January is also Poverty Awareness Month

Because compassion for those who are poor and vulnerable was a central part of Jesus' mission, the USCCB's PovertyUSA Campaign seeks to broaden the general understanding of and concern for people living in poverty in America. The Campaign strives to engage as many people as possible in our shared responsibility to care for those who are in need. Help shed light on the seriousness of poverty in America and find ways to do something about it by joining the Poverty Awareness Facebook Event in January. Click on this link and join today!

Go check out the event on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/events/235829976489571/

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January has been declared National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

As a global institution, the Catholic Church, well positioned to respond to human trafficking, has denounced this horrific crime because it constitutes an offense against human dignity and fundamental human rights.

For more information, Click here

Bay Area Social Justice Forum: “People of Hope Agents for Change”

 

 

Join other concerned people of faith from parishes and schools throughout the Bay Area for the Second Annual Bay Area Social Justice Forum Saturday February 11th 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.  The conference is sponsored by the Holy Names University, Diocese of Oakland’s Office for Life and Justice, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, JustFaith Oakland, Sisters of the Holy Family, Sisters of Saint  Francis and Stop Slavery: Northern CA Coalition of Catholic Sisters.

Keynote speakers Fr. Daniel Groody, University of Notre Dame award winning author and film director and Jack Weinstein.  Workshop topics include: Human trafficking, Immigration, Restorative Justice, Muslim-Christian Dialogue, Water Security, Death Penalty, Affordable Housing, Racism, and many more.

 

The workshops will be held in the Valley Center for the Performing Arts, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619.  To learn more and register for the forum, go to www.hnu.edu/SocialJustice.  To download flyer, click here.

 

It helps us if you complete the registration process online, however if you prefer NOT to register online, you can download and print a paper registration form here.

Pope to Visit Mexico in 2012.

During his homily on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI confirmed he would visit Mexico in 2012. 

The pope called upon the people of Latin America to be defenders of human life from the moment of conception until natural death and promoters of peace; they must also safeguard the genuine nature and mission of the family, strengthen schools and help parents prepare their children to be good and upright citizens, promote reconciliation and solidarity, do more to protect the environment and strengthen efforts to overcome poverty, illiteracy and corruption and eradicate all forms of injustice, violence, criminality, citizens' insecurity, drug trafficking and extortion. 

Read more at Catholic News Service, http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1104859.htm

Book Review: “Exodus from Hunger” by David Beckmann

In the new book, “Exodus from Hunger: We Are Called to Change the Politics of Hunger,” author David Beckmann argues that we can end world hunger in our lifetime.  Ordinary citizens, especially people of faith, can achieve this by mustering the political will of nations. David combines an optimism born from faith and a down-in-the trenches approach to ending hunger. David is Lutheran pastor, economist, and head of Bread for the World, a Christian organization dedicated to ending hunger.  Learn more at: http://www.exodusfromhunger.org

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is Blogging

Our bishops have a blog!  And you can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.   

Hear what our bishops have to say on immigration reform, hunger, unemployment, sexual abuse and all the tough issues of our time: http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com

This blog is for the world to read -- the bishops are really hanging it all out there.  Cool!

Dress a Girl Around the World Sew Fest, St. Michael Hall, Jan 14

Monthly Dress A Girl Around the World Sew Fest
Saturday, January 14, 2012, 9am – 3pm
St. Michael Parish Hall, 300 Block of Maple Street, Livermore

If you like to sew, please bring your sewing machine and creative imagination as we make 100 dresses in a single day for girls in developing countries.  We also need people to setup, clean up, iron, snip, sort, fetch and carry!

For more information, please contact Suzanne: suzanneslu@yahoo.com, 925-352-8447.

Sew fests will be scheduled monthly at the St. Michael Hall for all of 2012.

Why do we make dresses?  To fight human trafficking.  Little girls dressed in rags are a target, while a well dressed girl is assumed to be well cared for by an adult protector.  This project is in concert with the national Dress A Girl Around the World project (http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com) and Hope 4 Women International (http://www.hope4kidsinternational.org/h4wi).

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dress-A-Girl-Around-the-World-CA-East-Bay/211574008875959?sk=wall&filter=1

Catholic World Day of Peace, January 1st.

Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positive, action-oriented concept. In the words of Pope John Paul II, "Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements.”  There is a close relationship in Catholic teaching between peace and justice. Peace is the fruit of justice and is dependent upon right order among human beings.  -- Catholic Charities Office for Social Justice, http://www.osjspm.org/page.aspx?pid=491

Read more quotes on peace at: http://www.osjspm.org/admin/document.doc?id=22

Catholic News Service covered the Pope's 2012 message for World Day of Peace:
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1104930.htm

Humor for the Holidays: Silent Monks Sign Hallelujah Chorus

Here is a delightful YouTube video of the Hallelujah Chorus cleverly done with signs by "monks".  Playful but the words are so wonderful!  Merry Christmas! 

And He shall reign forever and ever!  Amen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOTCvzbRQ2U&feature=endscreen&NR=1

What is “charity” and what is “justice” for a practicing Catholic?

Msgr. Marvin Mottet, Diocese of Davenport, explains it this way: It takes two feet to walk and to keep our balance: one “justice,” the other “charity.” One foot is focused on institutional change, the other on direct service.

Without both feet, we lose balance. When I served on the National Committee of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, I saw an application from Bread for the World: they weren’t passing out food baskets or running soup kitchens, but working for institutional change—addressing public policies that could relieve hunger and poverty. I said, “This is what we are all about.”

If we use only the first foot (direct service), we could make matters worse by fostering dependency. If we use only the second foot (institutional change), we might become too far removed from the realities of the situation.  A true Christian lifestyle requires of us that we live in solidarity with those in need and come to their assistance in emergencies. We cannot isolate ourselves.

Direct service can provide us with the data needed for institutional changes. It is sometimes classified as “charity.” Institutional change is “working for justice.” There can be no love without justice. If we really love, we will work to change structures, systems, laws, and policies that are harmful to people.   

Read Msgr Mottet's full article at http://tinyurl.com/charity-justice

The Parish and Good Works

A parish is . . . the place where all the faithful can be gathered together for the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. The parish initiates the Christian people into the ordinary expression of the liturgical life: it gathers them together in this celebration; it teaches Christ's saving doctrine; it practices the charity of the Lord in good works and brotherly love.  -- #2179 Catechism of the Catholic Church

Advent Reflections

A reflection on Advent from Blessed Pope John Paul II:

http://stm-fet-weekly-reflection.blogspot.com/2011/11/sunday-27-november-2011.html

Keep Christ in Christmas Campaign at my parish -- how about yours?

My priest asked a committee that I am on to help with a campaign to Keep Christ in Christmas.  Did you know that Christmas means "Christ Mass", or the Roman Catholic feast to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  Christmas is very Catholic!

Check out these links to find all of our ideas to thank local businesses for acknowledging Christmas as a religious holiday:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Michael-Parish-Keep-Christ-in-Christmas-Campaign/160199327411336

http://stm-fet.blogspot.com/p/keep-christ-in-christmas.html

Did you know the United States Post Office is now selling a Madonna and Child postage stamp?

Will you say Grace before meals at family gatherings?  Even the ones at restaurants?

If you spot a store selling "JESUS" chocolates from Russell Stover / Whitman's, will you thank the store manager personally?

Please comment on this posting if you have more ideas!  Thanks!

Catholic Stuff You Should Know podcast

Have a lot of fun and learn stuff!

The podcast, "Catholic Stuff You Should Know", was started a couple of years ago by Catholic seminarians in Colorado.  One is now an ordained priest.  One is now an ordained deacon.  The other podcasters are current seminarians.

This podcast is great!  Imagine learning right from young men who are studying Jesus Christ and Roman Catholic theology right now!  They pick all kinds of different topics, and have a great banter back and forth to keep it light and fun.

Website: http://www.catholicstuffpodcast.com/Catholic_Stuff_You_Should_Know/Catholic_Stuff_Home.html

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-stuff-you-should/id412678859

Email these seminarians, deacons and priests your questions of faith:  catholicstuffpodcast@gmail.com

Catholic Bible Study Resources

I just added a new page to this blog with Catholic Bible Study Resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
http://debbiecatholic.blogspot.com/p/catholic-bible-study-resources.html

For those of you following who do not have time to get to the website, here are the links in brief:

New American Bible Revised Edition (text)
http://www.usccb.org/bible/books-of-the-bible/

Today's Readings for Mass (text):
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings

Daily Readings (audio):
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm

Daily Reflection (video):
http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/

Mobile Gabriel (for smartphones and small electronics): http://www.mobilegabriel.com/

Compline: a free app for learning the Liturgy of the Hours, the night prayer

The Roman Catholic Church has two great prayers to be said by the faithful: the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.  Until I went through the School for Pastoral Ministry at the Oakland Diocese, I had not heard of the Liturgy of the Hours.  This is a prayer form you can do on your own, or with a group, or organize for your parish church.

This free app gives you the night prayer, "Compline", which is centuries old.  Compline is the last prayer said at night, and reflects back over the day just past.  The folks at DivineOffice.org give a full explanation on their website.

The Compline app has the prayers in writing and in audio, so you can pray the responses along with the readers.  Nice way to learn if you are not familiar with these prayers.


Website for Divine Office: http://divineoffice.org/

Apple App Store page: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/night-prayer-compline-audio/id337995045?mt=8

Cost: Free

Where I Found It: iTunes

iPadre: App, Website, Podcast from Fr. Jay Finelli

One of my all time favorite Catholic podcasts is “iPadre” by Father Jay Finelli.

He always begins his show with excellent Christian music.  Then, Fr. Jay answers questions on the Roman Catholic faith from listeners, and addresses a timely topic of faith.  Fr. Jay has done shows on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Blessed Kateri (an Iroquois woman on her way to being the first Native American Saint), the Holiness of Marriage, interviews with nuns and seminarians to help us understand the call to vocations, and so on.  Fr. Jay presents his material in a very understandable and pastoral manner.  A great way to know your faith so you can grown in your faith.

The iPadre App is very nice and easy to use.  (See screen captures below).  I bought it through the iTunes App Store.  The iPadre app makes it easy to listen to the podcast, and to send in feedback.

The iPadre podcast is free on iTunes

The App is $2.  Here is the iTunes store page:  http://j.mp/9J4dsJ#pdcst

Father Jay’s website is:   http://www.ipadre.net/

Father Jay has a fan page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/18140513512/

New English Translation of the Roman Missal: Getting to Know Your Part

At my prayer group this past week, we went through the people's parts of the Roman Missal, comparing the current wording with the new wording.  We spent time pondering the meaning of the words, and the mysteries that God brings us in the Holy Eucharist.  You can find all you need to know on the web:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a great website on the new English translation: http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal/

The comparison of the new and old wording of the laity's speaking parts is at: http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal/samples-people.shtml

I was raised Lutheran (and converted to the Roman Catholic Church about 15 years ago): the "new" text sounds familiar to me.  The other women in my prayer group also found the "new" text to be very familiar from their Catholic childhood.

What thoughts does pondering the words of the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass bring to you?

Blessed John Paul II on the Dignity of Work

"Awareness that man's work is a participation in God's activity ought to permeate even the most ordinary everyday activities. For, while providing the substance of life for themselves and their families, men and women are performing their activities in a way which appropriately benefits society. They can justly consider that by their labor they are unfolding the Creator's work, consulting the advantages of their brothers and sisters, and contributing by their personal industry to the realization in history of the divine plan."

      -- Blessed John Paul II, Laborem Exercens (On Work) 

Catholic Social Teaching Resources: 

"The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers" is just one of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching.  Learn more from:

• The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (http://tinyurl.com/BishopsSocialTeaching) and 
• Pope Benedict XVI (http://tinyurl.com/CatholicSocialTeaching).

The image above is from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, on the page "Transforming Our World: Our Catholic Faith in Action": 
 http://nccbuscc.org/campus/teaching-worker.shtml