Social Concerns Column for Sunday, September 25, 2011

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. --Micah 6:8

Save the Date: Fair Trade Gift Sale, Sunday, Oct 16, 8am - 1pm, courtyard.  
Back by popular demand, we will be selling fairly traded craft items suitable for Christmas gifts or any occasion.  "Fair Trade" means that the artisans receive a living wage for themselves, and that Catholic Relief Services is on the ground, assisting the artisans, their families and their communities to work themselves up and out of poverty.  These craft items are of high quality and the price is low: this is a win-win situation for all.  The Social Concerns Ministry is selling these gift items at cost: our goals are to raise awareness, to help the artisans and to provide you with affordable gift items.

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

Feast of St. Francis, Tuesday, Oct 4th: Take the Pledge.  
The US Bishops' initiative, "the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change", encourages everyone to take their "Saint Francis Pledge" to pray, to learn about environmental issues, and to take action to care for God's Creation.  Learn more at: http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/the-st-francis-pledge

Pope Benedict on the Environment: 
“The environment is God's gift to everyone, and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole.”  -- Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (48)

Building Communities of Salt and Light: Developing Effective Pro-Life and Social Ministry (November 5th).
The Diocese of Oakland’s Office for Life and Justice will be hosting a special training for Social Justice and Respect Life Ministers.  Tom Ulrich, Director for Parish Outreach at Catholic Relief Service, will lead a discussion around how to develop thriving parish social ministry.  Sat, Nov 5th, 9am – 3pm, Christ the Light Cathedral Conference Center, Oakland.  For more information: John Watkins (jwatkins@oakdiocese.org, 510-267-8379).

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.

But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream. -- Amos 5:24