SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: STAFF TRANSITIONS  

FAN staff Christy Elliott moves to Connecticut, enters pre-postulancy 

Christy Elliott joined FAN staff at the beginning of 2010 as Creation Action Fellow. In addition to overseeing FAN's care for creation initiatives and partnerships with Catholic, ecumenical, interfaith, and secular organizations, Christy assumed responsibility for outreach to Franciscan colleges and universities and FAN's lectionary reflection resources. Most recently, Christy also served as FAN staff liaison with FAN's Action Commission.

As of August 2011, Christy will transition to part-time work for FAN remotely from Meriden, CT, where on August 2 she will enter pre-postulancy with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Christy will serve FAN as Director of Care for Creation.

LCWR Assistant Director Sr. Marie Lucey, OSF to join FAN staff

Since 2003, Sister Marie Lucey, OSF (of FAN Institutional Member Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia) has served as Associate Director for Social Mission of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). In this capacity, she served as LCWR liaison to several justice and peace organizations including the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking, Justice For Immigrants of MRS/USCCB, Catholic Coalition for Climate Change, Jubilee USA, National Religious Coalition Against Torture, and Religious Working Group on Water. She is also an ex-officio board member of NETWORK, a Catholic Social Justice Lobby, and a participating observer at board meetings of the Catholic Health Association (CHA).

Prior to working with LCWR, Sister Marie served for six years as her congregation's Congregational Minister (President), following many years as Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Justice and Peace Coordinator, and educator. She has participated in delegations to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, and a CRS delegation of women religious to the Middle East to learn first-hand about the Iraqi refugee crisis in order to promote awareness, advocacy and assistance on their return.

In September 2011, Sister Marie will join FAN staff as Director of Advocacy and Member Relations.

Pre-registration is closed. Please join us for Mass at 5:30pm. 

Effective Action for Justice in the Spirit of Saints Francis & Clare

The Franciscan Action Network (FAN) offers its national training on integrating powerful action for justice with Franciscan spirituality. Participants will wrestle with what it takes to create systemic change and will increase their ability to build and lead teams to achieve this change. The training infuses a deep spirituality with effective community organizing methods that have been honed over decades.

The program runs from 9am to 5pm on Tues, July 26 (followed by Mass and dinner) and finishes on Wed, July 27 at noon.  

 Hosted by:  

St. Francis Capuchin Center, 1927 N. Fourth St., Milwaukee, WI 53212-3611

The St. Francis Capuchin Center is ONE MILE from the Milwaukee Hyatt, where the Franciscan Federation Annual Conference takes place July 27-30.

The cost for the training is $60, which includes lunch and dinner on Tuesday.

Proclaim Franciscan Values to Protect Human and Environmental Health!

"Safe Chemicals Act of 2011" (S. 847)

Representatives from the Safer Chemicals, Health Families coalition are traveling this summer and available to meet with FAN members to share more about how to limit your exposure to toxic chemicals and promote safer policy.

Omaha, NE  (July 28-29)

Idaho (Aug. 1-2)

Helena/Missoula, MT (Aug. 3-4) 

Arkansas (date TBD)

Delaware (date TBD)

Tennessee (date TBD)  

To learn more, contact Lindsay Dahl at lindsaydahl@saferchemicals.org.  

FAN members have shared their stories of exposure to toxic chemicals:

• Read about Pat Smith's exposure to a pesticide in her nursing office.
• Kristen Hayes-Yearick shares her family's story and highlights some of the problems with existing chemical regulation. 

You can be agents of change by asking your Senators to support policy for safe chemicals. Our commitment to chemical policy reform reflects the Franciscan Values of care for creation, the dignity of the human person, a consistent ethic of life, and respect for the poor and vulnerable.  

The "Safe Chemicals Act of 2011" (S. 847) would:  

1)     Require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify chemicals known to be toxic and to enforce their removal from products on the market, and...

2)     Require new chemicals to be tested for safety before they reach the market.

You can send an email through FAN's Action Alert or use these talking points to call your Senators at the Capitol Switchboard (1-888-784-0527).

[Alternative Opening Prayer for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time]