Social Concerns Column for May 8, 2011

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.  -- Proverbs 14:31

US Bishops and Faith Groups Collaborating to Minister to the Unemployed.  
Working in collaboration with Interfaith Worker Justice and other faith-based groups, the US Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development is intensifying its efforts to support our unemployed brothers and sisters, and their families.  The Faith Advocates for Jobs Campaign has been launched to advocate policies that protect families and ensure access to just and decent jobs with fair wages; and empower parishes and other faith communities to minister to the spiritual, social, and employment needs of their parishioners and congregants.  For more information: http://www.iwj.org/index.cfm/employment

Oakland Diocese Reignites Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.  
According to the diocesan website, “the Commission shall promote positive relationships and projects of mutual interest between Catholics and other Christians with whom full ecclesial communion does not yet exist, and at the same time promote positive relationships and projects of mutual interest with followers of other religious traditions.  The Commission shall promote … cooperation in such areas as education, public and private morality, social justice, matters connected with culture, learning and the arts.”  Learn more at: http://www.oakdiocese.org/departments/ecumenical.htm

Head of Bread for the World to Speak, May 12, Walnut Creek.  
Thursday, May 12, 7:00 p.m.,
Saint John Vianney Catholic Church, Mullen Commons,
1650 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek.
David Beckmann, author of Exodus From Hunger and head of Bread for the World, will speak on his new book, followed by a discussion.  Beckman believes "God is moving in our time to end hunger, and we are invited to be part of this great liberation."  For more information, contact Nora Petersen: 925-939-7911 x107, npetersen@sjvianney.org.

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.  The LORD sets prisoners free.  -- Psalm 146:7

Social Concerns Column for May 1, 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday

The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  – Psalm 34:17

News from St. Michael Social Concerns Ministry April Meeting.  
We'd like to share with you what is going on at St. Michael parish in caring for the marginalized and acting for the common good.  We discussed what we learned at the Diocesan 'Bay Area Social Justice Forum' held at Holy Names University.  We learned that the Oakland Diocese is reigniting its 'Commission on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs'.  We looked at results from our recent survey: most people would like a short program with a great speaker, rather than a multi-week program with homework.  We received a letter of thanks from the Livermore Homeless Refuge: their current need is for gently used sleeping bags.  We considered how we could better recruit English tutors for parishioners wanting to learn or improve their spoken English.  We see that the US Bishops have called April the 'Child Abuse Prevention Month' as part of their ‘Keeping Our Promise to Protect’ program.  May Jesus' Holy Spirit open our eyes each day to see him in each person we encounter.

California Bishops Need You to Email, Write, Phone Your Representatives.  

Cardinal Roger Mahony,
Archbishop of Los Angeles

The California Catholic Conference is the staff office of the California Catholic Conference of Bishops. It is the official voice of the Catholic community in California's public policy arena.  On a regular basis, our bishops need you, the Catholic voter, to contact your representatives.  The bishops’ website has form letters ready to go: a few clicks of a mouse and you’re done in 5 minutes.  

As of this writing, the action alerts are
(1) Raise a voice for life and dignity in California,
(2) Support conscience protection for health care providers,
(3) Protect the poor and vulnerable in the federal budget,
(4) HR 3 No Tax Payer Funding of Abortion Act,
(5) Protect Life in the New Health Care Reform Law.

To find action alerts, click here: http://capwiz.com/cacatholic/home/

I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. -- Psalm 140:12

Social Concerns Column for April 24, 2011, Easter Sunday

He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.  -- Proverbs 19:17

Microlending Makes a Difference.  
The St. Michael Parish Social Concerns Ministry has joined with eighty-one lenders around the world to fund a $3,550 loan to the ladies of St. Joseph Group in Senegal.  Our loan was made through Kiva, a well established microlending agency (www.kiva.org).  The nine ladies of St. Joseph Group  raise pigs and run small businesses.  Mrs. Emilie Ciss (standing at far left) is married with four children.  She sells biscuits and dairy products; with this loan, she will expand her business to better feed her family and increase her savings.  See our Kiva portfolio at: http://www.kiva.org/team/st_michael_parish_social_concerns_ministry

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

Justice Flows from Prayer and Eucharist.  
“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."  --from "Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish," U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, January 1996, Pg. 3, http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/saltandlight.shtml

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.  --
Proverbs 22:9

Social Concerns Column for April 17, 2011

“You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him.” (Col 2:12)

Message of Pope for Lent: Fast from Consumption.  In his 2011 Message for Lent, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the issue of consumption as one which prevents us from fully living the Christian life: “The idolatry of goods, on the other hand, not only causes us to drift away from others, but divests man, making him unhappy, deceiving him, deluding him without fulfilling its promises, since it puts materialistic goods in the place of God, the only source of life.”  Read the entire message on the Vatican website: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20101104_lent-2011_en.html

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.

Write Your Congressperson to Support Pro-Life Legislation.  As of this writing, three pro-life bills were active in the U.S. House of Representatives:

• HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act, 
• HR 358, the Protect Life Act, and 
• HR 361, the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011.  

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops needs you, the voter, to contact your Congressperson to urge them to support Pro-Life legislation.  The Church has limited influence on legislators; however, you have a tremendous influence on your representative as one of their constituents.

Writing to your Congressperson will take approximate five minutes of your time at:
http://www.cacatholic.org/index.php/take-action/current-alerts.html

How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble. -- Psalm 41:1