Social Concerns Column for July 31, 2011

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom.  They will bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.  - Isaiah 35:1-2

Pope on Church's Responsibility for Creation.  

"The Church has a responsibility towards creation and she must assert this responsibility in the public sphere." (Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 2009, No. 51).

"In a word, concern for the environment calls for a broad global vision of the world; a responsible common effort to move beyond approaches based on selfish nationalistic interests towards a vision constantly open to the needs of all peoples." (Pope Benedict XVI, 2010 World Day of Peace Message, No. 11)

Read more Catholic teaching on the environment from the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, http://tinyurl.com/ClimateTeaching

First Friday Fast for Food Security is a campaign by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  The goal is to deepen our compassion for the hungry by cutting back to $3 per person for food on the First Friday of the month.  It is a real challenge to eat on $3, and you may go hungry: just like people on food stamps.  Learn the details on Facebook (First Fridays for Food Security) or http://usccb.org/sdwp/Fasting-Resource-Intro-May-6.pdf

Open Heart Kitchen Needs Volunteers. 
OHK needs many willing hands to chop veggies, ladle soup, clean up: they serve thousands every week here in the Tri-Valley.  Please call the Operations Director at 925-580-6793 to be assigned to a time slot with an existing team. You have a variety of choices for day of the week, and number of times per month to serve.  The kitchen is run by paid staff who are experienced in directing volunteers; many hands make light work! 

Would you like to pursue a social justice project? The St. Michael Parish Social Concerns Ministry would like to help you to help others!  Call Joanne Angvick, 443-1422.

Rich and poor have a common bond: the LORD is the maker of them all. - Proverbs 22:2

Social Concerns Column for July 24, 2011

God of my fathers, LORD of mercy. you who have made all things by your word and in your wisdom have established man to rule the creatures produced by you, to govern the world in holiness and justice, and to render judgment in integrity of heart.  - Wisdom 9:1-3

Life and Dignity of the Human Person 
(from the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, http://tinyurl.com/ClimateTeaching). 

• "The way humanity treats the environment influences the way it treats itself, and vice versa." (Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, 2009, No. 51)
• "How can we separate, or even set at odds, the protection of the environment and the protection of human life, including the life of the unborn?" (Pope Benedict XVI, 2010 Address to the Diplomatic Corps)
• "Our tradition calls us to protect the life and dignity of the human person, and it is increasingly clear that this task cannot be separated from the care and defense of all of creation." (USCCB, Renewing the Earth: An Invitation to Reflection and Action on the Environment in Light of Catholic Social Teaching, 1991)

Open Heart Kitchen Needs Volunteers. 
OHK needs many willing hands to chop veggies, ladle soup, clean up: they serve thousands every week here in the Tri-Valley.  Please call the Operations Director at 925-580-6793 to be assigned to a time slot with an existing team. You have a variety of choices for day of the week, and number of times per month to serve.  The kitchen is run by paid staff who are experienced in directing volunteers; many hands make light work! 

Next English Language Tutor Training is July 30, 9am-4pm.  

We have 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 a fellow St. Michael parishioner.  The time commitment is about two hours per week.  Interested?  Call Joanne Angvick, 443-1422

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

Social Concerns Column for Sunday, July 17, 2011

Rich and poor have a common bond: the LORD is the maker of them all. - Proverbs 22:2

Next English Language Tutor Training is July 30, 9am-4pm.  
We have 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 a fellow St. Michael parishioner.  The time commitment is about two hours per week.  Interested?  Call Joanne Angvick, 443-1422

Open Heart Kitchen Needs Volunteers. 
OHK needs many willing hands to chop veggies, ladle soup, clean up: they serve thousands every week here in the Tri-Valley.  Please call the Operations Director at 925-580-6793 to be assigned to a time slot with an existing team. You have a variety of choices for day of the week, and number of times per month to serve.  The kitchen is run by paid staff who are experienced in directing volunteers; many hands make light work! 

Catholic Social Teaching 
(http://tinyurl.com/ClimateTeaching). 
The Church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of our society. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) outlines Seven Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching: (1) Life and Dignity of the Human Person, (2) Call to Family, Community, and Participation, (3) Rights and Responsibilities, (4) Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, (5) The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, (6) Solidarity, (7) Care for God's Creation.

"[W]e cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well-being of future generations." (Blessed Pope John Paul II, 1990 World Day of Peace Message, No. 6)

Would you like to pursue a social justice project?  The St. Michael Parish Social Concerns Ministry can help you to help others!  Call Joanne, 443-1422.

The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. - Genesis 2:15

Social Concerns Column for July 10, 2011

The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. – Genesis 2:15

“If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation” was the title of Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the celebration of the World Day of Peace, January 1, 2010.  “Respect for creation is of immense consequence, not least because ‘creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works’, and its preservation has now become essential for the pacific coexistence of mankind. Man’s inhumanity to man has given rise to numerous threats to peace and to authentic and integral human development – wars, international and regional conflicts, acts of terrorism, and violations of human rights. Yet no less troubling are the threats arising from the neglect – if not downright misuse – of the earth and the natural goods that God has given us. For this reason, it is imperative that mankind renew and strengthen ‘that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying’.”  Read the Holy Father’s entire message at: http://tinyurl.com/PeaceCreation

Thursday, July 14, 7-9pm, Hall, The Moral Implications of Climate Change
Guest Speakers: Dr. Anthony Strawa, NASA scientist and Chair of the Diocese of San Jose's Climate Change Initiative, and Dr. Curt Covey, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.  Dr. Strawa recognizes climate change as one of the great challenges facing humanity from a scientific, economic and ethical perspective and feels called to motivate people to more fully address climate change through their Catholic faith. 

Dress-A-Girl Sew Fests, 
July 21, Trinity Baptist Church, 
August 27, St. Michael Hall
Suzanne Slupesky is coordinating sewing days for dresses for little girls in developing countries.  At the first East Bay sew fest in May, they made over 40 dresses.  In June, they made 68 dresses.  The target for the St. Michael sew fest is 100 dresses!  They need people with sewing skills as well as people to iron, sort, carry, cut.  They also need gently used or new pillow cases.  For more information, email Suzanne: suzanneslu@yahoo.com

For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.  – Psalm 72:12