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