|
Join our list | |
|
| CRS Appeal for Famine in Horn of Africa | |
You have probably heard about a humanitarian crisis unfolding in East Africa, mostly affecting Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. Catholic Relief Services staff in the region report dreadful conditions. East Africa's worst drought in more than half a century is causing extreme hunger for more than 11 million people. Severe lack of rainfall has resulted in failed crops, critical shortages in food and water, and countless numbers of livestock dying from dehydration and starvation. Help CRS with a generous gift so that CRS can quickly increase the scope of efforts there to feed and provide water to as many needy people as possible. Please help our brothers and sisters in East Africa, who so desperately need our help.
|
|
Catholic Charities Wish List |
Did you know that many of the programs in Catholic Charities have wish lists? Click here to see what is on the wish list and which agencies are hoping someone can help out.
|
| Did you know... |
The directors of the Five Commissions as well as CRS/CCHD will advise and help you on any issue of social justice, are available for speaking engagements, present at Generations of Faith Programs, and answer all sorts of questions. Just visit the web site, www.catholic-action.org for a list of services and contact information. |
|
Ohio Catholic rural Life Conference |
The next Ohio Catholic Rural Life Conference (OCRLC) meeting is at St. Ladislas Parish, Columbus, OH on Monday, Sept. 26, 10:30 AM - 3 PM. The OCRLC has met with the Ohio Director of Agriculture, Jim Zehringer, and will be pursuing further meetings with his office dealing with the impact of natural gas fracking, climate change, and lessening federal subsidies on Ohio farmers and what responses his department will have. Discussion, at this point, deals with a particular example of unfair regulation on family farmers and licensing requirements at a farmers market. Also discussed was the re-establishment of a food policy council for Ohio, which doesn't look promising at this point. We will be having pro and con presentations on fracking at our next meeting.
|
|
Catholic Campaign for Human Development |
Congratualtions to the David Fallon Award Winners!!
Top youth award: Justice Walking from St. Mary's, Hudson for their work with youth at the Catholic Worker Houses in Akron.
Top community award: Beans for El Salvadore from St. Barnabas Parish, Northfield.
|
|
USCCB Campaign: First Fridays for Food |
On each First Friday, Catholics are invited to "fast" by limiting meal spending to the amount allotted for a family of their size in the USDA Modified Thrifty Food Plan, which is used as the basis for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called food stamps). Participants can visit the Facebook event page to leave comments about their experiences and access information and reflections on food insecurity in the U.S. A handout for use on August 5 is attached to this email. The theme of this month's handout is migrant farm workers. First Fridays for Food Security will continue on every first Friday through April 6, 2012. |
|
|
Dear Friends,
We hope you have been enjoying your summer, finding some time for family and friends, rest and relaxation!
There are new energies around the diocese as each of the Commissions strenthens networks and provides programming around very important issues. Please call any of the Commissions for speakers, programs, help with goal setting, updating of issues, and social concerns planning. The Micah Center, the Peace and Justice Resource Center housed in the Summit County office, has great materials for your use. We hope to see you at the JustFaith workshop on the 31st at St. Hilary Parish. See below for details.
Thanks for all you do! Sr. Kathleen Ryan, Karen Leith, Jerome Walcott, Pat O'Bryan, Rocky Ortiz, and Ann Coplan |
|
Commission on Catholic Community Action | | |
The Commission on Catholic Community Action will hold its next parish leadership meeting on October 18th at St. Augustine Towers. Call Sister Kathleen Ryan, SND, 216-939-3841, for details.
The CCCA through our parish networks worked in conjunction with the other Commissions throughout the diocese to generate hundreds of letters in an attempt to impact the state budget. Through the Public Policy Leadership Council of Catholic Charities, which Sister Kathleen Ryan chairs, the system build an enhanced Advocacy Task Force. The goal of the group was to create a unified effort speaking with one voice with the goals impacting the state budget in the areas that most directly affected the most vulnerable among us.
One new initiative was a collaborative effort with the Catholic Conference of Ohio, Catholic Charities Services and Social Action represented by our colleague Karen Leith. The members met with representatives of the Office of Health Transformation to advocate for no further cuts in the budget to not for profit nursing homes. This was an essential meeting as the not for profit nursing homes stood to lose millions of dollars over the next two years.
Read more... |
|
Catholic Commission of Summit County | | |
The Catholic Commission of Summit County will meet from August through June, except for December. Format of monthly meetings has been changed to reflect the need for more parish networking. There will be agenda time for parish representatives to share news and events dealing with social justice issues. Fall general sessions will finish the discussion of Dan Groody's book (see below).
Catholic Commission of Summit County's committees have had a busy spring and summer planning for the coming year. In September, the Poverty and Racism Committee will present a special session, "There's More than One Way to Tell a Story, " explaining how we frame an issue or concept makes a difference. All are invited. Read more...
Due to the success of past "on the road" meetings, the Program Committee has planned three more:
Fair Trade: Local and Global Issues in October
Where to Find Help in Hard Times: A Primer for Parishioners and Parish Leaders in January
Christians in the Middle East in April
See the flier with speakers, dates and places...
The Outreach Committee is planning ways of mentoring new social concerns committees. A tool kit of suggestions is planned as well as one-on-one contact.
The new Economic Justice Committee has added a page of How to Get Help to the Diocesan Social Action home page. They have formulated short and long term goals of education, awareness, and training for both parishioners and parishes that would like to do more to help, including job networks.
The International Justice Committee has been contributing articles to the Council on Global Solidarity's e-news. Special programs and a educational piece on the nuclear issue are in process.
The Summit County Branch of OTSE (Ohioans to Stop Executions) has been doing some personal lobbying with members of the Criminal Justice committee of the General Assembly, especially, Representative Lynn Slaby. They are also planning a breakfast iwth Sr. Helen Prejean.
Both the Commission and its committees are open to all who areinterested. For information, call Karen Leith at 330-535-2787.
|
|
Catholic Commission of Lorain County | | |
Deacon Rocky Ortiz and Pat O"Bryan have been meeting with all the pastors in Lorain. They have planned a network meeting for August 25 to bring representatives from all the parishes together to restart the Catholic Commission of Lorain County.
Official announcement: The first meeting of the newly reconstituted Lorain Catholic Action Commission and its new network will be on Aug. 25, Thursday, at 7 PM, at St. Mary Parish, Elyria, with Rocky and Pat and the Executive Committee leading the meeting. |
|
Catholic Commission of Wayne, Ashland and Medina | | |
Catholic Commission of Wayne, Ashland and Medina Counties has been focused on starting their new Ohioans to Stop Executions branch. Upcoming events include:
Innocence and the Death Penalty at St. Ambrose Parish on September 22 (see flier...) and Sr. Helen Prejean on November 15 at St. Martin of Tours(Tues., Nov. 15, at 7:30 PM at St. Martin of Tours, 1800 Station Rd., Valley City, Medina County, 44280, (330) 483-3808. The Sr. Helen Prejean talk is part of a series of events in the state as we try to draw attention to the bill before the General Assembly.
Pat O'Bryan, director, has been in conversations and planning around the fostering and establishing, with our Commission and the Ashland Center for Nonviolence, of local food economy models. There will be a series presented on different local models for Ashland Co. and the region in the spring by the ACN.
For more information, contact Pat O'Bryan at (330) 263-6176.
The Commission has begun discussions towards transplanting a program from Wayne Co. into Medina Co., called GREEN, where people 200% above the poverty line receive implements, plants, seeds, and garden plots to grow their own produce, with assistance on how to cultivate their plants, and then how to can and preserve them. We are looking to establish a duplicate program with the parallel network in Medina Co. of the organizations that began this in Wayne. |
|
Catholic Commission of Lake and Geauga | | |
On April 30th 2011, the Catholic Commission of Lake and Geauga held its 21st annual Peace and Justice Awards Dinner. The Commission sponsors this annual event to recognize people and or parishes doing outstanding work in the areas of peace and justice. This year the winners were Kathy Philipps and Greg Stovicek, from Karpos Ministries from St. Mary, Painesville and Mr. William H. Jackson from St. Mary, Chardon. Karpos Ministries is an outreach ministry of hospitality that provides fellowship, meals, and other basic items to an average of about 80 people every Wednesday in Painesville. Mr. William Jackson was honored for his work with Fr. Michael Whitman/Ozanam Center in East Cleveland.
The keynote speaker for the dinner was Fr. Neil Kookoothe, the pastor of St. Clarence Parish in North Olmsted. His topic was the death penalty and what we can do to abolish it in Ohio.
The Catholic Commission of Lake and Geauga is working with Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE) to get a chapter of OTSE in the Lake and Geauga district.
Read more... |
|
Catholic Students for Peace and Justice | |
Catholic Students for Peace and Justice (CSPJ) is an organization made up of representatives from Catholic High Schools and Colleges in the Diocese of Cleveland.
On May 5th, 2011, 50 parents, faculty and students came together to celebrate another year of taking action for justice and peace. At that time, the Bishop Pilla Peace and Justice Award was given to the following seniors:
Claire Grega - Beaumont
Matt Liebenauer - Lake Catholic
Mar Galizio - Magnificat
En'Ante Pearl - Ignatius
Freddy Keppler - Holy Name
Samantha King - St. Martin De Porres
Mercedes Engle - St. Martin De Porres
Congratulations to these young men and women for the leadership they have shown in their school communities.
Read the full article... See pictures... |
|
Jack Jezreel of JustFaith Workshop | |
|
JustFaith: A Call to Transform
Our Hearts and the World
We are called to be com-passionate as our God is compassionate (Luke 6:36), but what does the compassion of Christ look like in the modern world? How do I become a more compassionate person? Are you interested in embarking on a spiritual journey into compassion? JustFaith can help you and your church learn to live the Gospel in ways that respond to the world's needs.
When: Wednesday, August 31, 6:15 - 9:00 pm(registration 6:15 - 6:30 pm) Free thanks to our sponsors!!! Very Light Supper from 5:30
Where: St. Hilary Parish, 2750 West Market St., Fairlawn, (Rt. 18 E exit off 77)
Contact: Karen Leith, 330-535-2787, kpleith@clevelandcatholiccharities.org
Please register for planning purposes!
Flier that can be downloaded. Poster that can be downloaded.
Interview with Jack Jezreel.
Today's Parish article by Dave DeLambo from Cleveland Pastoral Planning |
We thank the following co-sponsors:
Cleveland Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Guardian Angels, Copley, Holy Family Parish, Stow, Holy Martyrs, Medina, Pax Christi, Cleveland, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Grafton, Resurrection Church of the Lord Jesus, Solon, Sacred Heart Chapel, Lorain, Sacred Heart Parish, Oberlin, St. Albert the Great, North Royalton, St. Barnabas, Northfield, St. Clarence, North Olmsted, St. Frances Cabrini, Lorain, St. Francis Xavier, Medina, St. Hilary, Fairlawn, St. Jude, Elyria, St. Martin of Tours, Medina, St. Mary, Elyria, St. Mary, Hudson, St. Mary, Painesville, St. Mary, Wooster, St. Mary of the Assumption, Mentor, Sisters of Notre Dame, Chardon |
|
Book Study by Conference Call | |
Book Discussion in 4 Conference Calls and a Retreat Day!
The book: Globalization, Spirituality, and Justice: Navigating the Path to Peace by Fr.Daniel G. Groody of Notre Dame University.
You can join the 3rd call on Tuesday, August 30th. We will be discussing chapters 5 and 6. Summary powerpoints are available. Email Karen Leith at kpleith@clevelandcatholiccharities.org for information. Call is free to participants.
The Catholic Commission of Summit County is also studying the book. Members are finding it very understandable, easy to read, and a great foundation for all we do in social justice.
Fr. Daniel Groody will be here for a retreat on November 5. Details to be announced later.
|
| Save the Date! | |
August 18, 8:30-4:00:
Catholic Community Connections Annual Symposium featuring renowned nationally acclaimed Keynote Speaker, Brother Loughlan Sofield, ST, on Collaborative Leadership, Servant Leadership: Skills & Practices for Advancing the Common Good at John Carroll University,
Free but registration required. Contact caputodm@sistersofcharityhealth.org
September 18 at 7PM
"There's More Than One Way to Tell a Story" as part of the Catholic Commission of Summit County monthly meeting, 795 Russell Ave., Akron, 330-535-2787, free and open to the public.
September 22, 6:30-8:30 PM
Innocence and the Death Penalty at St. Ambrose Parish.
Oct. 6, 2011 at 10:00
Respect Life Liturgy with Bishop Lennon and students from Catholic Schools for Peace and Justice at St. John Cathedral followed by a Rally for Life at Public Square.
October 18, Commission on Catholic Community Action Parish Social Action Parish Leadership meeting, 5:00-7:00 at Saint Augustine Towers, first floor, 7911 Lake Avenue, light supper and meeting. Call (216)939-3841 for more details.
October 22 at 7 PM, Queen of Heaven Parish in Green
Fair Trade: Local and Global, Interreligious Tak Force speakers; "on the road" with the Catholic Commission of Summit County, 330-535-2787, free and open to the public.
Tues., Nov. 15, at 7:30 PM Sr. Helen Prejean at St. Martin of Tours, 1800 Station Rd., Valley City, Medina County, 44280, (330) 483-3808.
Wed. Nov. 16, Breakfast
Sr. Helen Prejean in Akron. Place TBA
|
|
|
