Social Concerns Column for April 10, 2011

Livermore Public Library

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.  Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.  --Psalm 82:3-4

Next English Tutor Training is April 30th.  We have partnered with the Livermore Public Library’s excellent and popular program to help adults improve their spoken English skills.  If you speak English, you have all the skills you need to tutor.  You do not need to be bilingual.  You will be paired with a St. Michael parishioner who is eager to improve their spoken English.  We ask for two hours of your time per week, scheduled at your convenience. Contact Joanne Angvick, 443-1422, joangvick@sbcglobal.net.

Operation Rice Bowl is Online.  Each Lent, nearly 13,000 faith communities across the U.S. participate in Operation Rice Bowl to demonstrate solidarity with the poor around the world. Sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, 75 percent of Operation Rice Bowl donations go to help fund  increased food security around the world. Twenty-five percent support hunger and poverty alleviation in the USA. For information: http://orb.crs.org

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.  --Psalm 107:9
Thank You, St. Michael Parish, for Supporting Livermore Homeless Refuge.   Volunteers at the LHR are busy, literally working every day.  Thanks to support from people like you, they were able to remain open seven days a week.  Bob and Donna McKenzie, LHS Materials & Supplies Coordinators, says, “We cannot express in words alone how grateful we are for all the supplies and clothing we received from St. Michael parish.  All the homeless are benefiting from St. Michael's generous giving.  Thank you for helping us help the people who are struggling.  We continue to be humbled every day.”  In addition to providing shelter, the LHS volunteers are able to speak on behalf of the homeless in Livermore.  They have little, or no, voice in our community.  Thank you, St. Michael!  Learn more at: http://www.livermorehomelessrefuge.org/

Learn more about the St. Michael Parish Social Concerns Ministry at http://www.saintmichaelliv.org/pages/social.html

Social Concerns Column for April 3, 2011

Bay Area Walk Against Genocide, April 10th

The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. – Psalm 34:15

Next English Language Tutor Training is April 30th: You Can Help a Fellow St. Michael Parishioner.  The St. Michael Social Concerns Ministry has partnered with the Livermore Public Library’s excellent and popular program to help adults improve their English skills.  If you speak English, you have all the skills you need to tutor – you will be paired with a St. Michael parishioner who is eager to improve their spoken English.  You can materially help someone to greater economic opportunities.  The next training sessions are in February.  Interested? Contact Joanne Angvick, 443-1422, joangvick@sbcglobal.net.

Bay Area Walk Against Genocide, April 10, Lake Merritt, Oakland.  Join the interfaith community from across the Bay Area in raising the visibility and voices of survivors and descendants of past genocides, raising funds for ongoing services to conflict-affected civilians, and advocating to end and prevent genocide.  The Walk will benefit the work of American Jewish World Service and Catholic Relief Services in conflict zones, and the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition. For more information and to register: www.walkagainstgenocide.org, 510-286-7919

“One Human Family” – Pope’s Message for 2011 World Day of Migrants and Refugees.  “Dear Brothers and Sisters, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees offers the whole Church an opportunity to reflect on … the growing phenomenon of migration, to pray that hearts may open to Christian welcome and to the effort to increase in the world justice and charity, pillars on which to build an authentic and lasting peace. ‘As I have loved you, so you also should love one another’ (John 13:34), is the invitation that the Lord forcefully addresses to us and renews us constantly: if the Father calls us to be beloved children in his dearly beloved Son, he also calls us to recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.” Read the full text on the Vatican’s website:  http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/migration/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20100927_world-migrants-day_en.html

I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.  – Psalm 34:4

Social Concerns Column for March 27, 2011

“O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” – Psalm 34:8

Livermore Homeless Refuge Thanks St. Michael Parish.  Congratulations to all of you who supported our drive to collect supplies for the Livermore Homeless Refuge on February 26-27!!  What a great outburst of generosity from the people of St. Michael  Parish!  By the end of the 8am Sunday Mass we had two truckloads of supplies with lots more to come at the following Masses.  Bob and Donna McKenzie collected the supplies, and did all the sorting and storing.  We especially thank Jim Shirley who gathered up truckloads of supplies when the vestibule over flowed with your generosity. 

On a recent evening, the Refuge had more clients seeking shelter than they had room, so four men agreed to give up their spaces and sleep in their cars. What a wonderful example of generosity upon generosity! 

Please help the Livermore Homeless Refuge stay open more evenings: volunteer  to staff a night shift.  Bob will gladly talk to you about the details: Bob and Donna McKenzie 443-7398 or cell 895-4167.

Livermore Public Library READ Project

Social Concerns Ministry Meeting in March.  We discussed the continuing needs of the Livermore Homeless Refuge.  We planned greater efforts to get more volunteers to become trained as English tutors for our own Hispanic parishioners: volunteers are trained free of charge by the Livermore Public Library, and then meet with their mentee once or twice a week on a mutually agreeable schedule.  We attended the Diocese of Oakland’s Social Justice Forum on March 19th at Holy Names University.  We have started a column for Lent called "Our Lenten Journey" based on material from the Passionists.  We discussed a program called Action on Peace for Jerusalem and other national speakers coming to the Bay Area.  May the Holy Spirit guide our every effort.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap.  -- Psalm 113:7

CHRISTIAN HEROES: Movie Series for Lent

This just in from John Watkins, Social Justice Coordinator, Diocese of Oakland:

The Pax Christi/Social Justice Group of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Castro Valley (3433 Somerset Ave.) is sponsoring a Lenten movie series on Christian Heroes.  We will show a film each week about an inspirational Christian who lived out the Gospel message in a way that made a positive impact on society.  A discussion will follow each film.

Click here for a map to the parish.

Franz Jägerstätter, martyr

We will show these films on 4 Wednesdays of Lent - March 16, 23, 30 and April 6 - at 7:30 p.m. in Stack Hall (behind the church) after our 6:00 p.m. Mass and soup meal. We’ll be showing the following films:

March 16: “FRANZ JAGERSTATTER: A MAN OF CONSCIENCE,” a documentary about Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer and father, who had to make a agonizing choice: to serve in Hitler’s army or to face execution. (24 min.)

March 23:   “FOOL FOR CHRIST:  THE STORY OF DOROTHY DAY” chronicles the fascinating life of Dorothy Day, a journalist, social activist, and a devout convert to Catholicism. (52 min.)

March 30:   “DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE” explores how Dr. King’s beliefs and methods evolved in the face of the rapidly changing climate of the Civil Rights Movement. (60 min.)

April 6: “THEY KILLED SISTER DOROTHY” follows the real-life drama     at the trial of the killers of Sister Dorothy Stang who was murdered for trying to save the rainforest at the mouth of the Amazon River. (93 min.)

Livermore Homeless Refuge still needs supplies and volunteers

The Livermore Homeless Refuge is deeply appreciate of the supplies and volunteers from Saint Michael Parish.

To learn more about the Refuge, visit their website at: http://www.livermorehomelessrefuge.org/

Because of your support, they have been able to extend their hours to seven days a week.

To volunteer your time or make a donation, please contact Bob and Donna McKenzie, 443-7398, (cell) 895-4167.

Next English Tutor Training is April 30, 2011

The Saint Michael Parish Social Concerns Ministry has  partnered with the Livermore Public Library’s excellent and popular program to help adults improve their spoken English skills.  

If you speak English, you have all the skills you need to tutor.  

You do not need to be bilingual.  

You will be paired with a St. Michael parishioner who is eager to improve their spoken English.  We ask for two hours of your time per week, scheduled at your convenience. 

Contact Joanne Angvick, 925-443-1422, joangvick@sbcglobal.net.

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.  --Psalm 107:9