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CALENDAR
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MARCH
March 15-18
Parish Mission with Deacon Art Miller, St. Timothy Church, West Hartford, 7pm. All are welcome.
March 18
Public Hearing on Assisted Suicide in CT, Hartford Capitol
March 22
"Behind the Swoosh: Sweatshops and Social Justice," St. Mary Church, East Hartford, 7 - 8:30 pm
March 26
Guest Speaker Father Grey Boyle, Homeboy Industries, St. Thomas More Chapel and Center, New Haven, 7-9 pm
March 28
Naugatuck Valley Project Pancake Breakfast, Washington Park House, Waterbury, 9 am-noon
APRIL
April 25
Restorative Justice Forum, Christ the King Church, Old Lyme, CT 10am - 1pm
MAY
May 31
Hartford Earth Festival, Riverfront Plaza, Hartford, 12 noon - 5 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 27
Annual Social Justice Dinner and Awards, Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville
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Parishes in Action!
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Leaders at Our Lady of Pompeii are learning and growing!
Over the past few weeks, twenty-five parishioners from a variety of parish ministries have participated in our program, Parishes in Action. The program is designed to develop new social ministry efforts, or to assist already active social ministry committees in the integration of their social mission into the life of the whole parish.
The group from Our Lady of Pompeii in East Haven started with the basics, reviewing the 7 key themes of Catholic Social Teaching and the difference between charity and social justice. They explored the Pastoral Circle as a means to understanding and acting on injustices.
 During the last session, they worked to create a social justice vision for their parish. We are excited to see how they will integrate this new knowledge into the life of the parish and into their work for justice in the future. |
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2015 Conference Speaker Announced
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We are delighted to announce our Keynote Speaker
for the 2015 Social Justice Conference on June 13, 2015, Sister Simone Campbell, who will address this year's conference theme, Creating an Economy of Inclusion.
 Sister Simone has served as Executive Director of NETWORK since 2004. She is a religious leader, attorney and poet with extensive experience in public policy and advocacy for systemic change. In Washington, she lobbies on issues of peace-building, immigration reform, healthcare and economic justice. Around the country, she is a noted speaker and educator on these public policy issues.
 She has led three cross-country Nuns on the Bus trips, focused on economic justice, comprehensive immigration reform, and (most recently) voter turnout. The "launch" for the second tour in 2013 was held at our own St. Rose of Lima Church in New Haven, where hundreds gathered to bolster support for immigration reform, to pray, and to see the bus off on the first leg of its journey.
Sister Simone has often been featured in the national and international media, including appearances on 60 Minutes, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She is also the author of A Nun on the Bus: How All of Us Can Create Hope, Change, and Community, published in April 2014 by HarperCollins.
Plan now to join us on Saturday, June 13 at St. Paul Catholic High School to welcome Sister Simone, and to share in a great day of learning about the social justice issues that impact the well-being of our communities.
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Public Hearing Scheduled on Assisted-Suicide
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Speak Up on Assisted-Suicide Bill
A public hearing has been announced for Wednesday, March 18 to address HB7015, named "An Act Concerning Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients," but more properly identified as a bill to allow physician-assisted suicide.
Public participation is needed at the Capital in Hartford to let our legislators know that the Catholic Church opposes this legislation. You can assist in this effort in a number of ways:
- Offer public testimony
- Submit written testimony
- FILL the Hearing Room
- Identify your legislator and contact him/her, especially if he/she is a member of the Judiciary Committee.
More information is available here to help you participate effectively in this important democratic process. Your participation in the public hearing is essential. |
Check out our new Human Trafficking page to view a variety of useful resources, and the PowerPoint presentation from our recent workshop.
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Human Trafficking Workshop Draws Over 100 Participants
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 A workshop on Human Trafficking co-sponsored by our office and the Office for the Diaconate drew over 100 participants to St. James Church in Rocky Hill on March 7th. Presentations by William Rivera from the CT Dept. of Children and Families and Alicia Kinsman from the International Institute of CT described the kinds of slavery experienced by men, women and children who have been lured into this present form of human bondage, often hidden from sight in our own communities.
The participants learned about ways to spot potential problems, and how to alert authorities to situations that may involve human trafficking. A new Resource page on our website offers links to helpful information and to the PowerPoint used during the presentation.
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CFC Surveys Dental Care in CT
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Caring Families Coalition, a project of United Connecticut Action for Neighborhoods (UCAN), has designed a survey to identify the barriers to dental care in Connecticut. A grassroots, community organizing group, CFC empowers low/moderate income families, families of color and other underrepresented groups to effectively advocate for the health care issues that matter most to them.
CFC invites you to complete this short survey (only two minutes!) to assist them in determining what prevents CT citizens from accessing proper dental care.
For more information about this effort, contact contact Omowunmi Cole at omowunmi.cole@ucanct.org or call 860-524-0502. Thank you for your help.
UCAN is supported in part by a grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
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Lenten Fast for Climate Justice
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CRS Speaker Visits High Schools
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We were pleased recently to welcome Soha Menassa, Project Manager for Catholic Relief Services in Lebanon, for visits at two Catholic High Schools: Lauralton Hall in Milford, and Notre Dame in West Haven.
Ms. Menassa shared stories of the struggles faced by millions of Syrians displaced by civil war and the compassionate response of Catholic Relief Services and local partners in Lebanon.
"It's not easy to gain the attention of almost 300 teenagers first thing in the morning, but Ms. Menassa did exactly that with her poignant presentation on the state of affairs in Syria," said Notre Dame High School President, Br. James Branigan, C.S.C. "She has our upperclassmen thinking of ways to help and we look forward to doing exactly that."
Students at Notre Dame presented sweatshirts to Soha, Maria Barbosa (CRS Representative) and Lynn Campbell (OCSJM Director), flanked by OCSJM Board Members, Br. James Branigan C.S.C. (President) and Gail Bellucci (Teacher).
CRS has also posted this video, Hungering for Peace in Lebanon, which highlights first-hand experiences of a CRS worker in the region.
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| Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization | |
Support the Child Nutrition Act
"The hungry remain, at the street corner, and ask to be recognized as citizens, to receive a healthy diet. We ask for dignity, not for charity."
--Pope Francis, November, 2014
One of the Domestic Legislative priorities addressed by the recent Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington DC was the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. The current law, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, will expire on September 15, 2015 and Congress will deliberate re-authorization as part of the regular 5-year review of the laws that govern nutrition programs contained in the Child Nutrition Act.
Programs affected by this reauthorization include those that address childhood hunger, help expectant and breastfeeding mothers, and promote nutrition and healthy communities. The WIC program provides nutritious food and nutrition education to low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, new mothers, and infants and children up to age 5. Free and reduced-price school lunch and breakfast programs for low-income students and the summer food service program, which provides meals during periods when school is not in session, both ensure that children in our poor communities receive the healthy food they require to learn and grow.
For more information on these programs and the populations they serve, see the Backgrounder offered by the US Bishops.
TAKE ACTION:
Let your voice be heard in the public debate on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act by urging your Senators and Representative to support policies that address childhood hunger, help expectant and breastfeeding mothers, and promote nutrition and healthy communities throughout the year.
Encourage Congress to:
- Improve access and flexibility for child nutrition and school-based meal programs to respond to local needs
- Invest in resources and protect from harmful cuts and changes, the hunger and nutrition programs that feed hungry children, and expectant and breastfeeding mothers, throughout the year
- Protect recent gains made in eligibility and certification so that more children get the food they need for their healthy development.
To find contact information for your congressional representatives, visit this site:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/US-Congress.shtml.
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| Raise Your Voice for the Planet! | |
 Last year on Sept 21, 2014, as world leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York City, 400,000 people came together in NYC to demand real action on climate change.
This year, United Nations World Environment Day is June 5th. Join us for the Hartford Earth Festival on May 31 to remind our leaders that we are still calling for climate justice!
The event will commence at noon with a short vigil and rally on the steps of the state capitol, followed by a march to Riverfront Plaza, where entertainment, exhibits on environmental issues, food and fun will highlight the theme of the day from 1 - 5pm. All are welcome, young and old, to celebrate our planet and call for climate justice!
For more information, visit www.hartfordearthfestival.org.
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| Way of the Cross | |
 In his Lenten message, Pope Francis reminds us:
"Each year during Lent we need to hear once more the voice of the prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience."
This Lent, allow your conscience to be troubled. Join with the U.S. Bishops' Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development as we pray and reflect together on the plight of those who are poor and vulnerable at home and around the world, and discern our collective call to respond. |
| Justice Education for Teens and Young Adults | |
Since September, we have partnered with Holy Family Retreat and Conference Center in West Hartford to provide justice education workshops during their youth and young adult retreats. PSM Coordinator Sarah Hillier has presented on fair trade and Catholic social teaching to over 1,000 Confirmation students!
If you are interested in offering a justice education workshop for your youth or young adult group, contact Sarah at (203) 777-7279 or sarah.hillier@aohct.org.
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| Resources and Opportunities | | |
Enjoy Pancakes with the Naugatuck Valley Project on Saturday, March 28, 9 am - noon at Washington Park House in Waterbury to support the Waterbury Environmental Health Fund and NVP. More information here. NVP is funded in part by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
The Diocese of Norwich Office of Prison Ministry will offer a Restorative Justice Forum on Saturday, April 25, 10am - 1pm, at Christ the King Church Hall in Old Lyme, CT. The forum will feature a panel discussion led by award-winning director, Leslie Neale. For more information, click here. Registration deadline is April 20th.
The St. Thomas More Chapel and Center at Yale University will host guest speaker Father Greg Boyle as part of the Fay Vincent Jr. Fellowship in Faith and Culture series on Thursday, March 26, 7-9 pm. Father Greg's motto, "Nothing stops a bullet like a job," is the foundation of his commitment to end gang violence. He is the founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention and security program in Los Angeles County, and a nationally renowned speaker. The event is open to the public.
CRS Rice Bowl: What is Lent?
CRS Rice Bowl has developed a video series answering that question, and wants to share those reflections with you. Watch and learn with prominent Catholic figures like Cardinal Timothy Dolan; Father James Martin, SJ; Dr. Carolyn Woo; Archbishop José Gomez; and others as they examine such central Lenten themes as fasting, solidarity, mercy and more.
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On March 16 Catholics across the US fasted and prayed for the renewal of our relationship with creation and with our sisters and brothers in poverty, who are already suffering the impact of man-made climate change.