Social Concerns Column for Sunday, November 27, 2011

For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. --Psalm 11:7

Catholic Social Teaching: The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. 
Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.  If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected – the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.  -- Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, U.S. Bishops, 1998

Learn More About Catholic Social Teaching. 
Visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website (http://tinyurl.com/BishopsSocialTeaching) or read the encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI (http://tinyurl.com/CatholicSocialTeaching).

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.  Why not donate the money you do not spend on food to St. Vincent de Paul?  Learn the details on Facebook ("First Fridays for Food Security") or http://usccb.org/sdwp/Fasting-Resource-Intro-May-6.pdf

Benedict XVI's Message on World Food Day. 
“The Catholic Church is close to institutions that commit themselves to guarantee food. Through her structures and development agencies, she will continue to support them actively in this effort so that every nation and community will have the necessary food security, which no commitment or negotiation, no matter how accredited it is, will be able to ensure without real solidarity and genuine fraternity.”  Read the Pope’s entire message at: http://www.zenit.org/article-33674?l=english

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.

"Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" --Deuteronomy 27:19

Social Concerns Column for Sunday, November 20, 2011

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.  --Psalm 10:17

Catholic Social Teaching: Rights and Responsibilities. 

People have a fundamental right to life and to those things necessary for human decency, such as food, shelter, health care, education and employment.  People have a right to participate in decisions that affect their lives.  Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to respect the rights of others and to work for the common good.  When people lack the basic necessities to live a life of dignity, their fundamental rights are being denied.  In a world where some speak mostly of ‘rights’ and others mostly of ‘responsibilities,’ the Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met.  -- Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, U.S. Bishops, 1998

Catholic Social Teaching Resources:
Learn more from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (http://tinyurl.com/BishopsSocialTeaching) and Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical (http://tinyurl.com/CatholicSocialTeaching).

Livermore Homeless Refuge Needs Volunteers to Clean Up. 
We need volunteers of any age to pitch in and clean up the host churches every two weeks as we move from one church to the next. The LHR has no permanent home; rather, churches around Livermore volunteer their facilities for two week stints.  Cleaning would be on a Saturday morning for about 90 minutes.  Cleaning involves wiping down, mopping and vacuuming the kitchen, bathroom, and room where our guests stay.  Are you a teen looking for service hours?  Are you a family who wants to pitch in together? Anyone willing to donate their time is welcome.  You can volunteer once, a few times, or come regularly.  We are very grateful for any time you can give.  Please call us: Donna & Bob McKenzie, 925-443-7389 or 925-895-4167


Care for Creation at Christmastime. 
Reduce waste going into landfills: consider reusing last year’s ribbon and wrapping paper; use gift bags that are easily reusable for next year; buy products made locally; buy products made from recycled materials; give gift cards and movie tickets.


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

Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. --Isaiah 10:1-2

Social Concerns Column for Sunday, November 13, 2011

Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.' --Zechariah 7:9

Catholic Social Teaching: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. 
In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.  -- Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, U.S. Bishops

Church Social Teaching Resources: 
Learn more from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (http://tinyurl.com/BishopsSocialTeaching) and the Vatican (http://tinyurl.com/CatholicSocialTeaching).

Livermore Homeless Refuge Needs Volunteers to Clean Up.  
We need volunteers of any age to pitch in and clean up the host churches every two weeks as we move from one church to the next. The LHR has no permanent home; rather, churches around Livermore volunteer their facilities for two week stints.  Cleaning would be on a Saturday morning for about 90 minutes (depending on how many people come).  Cleaning involves wiping down, mopping and vacuuming the kitchen, bathroom, and room where our guests stay.  Are you a teen looking for service hours?  Are you a family who wants to pitch in together? Anyone willing to donate their time is welcome.  You can volunteer once, a few times, or come regularly.  We are very grateful for any time you can give.  Please call us: Donna & Bob McKenzie, 925-443-7389 or 925-895-4167

Fair Trade Gift Sale a Success!  
Thanks to all of you who stopped by our table in the courtyard in mid-October.  You purchased products direct from artisans in Peru, Ecuador, USA, India, Cambodia, Chile, Bangladesh, Israel, etc.  You have helped these artisans and their families make a living.  Missed the sale?  You can order online year round at: http://www.crsfairtrade.org/

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.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. --Psalm 82:3

Social Concerns Column for Sunday, November 6, 2011

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. --Psalm 82:3

Livermore Homeless Refuge Needs Volunteers to Staff Night Shift.  

The Refuge opened its doors on November 1st to 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 and Donna, 925-443-7389 or 925-895-4167

Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity.  
We are all one human family, and we are responsible for the well-being of each other.  This responsibility reaches across national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.  Indifference to the pain and suffering of others has no place in our interdependent society.  We are all responsible for all.  Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity means that ‘loving our neighbor’ has global dimensions in an interdependent world.  -- Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, U.S. Bishops, 1998. Learn more from the US Bishops (http://tinyurl.com/BishopsSocialTeaching) and the Vatican (http://tinyurl.com/CatholicSocialTeaching).

Oakland Diocese Website for Social Justice.  

The Diocese of Oakland’s Office for Life and Justice supports social justice, respect life and restorative justice in parishes, deaneries, schools, ethnic centers and other institutions, recognizing that our efforts in education, service, advocacy, and solidarity are an essential aspect of the Christian life.  Their redesigned website showcases current issues and ministries:
Gabriel Project (a ministry to support pregnant mothers and their unborn children),  
After The Choice (a post-abortion healing ministry), 
JustFaith Ministries (faith formation programs for social ministry),
Change for Life (baby bottle fundraising program),
Action Alerts (to enlist voters on legislation with moral implications),
and much more. Visit the website at: http://www.oakdiocese.org/ministries/social-justice

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.

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