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A Prayer
For Immigrant
Justice
Blessed are You,
Lord God,
of all creation.
Through Your
goodness, we live in this land
that You have so
richly blessed.
Help us always to
recognize our
Blessings come
from You
and remind us to
share them
with others,
especially those who come
to us today from
other lands.
Help us to be
generous, just, and welcoming,
as You have been
and are generous to us.
(Please
pray for comprehensive and just immigration reform in the weeks ahead.
www.justiceforimmigrants.org
)
Actions on Darfur:
- This Sunday, April 29, 2007 is
the Global Day for Darfur.
On this day at 4:00pm, the Bay Area Darfur Coalition is holding a
high-profile rally at Civic Center Plaza
in San Francisco.
If you attend, you'll get to hear from Bill Richardson, a presidential
candidate who's been to Darfur. You'll
get to listen to Dave Eggers, who recently wrote an award-winning novel
about Southern Sudan. Most importantly,
though, you'll hear directly from the Sudanese.
At the rally, three Darfuris will speak about the
ongoing genocide. They won't put the crisis only in terms of numbers, or only
in terms of slogans. They'll remind you that there is a human face to this
genocide, and human dignity that we must all defend. http://www.darfursf.org/
- Sign: We have a large vinyl
sign that a parish or school can borrow to put outside in solidarity
with this international event: it says: “
A Call to Your conscience
savedarfur.org ” contact mdoyle@oakdiocese.org
for info.
(Note:
initial plan for a fair trade event on April 29 has been changed due to the Darfur events. Fair trade will be rescheduled.)
Debt Relief:
- Pope Calls on G-8 to cancel Africa’s Debt: http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/9704
“He says helping the poorest countries to overcome poverty and
wipe out Aids is the "grave and unconditional responsibility"
of the wealthiest nations.” (Tablet)
Vacation
Bible School:
If
your summer religious ed groups are looking for service projects to raise
funds for, how about mosquito nets?
They
cost about $10 each, and they protect children, especially in Africa.
Immigration
News and Events:
Film: May 4 Friday at St.
Joseph the Worker 7:00 pm
'Lives for Sale' -- A new
investigative documentary on immigration and human trafficking from Maryknoll
. St. Joseph the Worker
School in Marian Hall
(2nd floor)
2125 Jefferson St,
Berkeley (Located just behind
St. Joseph the Worker
Church; Parking
available in school lot at Grant St. Please note that this
venue is not wheelchair accessible.Free
For
info: Bill Joyce (webike@yahoo.com)
Building Inclusive Communities: A Convening for Faith and
Immigrant Leaders
hosted
by the The FAITHS Program of the San Francisco Foundation and KQED
Tuesday
May 15, 2007 9am-noon
Location:
Jodo Shinshu Buddhist
Center, 2140 Durant Ave, Berkeley
Presentations
on the current challenges to civil and immigrant rights.
Media
resources and training for congregational education.
Free
of charge, box lunch provided. RSVP with your contact info by May 10.
415-733-8541 or email: trc@sff.org
Justice for Immigrants: Immigration
reform legislation is being developed and debated now in both the House and
Senate. There will likely be a bill out of the Senate at the end of May, and
one from the House by July. The JFI campaign is supporting the basic format
of the STRIVE bill which is the first bill from the House although there are
some changes needed in it. The Bishops are opposing the plans from the White
House which are restrictive on family unification. Updates and info at www.justiceforimmigrants.org Please
act and pray for new legislation which will advance the dignity of our
communities.
May 1 there will be marches in Oakland, Martinez,
and in other cities around the country. If you can attend a march to be in
solidarity with our brothers and sisters-please do. We hope the message of
the marches is comprehensive immigration reform now, including family
unification. It is hoped that students will remain in school, and that
workers will not boycott their jobs. It is a crucial moment for the
legislation and there is concern that we focus on the dignity of workers, and
the importance of education.
This
march is after work and after school: Tues. May 1, 5:30 pm march from
Martinez Marina on Court St. To the Contra Costa courthouse for an interfaith
vigil. All are welcome. Sponsored by CCISCO
.
Heroes for
Today
The
2007 winners of the Goldman Environmental Prizes: http://www.goldmanprize.org/ These
regular citizens are living the values of environmental justice, caring for
and protecting creation often at great personal risk. Their stories are
inspiring.
Lay Convocation
June 2, 2007 St.
Mary’s Cathedral
You
are welcome to participate in Coming of
Age: the First Annual Northern California Lay Convocation, taking
place at the Cathedral of St. Mary the Assumption, on June 2, 2007. San
Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer has graciously opened the doors of the
Cathedral to this historic, first-of-its-kind gathering in Northern
California, where faithful Catholics, laity and clergy alike, will come
together to(1) learn and celebrate the history and tradition of lay
leadership (2) bring their voices to the table to discuss the successes and
challenges of the present, and (3) develop constructive strategies for
increasing the voice of lay women and men in the Church of the future.
Please
visit the website www.NorCalLayConvocation.org
for important details, including the Convocation Mission Statement,
registration, and an outline of the day’s events. As you will surely
discern from the Mission Statement, open-hearted dialogue and
non-confrontational, respectful listening are core principles of this group.
With that in mind, please know that, though this event will be lay-driven and
lay led, as a member of the Northern California Catholic community, your
presence, and that of any and all of your clerical colleagues, is most
welcomed.
Summer Social
Ministry Institute:
This
annual training sponsored by a national Catholic justice group and the USCCB
is a great opportunity to learn and network.
Track
one: Foundations for Catholic Social Teaching
Track
two: Care for Creation
This
event is in Milwaukee
this summer: July 15-20
The
faculty is exceptional and a great chance for parish leaders to develop their
skills. Many of you heard Dr. Gina Hens-Piazza at our social ministry
meeting last fall; she will join Fr. Brian Hehir from Harvard and many
others. See the details at: http://www.nplc.org/roundtable/events/summerinstitute07.htm
Understanding
African American Catholicism: Workshop for Pastoral
Leaders
Our
speaker is:
Eva Marie Lumas, S.S.S. D. Min. Howard
University
Assistant Professor of Religious Education and Culture at
FST
Eva,
a Sister of Social Service, is a consultant and instructor of religious
education across the country. Besides her busy teaching and preaching
schedule locally, she has initiated the development of several religious
education guidebooks and training programs for the African-American Catholic
Community. A much sought-after lecturer and preacher at the national level in
the areas of inculturation, multiculturalism, catechesis, liturgy and
pastoral ministry, Eva's profound and creative insights into culture and
ritual awaken a new sense of awareness in students in her popular classes.
Who
Should Attend: Priests, Deacons, Lay Ecclesial Ministers, Pastoral Council
Members and other Parish Ministers (including social justice leaders)
When:
Thursday May 10, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. to 2p.m.
Where:
St. Columba Catholic Church – 6401
San Pablo Ave, Oakland
Cost:
$10 per person (Lunch included)
Get
registration information from: Peggy Maurer pmaurer@oakdiocese.org
Health Care
Updates
Children:
Of the 44 million who live without health insurance, 9 million are children.
Education for Justice has produced an insert for bulletins and an action
letter to Congress re. Health Care for children. Please email me if
interested and I will send you the resources. mdoyle@oakdiocese.org
In California: The
state government is engaged in debate on several bills which would provide
health care reform. The California Conference of Bishops is supporting
several bills at this time, in an effort to move the discussion forward. One
of these bills, SB 840 is the universal health care bill and there is
information at http://www.onecarenow.org/index.html
There
is an excellent DVD which explains this issue available from their website.
Health care is a human right, basic for human dignity, and this bill meets
many of the criteria- including providing care for everyone, including those
who are not working, or are undocumented.
JustFaith
Thanks to Nora Petersen and her team at
St. John Vianney for a great workshop with Jack Jezreel on Saturday.
If
you are thinking about forming a JustFaith group or would like to just join a
group in your area- now is the time to get started. You can email Chris
Breu who can send you materials to help you decide whether this is right for
you. Chris Breu at: justfaithmin2@bellsouth.net
There is a promotional DVD which can be ordered from Chris to share with your
pastor and staff to learn more about the program.
Graduates: JustFaith grads had a great
meeting with Jack on Friday evening. He outlined several new programs which
are exciting options for JustFaith including an ecumenical version of the program,
and shorter groups that will focus on issues. He is also exploring ways to
gather graduates and friends for regular meetings. Thanks to all who
participated and to Meg Bowerman who hosted us at Christ the Light. Jack is
always seeking funds to support the program so please send him a donation if
you feel so moved.
Volunteers
Needed
Mercy Brown
Bag Program: Food for Elderly Neighbors
Regular,
reliable volunteers needed to:
1)
Pick up 40-45 bags at their Emeryville
Senior Center
site @ 10am on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month and deliver them to
St. Andrews Manor on 32nd/ San Pablo.
2)
Pick up 25-30 bags at their Ashland Community Center site in San
Leandro at 8:45 on the 2nd and 4th Mondays and deliver them to
Service Opportunity's for Seniors, Meals on Wheels program - 1345 Grove Street
in Hayward. Ashland is about 10
minutes from Service Opportunity's.
Help
is available on both ends to help load and unload.
If
you or your group can help, please contact : Joy Clinton 534-8540 x 369
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