The Story of Ghana's 

Thomas Awiapo

OCSJM is pleased to participate in the Catholic Relief Services Speaker Tour, featuring Thomas Awiapo.

During his time in CT, Thomas will visit several Catholic schools and two Catholic parishes. He will share his story of survival and success, which he attributes to the support he received as a child from Catholic Relief Services.

You can hear his story at St. Francis Xavier, New Milford on Friday, March 29 after the 6:30 p.m. Mass and Stations of the Cross, or at Corpus Christi Church, Wethersfield, on Sunday, March 30 at 1:30 p.m. 

Riverfront Earth Day: Singing the Song of Our World 

Date: April 27, 2014
Children's Activities:  12:00 pm

Interfaith Prayer Service: 12:45 pm
Festival: 1:00- 5:00 pm  

Moved by the urgency of climate change and the awareness that an environmental crisis constitutes a moral and  religious crisis, the OCSJM Environmental Justice Team invites you to join us in an interfaith prayer service and march through downtown Hartford on Sunday, April 27.

The Interfaith Prayer Service will be held at Charter Oak Cultural Center at 21 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford at 12:45, and will last 20 minutes.  It will be immediately followed by a short march (less than a mile) for climate justice that will take marchers to Riverfront Plaza for the Riverfront Earth Day Festival, featuring workshops, exhibits, local food vendors and activities for the whole family.  

Charter Oak Cultural Center will be holding activities for children starting at noon, so if you get there a little early, don't worry - there will be activities!

For more information, visit:
https://www.facebook.com/riverfrontearthdayct

http://riverfrontearthdayct.org/

On April 11th, St. Bridget Parish in Manchester will host an evening with John Dear, who will speak on the theme of his recently released book, "The Nonviolent Life."

John Dear is an internationally known voice for peace and nonviolence. He is a popular speaker, peacemaker, organizer, lecturer, retreat leader and the author/editor of 30 books. He has organized and participated in nonviolent campaigns for over three decades; been arrested some 75 times in acts of civil disobedience against war and injustice; and been nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize.

John will share his conviction that nonviolence is the common ground of all world religions ... that we achieve nonviolence by entering into relationship with the God of peace and infinite mercy, viewing every person on the planet as a child of God.  No matter where we are on our own path of discipleship, we will find inspiration, courage, and challenge in John's understanding of the Gospels and the testimony of his actions.

The event will be held on Friday, April 11 at 7pm, at St. Bridget School Auditorium, 80 Main Street, Manchester.

Don't miss this special opportunity! View the flyer here, or contact John Ryan for more information. 

Catholic Relief Services and its local partners have been working with communities in more than forty countries throughout the world to expand access to water, hygiene, and sanitation.

Photo by Lane Hartill/CRS

Without requesting additional funding, the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, H.R. 2901, will help to ensure that U.S. Government investments in safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene have the greatest possible benefits by improving targeting, focus, sustainability and transparency so the poorest of the poor will be reached for the long-term.

Your voice makes a difference. Please take action by sending an email to your Representative. You can also call your Representative's office by dialing 1-866-596-7030. 

It's easy to do! Get talking points here.

Co-sponsors Sen. Susan Collins (R, ME) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D, IL) have introduced an act which would reduce carbon pollution and improve public health by supporting a global market for clean and efficient cookstoves.

What is the problem?

• Nearly half the world's population cooks over open fires or polluting, unsafe stoves, using wood, agricultural waste, dung, or coal. Smoke causes respiratory illnesses and death, especially among women and children.
• The black carbon soot emitted causes air pollution, melts glaciers and snowfields, and contributes to climate change.  A recent Pontifical Academy of Sciences Report, The Fate of Mountain Glaciers in the Anthropocene, called for such action as a key way to protect health of the poor and vulnerable, to preserve water supplies, and to reduce climate change.

Sen. Collins explains, "Replacing unsafe cookstoves with modern alternatives is the 'low-hanging fruit' of environmental fixes. It can be done relatively quickly and inexpensively and would improve lives, empower women, and combat pollution around the world."

Call our CT Senators; ask them to co-sponsor this  bill:

Visit www.collins.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2014/3 for more information.

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Through May 11, our Fair Trade colleague, the Equal Exchange Coop, will give $1 to a cook stove project in Uganda for every purchase of their "Proud Mama" fair trade coffee blend. It's the perfect Mother's Day gift!  Check here for details.

Did you know that the Naugatuck Valley Region of CT has the state's highest unemployment rate, currently at 13.2%? 

Supported by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the Naugatuck Valley Project is working to do something about that, and to support healthcare for the poor and the elderly, and better home healthcare services.

You can also help support their efforts by attending their Pancake Breakfast on March 22, 9am - noon, at the River Baldwin Rec Center, 135 East Liberty Street, Waterbury. All are welcome!

For more information on NVP and their work, visit their website at http://www.naugatuckvalleyproject.org/.

• Set and track your progress towards a personal Lenten goal.
• Read and schedule daily reflections.
• Obtain simple meatless meal recipes to prepare and share on Fridays during Lent.
• Read Stories of Hope from people around the world.