St. Francis Xavier Church, New Milford, invites you to an inspiring presentation by Deacon Art Miller on Sunday, January 26th, in which he shares his experience of confronting injustice and working tirelessly to spread the Christian call to love our neighbor. View the flyer here.

The House I Live In is a documentary on America's "war on drugs" and its long-term impact on society. 

The film features stories of many different sides of those affected - police officers, prison inmates, and family members. One of the featured stories takes place in New Haven. 

 

Produced in 2012, the film is up to date and provides sufficient overview to understand what can be a complex issue. At almost 2 hours running time, it is on the longer side to show at a parish movie night. However, the film does promote discussion and is a compre-hensive approach to under-standing the implications of both racism and drugs. 

The House I Live In Official Trailer #1 (2012) Drugs Documentary Movie HD

The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry is offering grants to nonprofit organizations located within the Archdiocese of Hartford. 

Organizations interested in applying for a grant have until April 1, 2014 to submit their applications. The grant money will come from the National Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), funded by an annual collection taken up at all parishes on the weekend before Thanksgiving.

The OCSJM is assisting with the scheduling of a Catholic Relief Services Lenten Speaker Tour.  

Thomas Awiapo, CRS Global Solidarity Coordinator, Ghana, returns to the U.S. to share his truly inspiring story of survival and success. Orphaned before the age of 10, Thomas survived bleak poverty and hunger in his small African village. His search for food led him to school, where he eventually won scholarships to attend college.

The purpose of Thomas's trip is to thank Catholic communities for their support and to raise awareness about hunger, relief, and development in developing countries. He will also highlight the impact of the CRS Rice Bowl program.

Thomas will be available between the dates of March 28-30, 2014, on a first-come, first-serve basis. The presentation is appropriate for a Lenten Soup Night Gathering, a Generations of Faith Program, a Confirmation student program, a parish program held after Sunday Mass, or assemblies of several grades of students.

To make arrangements for a visit to your Catholic School or Parish, contact Lynn Campbell. (203) 777-7279, lynn.campbell@aohct.org

Do you have an interest in fighting poverty and the systems that oppress people? 

Would you like to spend time the summer working with grassroots groups dedicated to this goal, and funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development?

Consider becoming 

a CCHD Intern!

The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry has received grant funding for a Summer Internship Program, and is looking for interested applicants.  Working from our office in New Haven, an intern will have opportunities for one -on-one interactions with local CCHD groups, research, training and outreach, and parish interaction, under the supervision of the Archdiocesan CCHD Director.

CCHD internships are open to Catholics in the United States who have leadership abilities, community service experience, and effective writing/communication skills. Openness to the CCHD values of solidarity building, partici-pation of the poor, and Catholic social teaching is essential. Low-income people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply. 

To apply, download and complete the application found at the OCSJM website and send it to our office with your resume'. Applications must be received by March 1, 2014. 

For more information contact

 Lynn.Campbell@aohct.org

The United States is in the process of negotiating two Free Trade agreements, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade Agreement. Both will have negative impacts for farmers, workers, and consumers globally by driving a race to the bottom in terms of wages, farm prices, workers' rights, and food safety. 

The only way these agreements will pass is if Congress first passes a "Fast Track" Trade Promotion Authority, allowing the President to introduce the agreements without a chance for a full debate. Therefore, the best chance of stopping these agreements is preventing Fast Track from passing. For information on where your senator or representative stands on this issue, visit United Students for Fair Trade's Action Page. "Fast Track" was introduced on January 9th, and the time to ACT is NOW!

Email or call your Representative and Senators to tell them that you want Fair Trade not Free Trade.

God's Work - Up Front and Personal

St Mary Parish in Branford has been involved for the last six months with the Midnight Run, a program that ministers to the homeless of New Haven through personal outreach. The outreach involves preparing and distributing food and clothing to those who gather on the New Haven Green on the third Monday of each month. On that evening at 8 pm, New Haven's homeless are waiting in line near Center Church.  A group of seven volunteers from St. Mary Parish works collaboratively with volunteers from other area churches to provide bagged lunches, clothing and sundries, and to coordinate the monthly distribution process.

Midnight Run has evolved into one of the parish's most successful outreach ministries.  It has provided opportunities for members of the parish family to participate at many different levels through a variety of volunteer opportunities. In the early afternoon a group of volunteers, primarily parish seniors, gathers to prepare about 100 bagged meals,  which include a sandwich, drink, dessert and a cup of fruit. Each volunteer has an assigned duty and the work is easily accomplished through teamwork. Some donate bread or sandwich fillings, or cookies or fruit. Whatever else is needed is purchased by the parish. Later the bags are collected by the group of seven and taken to New Haven.

When it became apparent that the needs of the clients went beyond food, the volunteers organized a clothing and blanket drive in November. The outpouring of donations far surpassed expectations, and in December the group was able to add warm clothes, socks, hats, gloves and blankets to their distribution. The Christmas Giving Tree contained requests for socks, gloves and hats, and these donations will last through the rest of the winter.

This ministry has provided opportunities to work to alleviate the plight of the homeless in many different ways according to the abilities of those who volunteer. Some donate, others work to make lunches, while others drive to the city to engage in first hand witnessing to the great need that exists. Volunteers have grown personally and spiritually, and have developed a greater sensitivity to the need and suffering of their neighbors. For more information on this outreach, contact Frank Carrano, f.carrano@att.net.

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Submitted by Frank Carrano, a 2010 participant with other St. Mary parishioners in the OCSJM "Parishes in Action" program.