Social Concerns Column for Sunday, October 30, 2011

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? -- Luke 18:7

Livermore Homeless Refuge Needs Volunteers to Staff Night Shift.  

The Refuge opens its doors on November 1st and will provide shelter to the approximately one hundred homeless men and women of Livermore. When the weather forecast is for rain or temperatures below 40 degrees, the Refuge is open all night to literally prevent deaths by exposure.  At this time, the Refuge most needs your time to staff shifts from evening, through the night, to early morning.  For more information, please contact Bob or Donna, 925-443-7389 or 925-895-4167

Catholic Social Teaching: Life and Dignity of the Human Person.  
Made in the image and likeness of God, all persons are sacred.  Belief in the sanctity of human life and inherent dignity of each person is the foundation of all of our social teachings.  Today this value is threatened by abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, the death penalty, and the many ways in which people are treated with disregard for their human dignity.  -- Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, U.S. Bishops, 1998.  Learn more from the Vatican at http://tinyurl.com/CatholicSocialTeaching

First Friday Fast for Food Security is a campaign by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  
Try cutting back to $3 per person for food on the First Friday of the month: you may go hungry, just like people on food stamps.  Why not donate the money you do not spend on food to St. Vincent de Paul or your local soup kitchen?  Learn the details on Facebook ("First Fridays for Food Security") or http://usccb.org/sdwp/Fasting-Resource-Intro-May-6.pdf

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).  For carpooling from St. Michael, call Joanne, 443.1422.

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, 443-1422.

Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you. --Deuteronomy 16:20