Ubi Caritas: Henri Nouwen Society 2022 Winter Newsletter

HNS NEWSLETTER / WINTER 2022

Greetings from the Executive Director...

Dear Friends,

The Christmas season is, as the song says, the most wonderful time of the year. Yet for some, it can be a time of stress and anxiety. The season’s good will can amplify one’s sense of loneliness and isolation or evoke cherished but painful memories of Christmases spent with loved ones no longer with us.

Still, Christmas is the season of joy. Or at least it should be. Henri Nouwen reminds us that joy is not the same as happiness. We can be unhappy about many things. But joy is rock-solid, unwavering, and undiminished. Joy, says Henri, comes from the knowledge of God’s love for us.

Joy is the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved

and that nothing – sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression,

war, or even death – can take that love away. – Here and Now

This is an especially timely sentiment given the year we have all been through. But it’s also the core of the true and everlasting Christmas message: God loves us so much that God chose to become one of us. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’). (Matt 1:23)

As you celebrate the season, I encourage you to meditate upon this simple and profound truth. You are loved. You have worth. You have value. God is with you! I also encourage you to reach out to those who struggle to get through Christmas alone. It’s amazing what a kindly-worded note, a phone call, email, or visit can do. No doubt, you will be equally blessed. I wish each of you a joy-filled and blessed Christmas and a peace-filled 2023!

Sincerely,

Karen Pascal, Executive Director, Henri Nouwen Society

Read & Download Winter Newsletter

A Christmas Gift Alternative

A box of chocolates or a bottle of wine can make a nice gift – if empty calories are the most meaningful thing you want to give your friends and coworkers. But a book can make an impact. It can inspire, encourage, and deeply bless one’s life. Especially a book by Henri Nouwen!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF

HENRI NOUWEN TITLES! henrinouwen.org/read

A New Henri Nouwen Biography

A new biography of Henri Nouwen is now being written by Gabrielle Earnshaw. Ms. Earnshaw is the founding archivist of the Henri Nouwen Archives & Research Collection and has been the editor of several recent releases by Henri Nouwen, including Following Jesus and You Are the Beloved. We couldn’t be more thrilled that Gabrielle has taken this project on. Read More

A Father to the Fatherless

The Henri Nouwen Society is collaborating with Prison Fellowship Canada to address the issue of fatherlessness in Canada. The two organizations will introduce a new study of Henri Nouwen’s The Return of the Prodigal Son to inmates in a number of prisons throughout the country, teaching and inspiring participants to discover the love of the Father.

Based on a program that was successfully implemented in South Africa, the study will help inmates learn to recognize and stand firm in their calling as fathers and husbands, with the goal of ending the generational cycle of hurt and pain. Read More

End-Of-The-Year Gifts

Many donors make a habit of supporting their preferred charities with a year-end gift. It allows the donor to clearly track charitable donations for the year, and it helps the receiving organization to budget and financially support programs for the year ahead.

If you value the work of the Henri Nouwen Society – and we know you do! –please consider making a year-end gift as we plan and prepare for 2023. Your support enables us to be more targeted and effective with our outreach. And it helps us bless and encourage people around the world with the spiritual teachings of Henri Nouwen. Thank you for keeping us in mind this year! www.henrinouwen.org/donate

Daily Meditations…en español!

We are delighted to announce that Henri’s popular Daily Meditations, which many of you receive in your inbox each day, will soon be available in Spanish! This new offering will be available to all recipients of the English meditations. A simple click on the Spanish link will introduce Henri’s unique and profound spiritual insights to new audiences around the world. Did you know that half a billion people speak Spanish? Talk about an extra-ordinary opportunity to make an impact! Details will be on our website ¡Estamos muy emocionados!