by Prime Minister Trudeau on November 29. This decision is incompatible with the government’s commitment to respect and implement the UN…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Indigenous Rights
Spirited Reflection: Borderlands, illumination and preparing the way
November 29, 2016
3:1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3:3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
On leaving Marrakesh: Reflections on the climate road ahead
November 29, 2016
Flying through the labyrinthine alleys of the Medina on a motorbike as the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) UN Climate Change Conference came to a close in Marrakesh, Morocco, I found it an apt analogy to…
Post filed in: Ecological Justice, Spirited Reflections
Women’s role building peace and ending gender-based violence the focus of Colombian organization’s Canadian tour
November 23, 2016
Organización Femenina Popular, a Colombian grassroots women’s rights organization and KAIROS partner, visits Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa, November 23 – December 4 (Toronto, ON) – Women’s critical role in peace building in Colombia and bearing international witness to…
Post filed in: Gender Justice/Women of Courage, Media Releases
Spirited Reflection: Moonstruck
November 21, 2016
[The LORD] shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any…
Post filed in: Spirited Reflections
KAIROS Times: November 2016
November 18, 2016
Read the November 2016 issue.
Post filed in: KAIROS Times E-Newsletter
