Social Concerns Column for Sunday, March 18, 2012

Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  – Psalm 34

Operation Rice Bowl in 37th Year

(http://orb.crs.org)
The ORB website is full of activities for the whole family.  Recipes from around the world raise awareness of other cultures (e.g., salad from Madagascar, vegetable rolls from Vietnam, bean dish from El Salvador).  Videos help us learn from other American Catholics doing ORB activities and learn about people around the world (e.g., India, Zambia, Vietnam).  Catholic Relief Services is your outreach to the world.

The Stations of the Cross Around the World with Catholic Relief Services. 
Station 6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.  There are more than 1 billion people around the world who regularly suffer from hunger and malnutrition.  Most are women and children.  We are one human family, regardless of our differences.  Answering the call to love our neighbors will promote a culture of respect and lead to peace in our communities around the world. – Courtesy of CRS, http://tinyurl.com/Stations2012

Bread for the World Urges: Write to Congress. 
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, they provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities where we live.  To easily send an email to Congress, go to http://www.bread.org and click “Write to Congress” on the right side of webpage.  Call your Congresspersons at 202-224-3121.

Unemployment Benefits Expiring? Call 2-1-1. 
If your unemployment benefits are set to expire, call 211 to find financial counseling and assistance, child care, job training, food and discounted utility programs.  Translators are available.  Also visit http://211bayarea.org, and for Alameda County: http://www.edenir.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.

You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry.  – Exodus 22:20