|
May 11, 2007
In this issue:
X
Mother’s Day
X
OCO Meeting
X
Immigration
X
Book discussion
X
JustFaith
X
Prayer vigil for Woodfin workers
Millennium Development Goals:
1.
Eradicate extreme hunger and
poverty
2.
Achieve universal primary
education
3.
Promote gender equality and
empower women
4.
Reduce child mortality
5.
Improve maternal health
6.
Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and
other diseases
7.
Ensure environmental
sustainability
8.
Develop a global partnership for
development
Catholic Campaign Against Global
Poverty
Millennium Promise
|
Prayer of
Global Solidarity
Mary, our mother, mother of all,
We journey as pilgrims
To sacred spaces,
Where all are welcomed, all are family.
Guide our steps as we search for your face
In the faces of those who suffer,
Those who thirst for healing, for justice, for peace.
May we know the place we are called to
When we recognize and embrace them,
And know we have reached home.
by Jane Deren, Education for Justice
Responding to
Violence in our own communities: Two opportunities to pray,
witness, and be in solidarity for peace in Oakland.
Mother’s
Morning-Mourning
Please
join us for a gathering of love and compassion,
creativity
and spirit…and hope. Saturday, May
12th
Lake Merritt & Frank C. Ogawa Plaza,
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
We
love Oakland.
Oakland is
where we live…and where many die violently.
Our
mothers mourn the loss of their children, young and old, to violence. At
least three times a year, they (and we) live with vivid memories of their
loss – a child’s birthday, the anniversary of their death, and
Mother’s Day. Let us come together to show our fellow Oaklanders how
much we care. All are welcome.
9 – 9:15 Lake Merritt (gather on 20th and Harrison side)
Silent prayer and meditation before a silent walk to
City Hall Pavilion (Frank Ogawa
Plaza).
10 – 12 Frank Ogawa Plaza for music, poetry,
dance, and ritual.
Wear:
Red – the color of blood, life, death and creativity
Bring:
Bells or gongs; a photograph of loved ones lost to violence in Oakland; and an item
for the altar.
For
more information, visit www.boundlesshearts.org
Community
Meeting: You are invited
On Thursday
evening, May 24th at 6:30PM the St. Columba Parish will be hosting a meeting
with members of the community and civic leaders of Oakland
to take a stand against the homicide and violence in Oakland. We are asking for the support of
the mayor for a strategy that includes outreach workers to go out on the
streets to connect our at risk young people with jobs and opportunities to
abandon a culture of violence. You may be aware of the white painted crosses
that litter the parish lawn, each representing a life lost. There have been
over 500 lives lost in the last 5 years to homicide and the age of the
victims is getting younger. We want the community to be a part of this action
so that our leaders can see how much we need them to lead the way. When
we stand together we show forth the ability to act, we show power. Please
attend if you are Oakland
residents- from the hills to the bay- let’s show solidarity with our
neighbors. St. Columba is on San
Pablo Avenue near Alcatraz.
Immigration
Reform:
Please
keep up the pressure: even if you’ve written and signed cards
before. See the action alert at www.justiceforimmigrants.org
Encourage others in California
and around the country to do the same.
Middle East
The
Middle East Study Group Cordially invites you to a discussion on
“PALESTINE
PEACE NOT APARTHEID”, a book written by former president, Jimmy
Carter.
3:00
TO 5:00 PM, Saturday June 2
The
hall, Orinda community Church
10 Irwin Way,Orinda CA, 94563
Please
read the book before attending the event.
www.middleeaststudygroup.org 925-228-5746
Save the Date:
Friends
of Sabeel, North America invite you to a conference on Middle East Peace in Berkeley August 24 and
25. More Details to Come!
JustFaith
If
you are considering starting JustFaith in the fall, please let the office
know: mdoyle@oakdiocese.org
SUPPORT IMMIGRANT WORKERS: Justice for Woodfin
Workers (from EBASE)
A PRAYER VIGIL
Tuesday May 15, 2007
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Emeryville City Council
(corner of Hollis St.
and Park)
JOIN
US IN A CIRCLE OF
PRAYER
--Lift up prayers for justice
--Stand in solidarity with the fired Woodfin Workers
--Usher in moral leadership from Emeryville City Council
Raise
your voice + Bring a
prayer + Sing a song
Sponsors: East Bay Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice & EBASE
Background
On April 27, twelve Woodfin Suites workers were fired in apparent retaliation
for blowing the whistle on living wage violations at the Emeryville hotel.
These workers have spent nearly a year in a courageous fight to win decent
working conditions and defend their jobs from the Woodfin’s
anti-worker, anti-immigrant attacks. They are now fighting for immediate
reinstatement and over $200,000 in back pay owed to them. They are seeking help
from the community and the Emeryville City Council.
The City of Emeryville
has the power to influence the Woodfin to take just and lawful action. The
City has the opportunity to deny the Woodfin an operating permit until the
hotel puts the housekeepers back to work and pays workers the back wages they
are owed. But the City Council needs encouragement to do the right thing.
For more information on the campaign, please go to:
http://www.workingeastbay.org/article.php?list=type&type=44
For
more information: Call Kristi Laughlin, 510-682-4302 / kristi@workingeastbay.org
http://www.workingeastbay.org/
|
