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CALENDAR
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JANUARY, 2015
Poverty Awareness Month
January 17-25
Nine Days for Life
January 19
The State of the Dream: A Community Conversation about Diversity, Deacon Art Miller, Solomon Schechter Day School, 26 Buena Vista Road, West Hartford, 7 - 8:30 pm
January 21-22
National March for Life, Washington DC
January 22
Local March for Life,
New Haven
FEBRUARY
February 7-10
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, Washington DC
February 8
International Day of Prayer for Human Trafficking
(Download Flyer)
February 11
Film and Discussion: The House I Live In. Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford, CT.
Hosted by Hartford Catholic Worker (Free-will offering)
MARCH
March 7
Stolen Lives: A Gospel Response to Human Trafficking, St. James Church, Rocky Hill
March 22
"Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social Justice," St. Mary Church, East Hartford, 7 - 8:30 pm
JUNE
June 13
Annual Social Justice Conference, St. Paul High School, Bristol
JULY
July 19-23
Social Action Summer Institute (SASI), Portland OR
AUGUST
August 5-8
"Two Feet of Love in Action" Summer Justice Program for Young Adults
OCTOBER
October 21
Annual Social Justice Dinner and Awards, Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville
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Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
| |  On February 7-10, social justice leaders from across the country will gather in Washington D.C. for the annual advocacy event that brings them face-to-face with national leaders to speak out for policies and programs that support the rights and dignity of all people, within and beyond our country's borders. This year, led by our team captain, Rachel Malinowski, a group of advocates from the Archdiocese of Hartford will be joining hundreds of Catholic leaders and others as they pray, learn and advocate on Capitol Hill around the theme, To Go Forth: Encountering Christ in the Heart of the World. Please join your voice to theirs by praying for our team of six as we meet with our legislators and advocate for a more just world that recognizes humanity dignity and respects life. |
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Nine Days for Life
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The U.S. Catholic Bishops encourage Catholics across the country to participate in "9 Days for Life," a period of prayer, penance and pilgrimage marking the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, from Saturday, January 17 - Sunday, January 25, 2015.  Resources provided for each day (available in both English and Spanish) include a different prayer intention, short reflection, supplementary article, and suggested actions. Download an app or printable version of the novena, or sign up for email or text messages at www.9daysforlife.com. Content will also be shared via a Facebook event and other social media with the hashtags: #9daysforlife and #9díasporlavida. In keeping with this national effort, the Pro-Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford and several parishes are organizing bus trips to Washington DC for the national March for Life on January 21-22. Details can be found in this article, published in the Catholic Transcript. Locally, a March for Life will be held in New Haven on January 22, beginning with Mass at St. Mary's Church, 5 Hillhouse Avenue, New Haven at 12:05 pm. Following Mass, the marchers will walk to City Hall and the courthouses, praying a decade of the Rosary at each stop along the way for the millions of lives lost since the legalization of abortion.  |
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Catholic Social Justice Internship
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Do you have an interest in fighting poverty and the systems that oppress people?
Would you like to spend time this summer working with grassroots groups dedicated to this goal, and funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development?
Consider becoming a CCHD Intern with us!
We have received grant funding for a Summer Internship Program, and we are 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, participation 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, complete the application form found on our website and send it to our office with your resume. Applications must be received by March 1, 2015. For more information contact Lynn.Campbell@aohct.org.
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That so many people are poor in a nation as rich as ours
is a social and moral scandal that we cannot ignore.
Economic Justice for All, #16
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Check out our latest Feature Article, our calendar of upcoming events, and resource materials.
Visit the "Contact Us" page
to let us know what you think!
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| Young Adults Wanted! | |
 Are YOU- or do you know - a young adult looking for a new challenge?
Our newest program - The "Two Feet of Love in Action" Summer Justice Program - may be just what you're looking for!
On August 5-8, 2015, OCSJM will offer an opportunity for young adults (ages 18-21) from across the Archdiocese of Hartford to come together to "complete the L.A.P." - LEARN about Catholic Social Justice, ACT by serving the community, and PRAY together. This residential, hands-on service and learning program will include conversations with practitioners from local service agencies, a chance to see first-hand the challenges faced by a significant portion of our local population in Connecticut, and time to process and reflect on the experience with OCSJM staff and each other.
For more information, visit our website or view these documents: Program Outline; Q&A; Application Form. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2015.
SPACE IS LIMITED.
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"Stolen Lives"
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In alignment with Pope Francis' message for the New Year, we are collaborating with the Office of the Diaconate to offer a program of current information and strategies to fight Human Trafficking.
Join us on Saturday, March 7, for an informative and eye-opening workshop, "Stolen Lives: A Gospel Response to Human Trafficking," at St. James Church, 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Featuring two local trafficking specialists, William Rivera, Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Immigration Practice for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, and Alicia Kinsman, Managing Attorney for the legal immigration program at the International Institute of Connecticut, the workshop will focus on the current human trafficking crisis within the state of Connecticut, in own own towns and cities.
Though often well-hidden from public view, over 280 reports of children suspected of being victims of sexual trafficking have been reported on the DCF abuse and neglect hotline since 2008. The most common age of entry into the commercial sex industry in the U.S. is 12-14 years of age. Learn more about how to recognize the signs of children at risk, and what YOU can do to aid in the fight against Human Trafficking.
The FREE workshop will run from 9 am - 12 noon (registration at 8:30) and is open to all. To register call OCSJM at (203) 777-7279 or send an email to info.ocsjm@aohct.org.
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"Behind the Swoosh" | |
 Who Made Your Sneakers?
The Manchester Deanery of the Archdiocese of Hartford will sponsor an event with Jim Keady, "Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops & Social Justice" on Sunday, March 22, 2015 7:00 - 8:30 pm at St. Mary Church in East Hartford. Jim will share his first hand research into the unjust practices regarding workers and working conditions in the sneaker industry.
The Manchester Deanery plans a regional presentation every other year for their youth ministry and confirmation students. This year they have opened 100 spots for youth /adults outside of the deanery for $10.00 per person, available on a first come-first served basis.
If you would like to be part of this conversation, contact Shawnee Baldwin at the Office for Religious Education and Evangelization no later than Feb 6th, sooner if you really want to guarantee a seat.
Interest in this topic was sparked by a presentation made by OCSJM's PSM Coordinator Sarah Hillier to the Manchester Deanery on Catholic Social Teaching. If you are interested in inviting Sarah to speak at a gathering in your parish or deanery, contact her at sarah.hillier@aohct.org. |
| OCSJM Efforts Recognized | |
On December 18, parish leaders from St. Augustine Church in Hartford recognized Lynn, Arturo, and lead volunteer Ana Landskron for their assistance and support in preparing parishioners to apply for a CT driver only learner's permit.
 St. Augustine is one of 14 parishes where OCSJM has been developing parish leadership to help for this effort. The hard work has paid off as thousands have begun to submit applications to take the knowledge portion of the Drivers' License test. Oscar Cirio, parish social ministry leader from Blessed Sacrament Parish in East Hartford, was the first OCSJM leader to successfully pass the written knowledge test on January 10th at the DMV office in Cheshire and receive his "learners permit." Congratulations to Oscar, and to all those who are putting time and effort toward the success of this initiative! Following a 3 month period of restricted driving, Ocsar will be able to take his road test and receive an official "driver only" license from the state of Connecticut.
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| CCHD Social Justice Grants Available Locally | | |
 The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry of the Archdiocese of Hartford is offering social justice grants to nonprofit organizations located within the Archdiocese. Organizations interested in applying for a grant have until April 1, 2015 to send in their applications. The grant money comes from the National Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) annual collection, taken up at all parishes on the weekend before Thanksgiving.
In order to qualify for a CCHD grant, an organization must assist people living in poverty, and allow them to have a dominant voice in the organization. The organization must demonstrate both the intention and capacity to work effectively toward the elimination of the root causes of poverty and to enact institutional change.
For additional information on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and grant guidelines and applications visit www.catholicsocialjustice.org.
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| CRS Rice Bowl Materials Still Available for Lent | |  CRS Rice Bowl materials were shipped from the warehouse in Maryland on January 8. If you have not yet ordered materials, or need additional resources, there is still time to order before February 18, 2015, Ash Wednesday.
If you do not receive your CRS Rice Bowl materials in the next week, click here to visit the CRS Rice Bowl webpage to order materials, which are free in both English and Spanish.
For those looking for reflections, recipes, stories from CRS and an easy way to track your Lenten fast, use your smartphone to download the CRS Rice Bowl App, available here in both Spanish and English. |
| Resource Review | |
 Tools for Rebuilding; 75 Really, Really Practical Ways to Make Your Parish Better by Michael White and Tom Corcoran, (Authors of Rebuilt) This book is a must-read follow-up to Rebuilt. Read it yourself, and then get a group of interested parishioners to read both the books. Learn from the successes and failures of these courageous leaders. The authors share their tips on how they went about finding out who was not coming to church, why they were not coming to church, and what could be done to make them want to come to church. Not every tip is going to resonate with your community, but this book serves as a place to start the conversation about how to rebuild your own parish community. One weakness in the book is that it doesn't give enough attention to the importance of building social ministry. Pope Francis continues to remind us that responding to social injustice is among the central tasks of evangelization. As we go about building a welcoming and engaging church, let us not forget that there are 3 responsibilities of the Church: Proclaiming the Word of God, Celebrating the Sacraments, and Exercising Charity. Be inviting and welcoming to all 3 aspects and you are on your way to rebuilding your parish. Reviewed by Lynn Campbell |
| Resource Suggestion | |
 READING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES:A Seven-Week Small-Group Process for Social Change
Nora Petersen, Stephen K. Hicken, and Hector D. Medina
Reading the Signs of the Times is a bilingual (English and Spanish) tool that the growing number of small Christian communities can use for identifying social needs within their larger communities and for deciding what action to take in response. The process is easy to lead but thorough. The first six sessions focus on examining a different "reality" in the larger community - in culture, the economy, the family, politics, the media and religion -- using a format that combines, prayer, Scripture and reflection. The concluding session helps the group members decide on a specific social action based on their observations and reflections. Because the book is written in both English and Spanish, people used to speaking either of these two languages can achieve some unity by using the same process to examine their communities.
For more information about this resource, click here. |
| Resources and Opportunities | | |
Poverty Awareness Month - January
During Poverty Awareness Month this January, join the U.S. Bishops, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Catholic community in the United States in taking up Pope Francis' challenge to live in solidarity with the poor. The printable calendar (also in Spanish) is perfect to hang on a wall or door, while longer daily reflections provide food for prayer and action for each day of the month.
Order your CRS Rice Bowl Materials Onlne!
If you missed the opportunity to order CRS Rice Bowl materials and resources through OCSJM, but would still like to participate in the program (either individually or as a parish), you can still place your order directly from the CRS website. Options include new resources for Grades 1-8 and for High School, as well as family and parish materials. Materials will be delivered to you in early January. [View available materials here.]
2015 CCHD Multimedia Youth Contest for Schools and Parishes
Schools and parishes can engage youth (grades 7-12) in learning about the causes of poverty and our Catholic response through the 2015 Multimedia Youth Contest. This year's theme is, "Do Justice, Love Goodness, Walk Humbly with God" (Micah 6:8). The grand prize is $500 and a trip to a national awards event, plus matching gifts of $500 for the winner's Catholic school or parish and a CCHD-funded group working to fight poverty. The contest is sponsored by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (the domestic, anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic bishops) and by RCL Benziger, and is managed locally by the Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry. Learn more about the contest here, and contact Sarah Hillier at OCSJM for more information.
A New Blog: ToGoForth.org Pain. Injustice. Brokenness. Hope. Love. Faith. Wisdom. Check out these NEW articles from the ToGoForth.org blog for insights and reflections on current issues. Subscribe to the blog or join the dialogue on Twitter with @togoforth.
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