Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry - Catholic Charities

Many of you in San José will know Elizabeth Lilly from liturgical, catechumenate, justice, and pastoral circles. She is now more actively working with parishes to help them foster and support their justice activities through her role with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. Because she is a liturgist at the core, she has been working on helping parishes make the connection between liturgy and justice clearer. Part of her motivation comes from the United States Bishops’ 1993 document, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.

Below is a sample bulletin reflection she offers that you can use each week that connects God’s story found in the Sunday readings with our story found in the real-life events of a person affected by the work of Catholic Charities and gives information on how you can become part of this story by proclaiming the Gospel in concrete ways in Santa Clara County.

Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry
October – 2008

For weekly bulletins, faith sharing groups, prayer at meetings, bible study, lectors, outreach actions…anywhere the word of God calls us to act with charity and justice. Community and Parish Partnerships Elizabeth Lilly, 408-325-5262, elilly@ccsj.org.

October 5, 2008
“The people are the cherished plant.” Isaiah 5

Catholic Charities story: Cathy, a single mother of two young girls was overwhelmed when they would throw tantrums several times a day. With the help of a dedicated case manager, Cathy has become much more confident in her parenting skills, has started to form deeper, richer relationships with her daughters and both girls have made great improvements. Cathy and her Family Partner are currently involved in getting an Individualized Education Plan for the older daughter. Cathy has been taking more responsibility in the process.

Catholic Charities opportunity: First 5 Family Partners case managers help parents assess their situations, learn about community resources, and make a plan of action. Empowering people to fully participate in the life of the community is one of the goals of Catholic Charities. For more information contact Charlene Moore, 408 283-6150, cmoore@ccsj.org.

Get the entire collection of reflections for October 2008 as a Word doc by clicking the graphic below.



Permission is given to download and reprint for your parishes and communities.

Novena for Faithful Citizenship

A new prayer resource is available on the Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship Web site. The USCCB is inviting Catholics to pray before the November election a novena for life, justice, and peace called the Novena for Faithful Citizenship. It is podcast and available for download.

The novena runs for nine days and can be used consecutively, one day each week, for nine days prior to the election, or in any way that works best for a community or individual.

The novena can be downloaded online at... http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/resources/podcasts .

For other Faithful Citizenship resources and materials visit www.faithfulcitizenship.org.

Emergency call for housing of refugees

I received this message in my email today. Can you help?

---

The staff of Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program sends their warm hellos and thanks for your past support of newly arrived refugees.

Many of you have been wonderful advocates for refugees for years, and it will come as no surprise to you that we are in the midst of our annual "refugee bulge." We resettle close to 70% of our annual caseload from July to September each year. (The federal calendar closes on Sept. 30, and no one flies after that until the President signs the new year's Presidential Determination - hence the overseas push out of the camps.)

Can you help us this summer?

Our two Refugee Transitional Homes are full to capacity, and Santa Clara County's housing situation is very, very difficult this year. We're finding it next to impossible to rent affordable apartments or homes on short notice. For example, we have a family of six (parents and 4 kids, ages 10 months to 13 years) from Bhutan arriving tomorrow, Friday. Their housing fell through today, and now we are scrambling to find a place for them in the next 24 hours.

Would you consider helping this family - or an individual refugee, or couple, or mother and child - during this time? Do you have extra room where you could house someone for a month or two and help us to welcome them into the country? We are expecting refugees from all over the world this month, including Burma, Bhutan, Sudan, Iraq - and we desperately need a hand.

You won't be alone - our case managers will help them with English classes, jobs, school enrollment for kids, housing - and lives will be transformed. Theirs, and yours - I know.

Thanks for considering this request, and for your past support.

Warm regards,
Coleen

Coleen Higa, Community Relations Manager
Refugee Foster Care Program
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
2625 Zanker Rd., Ste. 201
San Jose, CA 95134
408.325.5159
coleen@ccsj. org
www.ccsj.org

Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry - Catholic Charities

Many of you in San José will know Elizabeth Lilly from liturgical, catechumenate, justice, and pastoral circles. She is now more actively working with parishes to help them foster and support their justice activities through her role with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. Because she is a liturgist at the core, she has been working on helping parishes make the connection between liturgy and justice clearer. Part of her motivation comes from the United States Bishops’ 1993 document, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.

The most important setting for the Church’s social teaching is not in a food pantry or in a legislative committee room, but in prayer and worship, especially gathered around the altar for the Eucharist. It is in the liturgy that we find the fundamental direction, motivation, and strength for social ministry. Social ministry not genuinely rooted in prayer can easily burn itself out. On the other hand, worship that does not reflect the Lord’s call to conversion, service, and justice can become pious ritual and empty of the Gospel.

Below is a sample bulletin reflection she offers that you can use each week that connects God’s story found in the Sunday readings with our story found in the real-life events of a person affected by the work of Catholic Charities and gives information on how you can become part of this story by proclaiming the Gospel in concrete ways in Santa Clara County.

Get the entire collection of reflections for Easter 2008 as a Word doc by clicking the graphic below.



Permission is given to download and reprint for your parishes and communities.

Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry
Easter – 2008

For weekly bulletins, faith sharing groups, prayer at meetings, bible study, lectors, outreach actions…anywhere the word of God calls us to act with charity and justice. Community and Parish Partnerships Elizabeth Lilly, 408-325-5262, elilly [at] ccsj [dot] org.

March 31, 2008
“Peace be with you.” John 20

Catholic Charities story: Grace was grieving the cancer death of her 40 year old daughter, and while depressed and overwhelmed by her loss, she was suddenly raising two teenage grandchildren. The girls, too, were grieving and could not manage their school work. The Kinship Resource Center case manager referred Grace to the Center for Living with Dying and the teens to a mental health agency. She then helped Grace obtain legal guardianship for the girls. After 5 months of intensive case management, both young women are doing well in school, and Grace reports that her stress levels have decreased significantly.

Catholic Charities opportunity: For information about “kinship families” (grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings raising family member children) and the available resources, contact Marina Hurtado, (408) 325-5164, mhurtado [at] ccsj [dot] org. In May visit the KRC new location at Paseo Senter, 1900 Senter Road in San Jose near Saint Maria Goretti church.

January 22: Intercessions for Life

Intercessions for Life
January 22, 2008

Day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life.
from the USCCB (PDF file)


For our Holy Father, our Bishop ________,
Our Pastor, ___________,
and all the priests of our diocese:
that Christ might make them courageous witnesses of the Gospel of Life;
We pray to the Lord:

For President Bush
and Senators _____ and _________:
that the Gospel of Life might guide and inspire them;
We pray to the Lord:

For pregnant teens:
that they might receive the grace they need
to love and protect the child God has placed in their care;
We pray to the Lord:

For the unborn child who is deformed or ill:
that we might treasure the delicate and
wonderful gift which God brings to us in them;
We pray to the Lord:

That all husbands and wives
might see themselves as co-workers with God
in the act of creation;
We pray to the Lord:

For those tempted by abortion:
that God might teach us how to love them;
We pray to the Lord:

For those who are haunted by the memory of an abortion;
that they might be given the grace
to seek healing in Christ;
We pray to the Lord:

For priests hearing a confession of abortion:
that they might be strong, loving, and wise;
We pray to the Lord:

January 22 - Day of Penance and Prayer

In all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 22 of the “Masses for Various Needs”) should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 373

Of Rosaries and Skateboards - Roe v. Wade

from the USCCB's Life Issues Forum
January 11, 2008

Of Rosaries and Skateboards
By Tom Grenchik

A few days before Christmas, four skateboarders rescued a crying newborn baby who had been wrapped in a paper bag and abandoned in a neighborhood dumpster on one of the coldest nights of the year. The quick-thinking New York teens called 9-1-1, waited for the ambulance, and then accompanied the baby girl to the hospital where they learned that she survived only because of their alertness and their actions. None of these boys ever expected to be called on in such a dramatic way. Appropriately, they were considered heroes for saving the baby’s life.

Even if we don’t make it into the evening news, we are all called to be just as alert and active in protecting human life. There are always opportunities to respond. The 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade reminds us that our courts and legislatures still cling to the lie that human life can be discarded whenever it is inconvenient. Abortion is still protected in our land. Had that dumpster been located behind an abortion facility, the skateboarders would have been labeled as meddling trespassers trying to undermine “choice,” instead of being hailed as heroes.

To mark this sad anniversary, many of us will join in the March for Life in Washington D.C., San Francisco, or similar marches in many cities across the country. Many of us will work in our legislatures to expand protection for unborn children, or to prevent abortion-rights activists from enshrining abortion at the state level, because they fear the coming demise of Roe. Many of us will serve at our neighborhood pregnancy help centers, maternity homes, prenatal care programs, shelters, and food pantries so those in need will know there are alternatives to abortion and many people willing to help. Many of us will speak to our neighbors, classmates, co-workers, relatives and friends about the life and dignity of each human person. Many of us will pray and offer loving assistance outside the doors of abortion facilities, the legally protected “dumpsters” of Roe v. Wade. Many rosaries will be prayed to usher in a springtime of faith and a culture of life.

And our prayers are being heard. There are many signs that our culture continues to grow in a pro-life direction. Those who promote abortion are, with good reason, fearful that Roe v. Wade is nearing the end. They fear a massive generation of young people who reject the culture of death. They fear the witness of countless women, men and family members who mourn the loss of their children to abortion. They fear the growing attention to the humanity of unborn children on the Internet, in magazines, news reports, and the ultrasound images expectant parents and grandparents forward to friends. And they fear the growing trend to view each child, even those with health problems, as a gift, and not a threat. These “fears” should give us great encouragement. Pro-life prayers and actions are working. Rosaries and skateboards are building a culture of life!


Tom Grenchik is the Executive Director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Go to www.usccb.org/prolife to learn more about the bishops’ pro-life activities.

Pro-Life Mass and Prayer Walk – January 22, 2008

A Pro-Life Mass at St. Nicholas Church in Los Altos on Tuesday, January 22nd at 11:30a.m. will mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Following the mass, a silent Prayer Walk will proceed eight blocks to the Los Altos City Hall at 12:30 p.m. St. Nicholas Church is located two blocks south of Main Street on the frontage road west of Foothill Expressway.

For more information, please call St. Nicholas Church at (650) 948-2158.

Fair Trade Palms for Palm Sunday

The CRS Fair Trade Program is once again endorsing Eco-Palms as a way to promote economic justice on Palm Sunday. Parishes can make Palm Sunday a day of celebrating economic justice for farmers and stewardship of God’s creation in Guatemala and Mexico. Eco-palms are harvested in a way that rewards workers for the quality of the palms they harvest rather than the quantity, which helps to limit the amount of palms taken from a forest.

Eco-palm communities have taken upon themselves to learn about harvesting practices that minimize impact on the natural forest where the palm grows, and biodiversity of the region and improve the local communities’ standard of living. To have your Eco-palms fill the sanctuary with justice this Palm Sunday, you need to order by FEBRUARY 20, 2008.

For more information and an order form, visit www.crsfairtrade.org.

Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry - Catholic Charities

Many of you in San José will know Elizabeth Lilly from liturgical, catechumenate, justice, and pastoral circles. She is now more actively working with parishes to help them foster and support their justice activities through her role with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. Because she is a liturgist at the core, she has been working on helping parishes make the connection between liturgy and justice clearer. Part of her motivation comes from the United States Bishops’ 1993 document, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.

The most important setting for the Church’s social teaching is not in a food pantry or in a legislative committee room, but in prayer and worship, especially gathered around the altar for the Eucharist. It is in the liturgy that we find the fundamental direction, motivation, and strength for social ministry. Social ministry not genuinely rooted in prayer can easily burn itself out. On the other hand, worship that does not reflect the Lord’s call to conversion, service, and justice can become pious ritual and empty of the Gospel.

Below is a sample bulletin reflection she offers that you can use each week that connects God’s story found in the Sunday readings with our story found in the real-life events of a person affected by the work of Catholic Charities and gives information on how you can become part of this story by proclaiming the Gospel in concrete ways in Santa Clara County.

Get the entire collection of reflections for Winter Ordinary Time as a Word doc here. Permission is given to download and reprint for your parishes and communities.

Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry
Winter Ordinary Time – 2008

For weekly bulletins, faith sharing groups, prayer at meetings, bible study, lectors, outreach actions…anywhere the word of God calls us to act with charity and justice. Community and Parish Partnerships Elizabeth Lilly, 408-325-5262, elilly [at] ccsj [dot] org.

January 20, 2008
“I will make you a light to the nations.” Isaiah 49

Catholic Charities story: Carolyn brings her father to the Day Break III Center in Sunnyvale several days a week. While her father, who suffers from Alsheimer’s disease, has a good lunch and some social interaction, Carolyn can rest and tend to her other responsibilities. Day Break III provides a much needed and appreciated respite for the caregiver.

Catholic Charities opportunity: Day Break III, licensed adult day care celebrated the official opening this last week at 535 Old San Francisco Road in Sunnyvale. To learn more about their services contact Ginger McClure, 408-530-8734 or gmcclure [at] ccsj [dot] org. To volunteer check the volunteer opportunities at http://www.ccsj.org/. Other Day Break programs are in downtown San Jose and at St. Francis of Assisi church in the Evergreen area of San Jose.

Catholic Social Teaching: Dignity of the Human Person

Updated World Day of Peace Message

Benedict XVI's 2008 World Day of Peace message is now available and can be found at the Vatican website.

The resource for the World Day of Peace (Jan. 1) from the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development has also been updated to include a summary of the message and discussion questions for use in small groups.

You can open a printable (PDF) version of this resource by clicking here.

World AIDS Day - December 1, 2007

According to Zenit, on November 28, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appealed to people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and to combat "the disdain" he says is often directed toward those with the disease:

I remain spiritually close to everyone suffering from this terrible sickness, and to their families, especially those who have lost a loved one. To everyone I give assurances of my prayers. Furthermore, I wish to exhort all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the disdain which is often directed towards people who are affected by it, and to care for the sick, especially those who are still children.

Let us remember...that we are in the holy presence of God
when we are in the presence of those living, suffering, and dying with AIDS.

Here is a reflection I wrote three years ago on December 1 about "Advent waiting and what if."

And here are a list of resources for prayer, information, and action on AIDS.

Here are some resources from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.

Also, Catholic Relief Services and the Ecumenical Advocacy Allians both have resources to obeserve this year's World AIDS Day on December 1.

Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry - Catholic Charities

Many of you in San José will know Elizabeth Lilly from liturgical, catechumenate, justice, and pastoral circles. She is now more actively working with parishes to help them foster and support their justice activities through her role with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. Because she is a liturgist at the core, she has been working on helping parishes make the connection between liturgy and justice clearer. Part of her motivation comes from the United States Bishops’ 1993 document, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.

The most important setting for the Church’s social teaching is not in a food pantry or in a legislative committee room, but in prayer and worship, especially gathered around the altar for the Eucharist. It is in the liturgy that we find the fundamental direction, motivation, and strength for social ministry. Social ministry not genuinely rooted in prayer can easily burn itself out. On the other hand, worship that does not reflect the Lord’s call to conversion, service, and justice can become pious ritual and empty of the Gospel.

Below is a sample bulletin reflection she offers that you can use each week that connects God’s story found in the Sunday readings with our story found in the real-life events of a person affected by the work of Catholic Charities and gives information on how you can become part of this story by proclaiming the Gospel in concrete ways in Santa Clara County.

Get the entire collection of reflections for Advent and Christmas as a Word doc here. Permission is given to download and reprint for your parishes and communities.

Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry
December – 2007 – Advent

For weekly bulletins, faith sharing groups, prayer at meetings, bible study, lectors, outreach actions…anywhere the word of God calls us to act with charity and justice. Community and Parish Partnerships Elizabeth Lilly, 408-325-5262, elilly [at] ccsj [dot] org.

December 2, 2007
“Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day.” Romans 13

Catholic Charities story: Diego, a senior in high school, comes to the youth center in his neighborhood to do his homework. One day the director introduced him to a visiting business man. As they spoke they realized that, so far, they had gone to the same schools. The gentleman is now asking his alma mater for a scholarship for Diego.

Catholic Charities opportunity: To visit or to learn more about the services at the Washington United Youth Center on First Street in San Jose, call Tony Rodriguez, 408-938-6731, trodriguez [at] ccsj [dot] org.

Catholic Social Teaching: Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Posada: The Film - November 13, 2007

You are invited to a free viewing of a new film...

Posada

A Film about Unaccompanied Children

Knocking on America's Door

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
7:30p - 9:00p

Santa Clara University
Music and Dance Facility, Recital Hall
Free and Open to the Public

The U.S. Border Patrol turns away 100,000 unaccompanied immigrant children every year. This is the story of three who stayed.

Posada portrays the journeys of Densi, Johny and Wilber who, as teenagers, separately left their homes in Central America for the United States. They each were detained by immigration officials for months between 1999 and 2002. Their struggles helped pave the way for others to receive assistance. They relate their stories to Las Posadas, a Mexican tradition that retells the Christmas story of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter.

For more information Fr. Mark McGregor at mmcgregor [at] scu [dot] edu or 408-551-3000.

Guadalupe Immersion Experience

Reality Tour to Mexico (Oct. 9-18, 2007)

Come meet the people and experience the
culture and faith of Mexico

It's a study tour, a retreat, a pilgrimage.

Spend 10 days in Cuernavaca, Mexico seeing the sights, but also learning "the other side" of the immigration debate. Learn about Liberation Theology as we worship with the Sisters of Guadalupe, hear from them the meaning of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and visit with the poor in their homes. You must register by April 23rd to be assured of a place on the tour. Sponsored by the Council of Churches.

Cost: $700 + airfare (around $500)
(A $200 deposit must be received by April1st to guarantee a place on the tour)

The trip is sponsored by the Council of Churches of Santa Clara County.

For more information and an application, contact Rev. Margo Tenold (408-297-2660) or revmargo@earthlink.net.

Click on flyer for more details.

Connecting Sunday with Justice - Catholic Charities

Many of you in San José will know Elizabeth Lilly from liturgical, catechumenate, justice, and pastoral circles. She is now more actively working with parishes to help them foster and support their justice activities through her role with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. Because she is a liturgist at the core, she has been working on helping parishes make the connection between liturgy and justice clearer. Part of her motivation comes from the United States Bishops’ 1993 document, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.

The most important setting for the Church’s social teaching is not in a food pantry or in a legislative committee room, but in prayer and worship, especially gathered around the altar for the Eucharist. It is in the liturgy that we find the fundamental direction, motivation, and strength for social ministry. Social ministry not genuinely rooted in prayer can easily burn itself out. On the other hand, worship that does not reflect the Lord’s call to conversion, service, and justice can become pious ritual and empty of the Gospel.

Below she offers us some bulletin reflections that you can use each week that connects God’s story found in the Sunday readings with our story found in the real-life events of a person affected by the work of Catholic Charities and gives information on how you can become part of this story by proclaiming the Gospel in concrete ways in Santa Clara County.

Here is the same text as a Word document that you can download and reprint.

Sunday Reflections and Social Ministry
April and May – 2007

For weekly bulletins, faith sharing groups, prayer at meetings, bible study, lectors, outreach actions…anywhere the word of God calls us to act with charity and justice. Community and Parish Partnerships Elizabeth Lilly, 408-325-5262, elilly@ccsj.org

April 29, 2007
“I, John, had a vision of a great multitude from every nation, race, people and tongue.” Revelation 7

Catholic Charities story: Mariama was an African refugee who escaped here alone, separated from family. She learned enough English to study at community college, and become a nurse. She is now working as a nurse's assistant, and hopes to be reunited with her children soon.

Catholic Charities opportunity: Volunteers are needed to speak English with newly resettled refugees and their families, visit them in their homes and accompany them on trips to the grocery store and other errands. The time commitment is flexible. Contact Archana Sharma, 408-325-5215, ashrama@ccsj.org. in our Refugee Resettlement Services.

May 6, 2007
“As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” John 13

Catholic Charities story: Grandma Mickie spends her afternoons at a local school with Johnny, a preschooler who has difficulty learning and speaking. She gives him undivided attention, reads to him, plays games and does art projects. She has had several “foster” grandchildren and she keeps coming back because of all the love they give back to her.

Catholic Charities opportunity: Foster Grandparents are at least 60 years old, have good health, low incomes, and a desire to work with children. To learn more about becoming a Foster Grandparent, contact Teresa Wong, 408-325-5158 or twong@ccsj.org.

May 13, 2007
“Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14

Catholic Charities story: A local skilled nursing home is discharging residents because Medicare won't continue to pay. Ombudsmen is empowering the residents to call the Medicare appeals number and coaching them on what to say and how to get their discharge reversed. About 80% of the time they appeal they can stay in the home a little longer to get healthier.

Catholic Charities opportunity: The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for all the residents of residential care homes and skilled nursing facilities in our county. Volunteers receive training and certification. For more information about this important ministry contact Bethany Pounders, 408-325-5134, bpounders@ccsj.org.

May 20, 2007
“You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1

Catholic Charities story: When Anna was a young child her family came to this country. Catholic Charities helped them settle in the community. By age 15, because of illness and death in her family, Anna needed help. Catholic Charities helped relatives become Anna’s legal guardians.

Catholic Charities opportunity: Anna is also supported by the Independent Living Skills program with our Kinship Resource Services. To learn more about our outreach to vulnerable teens contact Shelly Ahn, 408-938-6731, or sahn@ccsj.org.

May 27, 2007
“Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” Psalm 104

Catholic Charities story: Ynez, after leaving a violent past, is blest with a home for herself and her three children, a case manager, daycare in the housing complex and the opportunity to be in a nursing program at the local community college.

Catholic Charities opportunity: For over 25 years Catholic Charities has been screening and placing appropriate clients in houses and apartments. Contact our Housing Search and Stabilization Services at 408-325-5277 if you are a landlord or if you need an individual assessment of your housing needs.

Catholic Charities workshop on JustFaith: April 22, 2007

The Call to Transform Our Hearts and the World

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
invites you to a Sunday workshop introducing

JustFaith

a program that empowers people

to develop a passion and thirst for God’s justice

presented by Jack Jezreel

Executive Director of JustFaith Ministries

Rooted in Hebrew and Christian scripture, and our experience in the world, the Catholic church has articulated principles of justice and just living that are summed up in these words: common good, shared rights and responsibilities, value of human dignity, solidarity, respect for creation, grassroots wisdom and energy, and the call to stand with the poor. These principles invite us to some remarkable possibilities in the name of love and compassion. The vision speaks to life-giving choices on behalf of a world that struggles to survive. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore some new possibilities for your life, your community, your heart!

Comments from previous participants: "I loved this workshop. It was both inspirational and challenging." "Extremely dynamic presentation." "Very motivating talk, inspiring, spiritual and practical." "Excellent presentation, rooted in scripture.” "This workshop is better than excellent."

Anyone interested in learning more about JustFaith or just curious to learn more about this faith tradition is welcome.

When: Sunday, April 22, 1-5 PM

Where: Holy Family Parish, 4848 Pearl Ave., San Jose (near highways 85 and 87)

Contact: Elizabeth Lilly, 408 325-5262 or elilly@ccsj.org

Cost: $15.00 a person with group discounts (starting at 2 for $25, ask about teams)

About the facilitator:
Jack Jezreel, popular national speaker and justice educator, holds a Master of Divinity degree from Notre Dame, spent six years in a Catholic Worker Community, and has been involved with parish-based justice ministry for 25 years. He is the author of JustFaith and serves as Executive Director of JustFaith Ministries. He received the prestigious Harry Fagan Award in 2006 for his unique contribution to the achievement of the Catholic vision of social justice. He is married and has three daughters.

About JustFaith: JustFaith Ministries is partnered with and promoted by Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services and Bread for the World. JustFaith is used in over ninety dioceses with over twelve thousand graduates.

Download a registration form (Word doc) here.

Dial 211 for Free, Non-Emergency Help

United Way Silicon Valley is providing a great new resource for our San José diocese parish communities.

Dial 211 for a free, non-emergency, telephone service that connects people with hundreds of community services. A trained, caring professional will help callers in 140 languages, 24 hours a day, find information and referrals for:

• basic needs,
• child and elder care,
• counseling,
• employment assistance,
• health services,
• immigration assistance,
• volunteering,
• donating,
• and so much more.

Dial 211 is for everyday needs and in times of crisis. Rubén Solorio, Parish and Community Relations Manager, will be providing posters, brochures and information to all Catholic parishes and schools. To learn more, visit www.211scc.org or contact Rubén with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County at (408) 325-5129.

Operation Rice Bowl - 2007

Operation Rice Bowl materials including posters, rice bowls, Educator’s Guides, and home calendars have recently been sent to all parish coordinators. These materials are bilingual in Spanish and English. Operation Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services’ Lenten solidarity program. Materials are designed to offer faith communities the opportunity to deepen their Lenten experience through prayer, fasting, learning, and giving. Of particular interest to you may be the Educator’s Guides which also contains a special section entitled “If you only have 10 minutes…” designed for limited-time catechesis. For more information, see www.crs.org/orb or contact Linda Batton at batton@dsj.org.

Diocese of St. Petersburg Statement on Terri Schiavo

Here is what I believe is a good statement on the case in Florida with Terri Schiavo. It was made by the Bishop of St. Petersburg, Bishop Robert Lynch, whom I met last year. I pass it on to you in case you might find some guidance in his words if you discuss this issue with friends and members of your communities. Read it here in Spanish.