Wed Mar 24th Prayer Service Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Oscar Romero's Assassination

"If You Kill Me,
I Will Rise Again in My People!"

March 24th is the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. He was a fearless voice for the voiceless in El Salvador and remains today an example for each of us. A prayer service commemorating his life will be held at Most Holy Trinity Parish on Wednesday night.

Icon by
Br. Robert Lentz, OFM

God’s Challenge to the People

The Violence of Love

Recommitting Ourselves to the God of the Exodus

and

to the Example of Monseñor Oscar Romero

on the

30th Anniversary of his Assassination

with a special reflection by
Rev. John Fife
of Southside Presbyterian Church

Sponsored by
Pax Christi Tucson

When:   Wednesday March 24, 2010  @  7:00 p.m.
Where:  Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1300 N. Greasewood Road
              NE Corner of West Speedway Blvd & North Greasewood Road

Everyone is Invited!

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Diocesan Health Care Reform Forum is tonight!

DATE: Monday September 21, 2009
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Most Holy Trinity Parish 1300 N. Greasewood Road

Read more in this recent (Sep 17) article in the Arizona Daily Star:

Tucson diocese to host a forum on health reform

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Poverty 24/6 "Give Poverty a Day Off"

POVERTY 24/6 is a Trust under the auspices of the Diocese of Tucson whose ministry provides clothing, food, water and other basic human necessities to improve the quality of life for those living in the most impoverished conditions in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.

The Mission of Poverty 24/6 is "to foster pastoral and educational outreach to migrants who have been deported from the United States of America, and to address the social and humanitarian needs of such individuals as well as the social and humanitarian needs of other needy persons throughout the state of Sonora, Mexico."

Learn all about this outstanding program by watching the video Miracles in Mexico: The Story of Poverty 24/6 online at the "What's New" link of the Poverty 24/6 website: http://www.poverty24-6.org/

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Legislative Updates from "The Voice of the Poor" & The Arizona Catholic Conference

It's a critical time right now for the poor in Arizona as the State Budget hangs in the balance. . .

St. Vincent De Paul Society in Arizona has a legislative/advocacy arm. It is called ‘The Voice of the Poor’(VOP) and is based in the Diocese of Phoenix.

Learn about it at:

http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/VoiceofthePoor.htm

The Mission Statement of Voice of the Poor (Diocesan Council of Phoenix):

Believing in the dignity of every person, Voice of the Poor supports Catholic social teaching. Under the direction of the Diocesan Council, we will advocate for justice on behalf of those in need, while educating St. Vincent de Paul members about economic and social issues impacting the poor.

You can find weekly VOP ARIZONA LEGISLATIVE UPDATES and ACTION ALERTS at this link:

http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/VOP_WklyLegislativeUpdates.htm

The Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) is the public policy agency for the Diocese of Gallup, the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Diocese of Tucson.

You can find ACC ACTION ALERTS at this link:

http://www.diocesephoenix.org/acc/index.html

Get updated on the issues and make your voice heard for the poor!!

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Casa San Juan: "Welcoming the Stranger Among Us"

The Casa San Juan Center in Tucson serves families living in poverty, homeless families, and immigrant families. Hundreds of families each month request help with immediate needs, such as help with food, clothing, medical, or shelter. Families also receive help with advocacy, education or immigration related assistance. Immigration issues have become a primary local, state and national focus.



The specific goal of the Center is to provide immediate help and work toward justice to advance the quality of life for all, including immigrant children and adults.

The Casa San Juan Center was established in 2002 by the Diocese of Tucson at the request of Bishop Manuel Moreno, Bishop Gerald F. Kicanis, Pastor Raul P. Trevizo, and lay members of the community at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church,Tucson, Arizona.


The Center is located in one of the poorest areas of Tucson, in the south side of the city where there is a large concentration of
homeless adults and poor families, many whom are immigrants.



To learn more about Casa San Juan and how you can get involved and help, see the Center's website: casasanjuan.org



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TONIGHT May 6th - An Evening with Jack Jezreel of JustFaith

"The Call to Transform Our Hearts and the World"

You may have heard about JustFaith, come tonight to learn more!

Jack Jezreel, popular national speaker and justice educator, holds a Master of Divinity degree from Notre Dame, spent six years in a Catholic Worker Community, and has been involved with parish-based justice ministry for 25 years. He is the author of JustFaith and serves as Executive Director of JustFaith Ministries. He received the prestigious Harry Fagan Award in 2006 for his contribution to the achievement of the Catholic vision of social justice. He is married and has three daughters. Jack has been in Tucson for our JustFaith introduction. We have grown in JustFaith and welcome Jack back!

We are called to be compassionate 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? The vision of the Gospels and Catholic social teaching speaks to life-giving choices on behalf of a world that struggles to survive.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore some new possibilities for your life, your parish, your heart!

Comments aboutJustFaith from Tucson participants:

* Our JustFaith grads have become a solid foundation for social ministry by meeting and praying and learning together and bydrawing others into their various ministries. – Most Holy Trinity pastor

* I am now living a more simple life – giving more, buying less, and trying to get more connected with my brothers and sisters. JustFaith is a life-changing experience. – Our Mother of Sorrows parishioner

WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2009

WHERE: Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, 1800 South Kolb Rd., Tucson, AZ

For all JustFaith Grads and present students:
Dinner with Jack in the OMOS Parish Activity Center (PAC)– 5:30 p.m.
More info: Jean Fedigan: jfedigan@cox.net or leave message for Jean: 520-747-1321

For all JustFaith Grads, Students and ALL NEW to JustFaith:

An evening with Jack in the Parish Hall with Closing Prayer at 9 p.m.
More info: Janet Towner: janett@diocesetucson.org or leave message: 520-838-2544

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photograph by Jill Johnson
read some of Sr. Jose's reflections on her life's path
in an exceprt from A Woman's Path by Jo Giese

Sister Jose Hobday, OSF
+

Born to Eternal Life

April 5, 2009

"Travel lightly -- God will replenish it all!"
(A quote from Sister Jose during a sharing on simple living with our JustFaith group)

for a beautiful photographic image of Sr. Jose see:

John Zeuli's Photograph

For more, including some of Sr. Jose's quotations see:
Spirituality & Practice - Resources for Spiritual Journeys

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Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero

Icon by Br. Robert Lentz, OFM

Today we remember Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador who was shot to death by a gunman while he was celebrating Mass on March 24, 1980.

A quote from Archbishop Romero:

Christ founded the church so that he himself could go on being present in the history of humanity precisely through the group of Christians who make up his church. The church is the flesh in which Christ makes present down the ages his own life and his personal mission . . .

Learn more about Oscar Romero at the Claretian's Salt of the Earth website, which has a webpage for the Remembrance of Archbishop Oscar Romero.

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Workshop on Human Trafficking in Southern Arizonna - Feb 28th

Submitted by Joanne Welter
Workshop will be held at Most Holy Trinity Parish, Tucson:

Human Trafficking in Southern Arizona


Please join us to learn more about human trafficking and how it affects the communities of southern Arizona.

The following training is free and is open to the parishioners to learn more about human trafficking and to help identify potential victims of human trafficking in every day work.

What: Workshop on human trafficking.

When: Saturday February 28 from 9-12.

Presenter: Katie Resendiz from the Arizona League to End Regional Trafficking (ALERT) will present a 3-hour workshop covering the following topics:

Topics: Human Trafficking 101, Skill Training, And Faith Based Actions.

Where: Most Holy Trinity Parish, 1300 N. Greasewood Rd.

Coffee and refreshments will be provided.
Just Goods will have Fair Trade items available for sale.
Registration is free.

If you are interested please email Jackie White at Jackie1965@cox.net by Wednesday February 25, 2009.
For any questions, please contact Jackie White at 520-207-1642 or jackie1965@cox.net

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More about The Arizona League to End Regional Trafficking:

In February 2003, the US Department of Justice / Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) awarded a grant for the creation of the Arizona League to End Regional Trafficking (ALERT). ALERT is a coalition representing partnerships with law enforcement, faith-based communities, non-profit organizations, social service agencies, attorneys and concerned citizens. Through education, outreach and a variety of programs and services, ALERT strives to end the suffering and dehumanization of victims of human trafficking. ALERT helps victims of trafficking by providing: food and shelter; medical care; mental health counseling; immigration assistance; legal assistance; language interpretation; case management; and other culturally appropriate services. ALERT had offices in Phoenix and Tucson but can serve clients statewide.

SOURCE: http://www.traffickingaz.org/

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Sr. Dorothy "Dot" Stang -- Memorial

We are only here on the land
for a few decades.
Use every day to bring joy
and not greed

to our tired land so full of anguish.

- Sr. Dorothy Stang

“The death of the Forest is the end of our Life.”
Icon painted by Father Bill McNichols, S.J.

Sister Dorothy Stang was murdered in the Amazon Forest on February 12, of 2005 -- a modern day martyr for the poor and the environment.

Sister Dorothy defended “the human rights of the poor, landless and indigenous populations of the Anapu region of Brazil for nearly 40 years, despite numerous death threats. She worked with farmers to help rebuild their livelihoods, cultivate their land and defend their rights from loggers and ranchers, becoming a symbol of the fight to preserve the rainforest before being killed in 2005.” [Citation as she was posthumously awarded the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, December 2008.]

Sr. Dorothy, Peacemaker with the Earth, rest in peace.

Learn more about Sister Dorothy:
http://www.sndohio.org/dotstang.htm

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More on The Kino Border Initiative -- videos & a news story

More news on THE KINO BORDER INITIATIVE:

CLICK HERE to watch four videos from the Jan 18th press conference in Nogales that annouced the official start of the Kino Border Initaitive.


Following is a link to a moving news story about the work of the KBI, and those whose lives are touched by it. The article was recently published in The Catholic Sun - Phoenix Diocese:

Jesuits seek deeper understanding of immigration in bi-national border project by J.D. Long-Garcia

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Pima County’s Annual Street Count of Homeless Persons

The Annual Street Count of Homeless Persons

Early this morning a group of volunteers was out counting those who had spent the night out -- without shelter -- in Tucson. This annual count is sponsored by the Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless (TPCH) and is part of a national homeless counting event. (The volunteers who were out this morning first went through a training program to prepare for the count.)

The goal of the count is to help us better understand our homeless neighbors -- and better meet their needs.

Here's an earlier report on Homelessness in Pima County 2006-2008 (PDF)

Looking for more ways to get involved in helping the homeless?
See the TPCH website

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Obama and abortion -- any hope?

As was widely expected by those on both sides of the abortion debate, on January 23rd President Obama rescinded The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (known as the "Mexico City Policy") which prohibits nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that receive Federal funds from using those funds "to pay for the performance of abortions as a method of family planning, or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions."

In response, the USCCB issued a statement by Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities:
President Obama's Reversal of Mexico City Policy 'Very Disappointing,' Says Pro-Life Committee Chair

For those of us longing for a widespread awakening to a Consistent Ethic of Life approach that cherishes life "from womb to tomb" -- is there any hope?

To probe deeper, read what President Obama stated after he signed the order:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/statement-released-after-the-president-rescinds/

Here is a Catholic New Service story about the issue, expressing some varying perspectives:
Obama signs order reversing Mexico City policy

And two New York Times articles with additional views:
Obama Reverses Rules on U.S. Abortion Aid
Family Planning and the Path to Progress


And on his blog, Jim Wallis, of Sojournors (a long-time social justice advocate from a faith-based perspective) offers some thoughts with a glimmer of hope:

I am encouraged that President Obama’s first action on abortion was to release a statement supporting a common ground approach to reducing abortion, even as he also reiterated his policy of supporting legal choice. Even more significant was his decision not to issue an executive order rescinding the “Mexico City policy” on the day of the anniversary of the Roe decision and the annual March for Life. For the past two decades, this particular rule has become a back-and-forth of instituting and repealing as administrations have changed—almost as a partisan tit-for-tat.

In breaking the symbolic cycle, President Obama showed respect for both sides in the historically polarized abortion debate, and called for both a new conversation and a new common ground. I hope that this important gesture signals the beginning of a new approach and a new path toward finding some real solutions to decrease the number of abortions in this country and around the world.

Read Jim Wallis full blog post here:
President Obama’s Call for Common Ground on Abortion Reduction


As always . . . let us bring this issue to prayer:

A PRAYER FOR LIFE SOURCE

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life..."
-Deuteronomy 30:19

We believe in you, Holy Spirit, Giver of Life.

We lay before you the prayers of those who are deprived of life;
the unborn, who never saw the love in a mother's eyes;
the aged and infirmed, who became another's "burden";
the suicides, who lost all hope;
the criminals, who invited scorn and revenge;
the victims of war, poverty, and other crimes of violence, who were unprepared for death.

We worship and glorify you, Holy Spirit, Divine Wisdom.

We lay before you the prayers of those who struggle with questions of life and death:
women unprepared for motherhood;
healthcare professionals;
child and adult caregivers;
the chemically and emotionally dependent;
justice, legal, and military personnel;
all abused or underprivileged seekers of acceptance.

Holy Spirit, Speaker of Truth, we lay before you our hearts of flesh that we may both heed and be your prophets of holy and revered life:

to defend with your passion and zeal those who have never tasted life and those whose lives seem to drag on interminably;
to uplift the lives of the hopeless and of the despised with your
compassion and love;
to bless the good in every person and curse the bad in every evil.

Living Spirit of God, all of life comes from you and has meaning and purpose. May all the peoples of the world unite in solidarity and unconditionally choose life.

Amen

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ACTION ALERT: Children's Health Bill (SCHIP)

USCCB ACTION ALERT:

Urge Support and Improvements to Children’s Health Bill (SCHIP)

TAKE ACTION NOW! (Bill may be considered on Monday Jan 26)

Call your senators about the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and urge them to support:

· increased funding to reduce the number of uninsured children by nearly half, maintaining and expanding coverage, reducing enrollment barriers, and expanding outreach, and respecting the roles of families;

· provisions in the legislation allowing states to interpret the word “child” to include the period from conception to birth;

· coverage for legal immigrant children and legal immigrant pregnant women.

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NOTE: Urge your senator to support improvement and expansion of SCHIP, provisions covering children from conception to birth, and coverage for legal immigrant children and legal immigrant pregnant women.

Several Senators will be particularly important on the provisions covering legal immigrants, including Sen John McCain.

An amendment is expected that would eliminate current provisions that limit access to SCHIP for legal pregnant immigrant women and legal immigrant children during their first five years in this country even if they meet all the other requirements for the program and have no other source for health care coverage. Please urge the Senators to support this amendment eliminating the 5-year rule for legal immigrant children and pregnant women.

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WHY IS THIS ACTION IMPORTANT NOW?

More than 9 million children in our country are uninsured. Through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), states receive federal funds to provide health insurance for millions of low-income children throughout the United States. Today the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on an expansion of SCHIP. The Senate vote will take place in the next few days. This is an important opportunity to promote several key improvements to the program—coverage of currently uninsured children, coverage of children before birth, and coverage of legal immigrant children and legal immigrant pregnant women.

WHAT DOES THIS ISSUE HAVE TO DO WITH MY FAITH?

Catholic teaching tells us that everyone has “the right to live” as well as “the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services” (Pope John XXIII, Pacem in Terris, #11).

Catholic teaching affirms the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and the inherent dignity of every human being. We insist that access to adequate health care is a basic human right, necessary for the development and maintenance of life and for the ability of human beings to realize the fullness of their dignity. A just society protects and promotes fundamental human rights and dignity, with special attention to the basic needs of children and the vulnerable, including the need for safe and affordable health care for all.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Contact your Senators now to urge support and improvements to SCHIP. Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 or find your Senators’ contact information at http://www.congress.org/.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Saile, Director, Domestic Social Development, USCCB, ksaile@usccb.org, (202) 541-3134

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Take action: Save Darfur Campaign & the USCCB

The USCCB is collaborating with the Save Darfur Campaign to urge President-elect Barack Obama give priority to ending the violence in Darfur when he takes office. As you may know about 300,000 people have died, 2 million are displaced from their homes, and hundreds of thousands go hungry every day. As Catholics we must work to protect human life and promote human dignity whenever they are threatened.

President-elect Barack Obama has pledged "unstinting resolve" to promote peace and security for Darfur and all of Sudan. Catholics around the U.S. can urge the President to end the tragedy in Darfur by completing electronic messages, which will be delivered on inauguration day, January 20, 2009.

USCCB is working with Save Darfur and other organizations to collect one million electronic postcards urging the president to follow through on this promise. Sign the electronic postcard now to ensure that Darfur is a day one priority for the president.

Background about the situation in Darfur can be accessed at: www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/callafrica/sudan.shtml.

SOURCE: Steve Hilbert, Policy Advisor, Africa and Global Development, Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

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This is National Migration Week: Jan 4-10

"Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice"

is the theme of this year's
NATIONAL MIGRATION WEEK
going on now from January 4-10.

According to the USCCB's Migration & Refugee Services website: "the observance began over 25 years ago by the bishops to be a moment for Catholics to take stock of the wide diversity of the Church and the ministries serving them. "

This week would also be a good time to visit Justice for Immigrants , which is the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform. The website is rich with resources -- check it out if you haven't been there in awhile: http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/

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Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 World Day of Peace Message

"FIGHTING POVERTY TO BUILD PEACE"

An excerpt:

One of the most important ways of building peace is through a form of globalization directed towards the interests of the whole human family. In order to govern globalization, however, there needs to be a strong sense of global solidarity between rich and poor countries, as well as within individual countries, including affluent ones.

Read Pope Benedict's entire message HERE and see the following link's call to action by our U.S. Bishops:

Bishops Urge Catholics to Act on Pope's World Day of Peace Message

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Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Patroness of Haiti

Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Pray for us & the People of Haiti!

Today on the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, we remember the people of Haiti in our prayers, outreach and generosity.

Learn more about Haiti by visiting the website of The Haiti Project sponsored by Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Tucson: http://www.omoshaiti.org/

Following is the story of how Our Lady or Perpetual Help became the beloved Patroness of the Haitian people, as told by Joan Martin, Haiti Minister from Our Mother of Sorrows Parish (OMOS). Joan lives and ministers in the Diocese of Port-de-Paix, Haiti. See MAP for location.

"On Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, all of Haiti celebrated a special Mass as a thank you and a re-consecration of the country to Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secours--Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Fr. Nicolas explained the history at the Mass for the sisters that morning. In about 1861, a disease called veret began to spread in Haiti. I am not sure of the name in English, but Fr. Nico said it was like leprosy--bumps, then holes in the skin, and very contagious. There was no treatment; the doctors and hospitals could do nothing. People began to die by the hundreds, then by the thousands. Every household was affected by the epidemic. There were so many deaths that funerals could not be held. Every town had a mass grave for the victims. ( For those of you who have visited PdPaix, the mass grave was where the airport runway is now.). The estimate was that about 200,000 people died.

In 1882, in desperation, one of the bishops in Port-au-Prince took a picture of Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secours up the mountain, blessed the country in all directions and asked for help.

The epidemic began to recede, and eventually stopped. The country celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving, and Haiti was consecrated to Notre Dame. The year 2007, marked the 125th Anniversary of the consecration. So the bishops decided to re-consecrate the country, to say thank you, and to ask for help with the current crises in the country. At noon, all the churches were supposed to ring their bells in celebration."


This is one of many entries from Notes, Photos, & Reflections from Joan, which can be found online at the OMOS Haiti Project Website. Here you can find more of her stories and photos about day-to-day life in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Joan's notes are informative, touching and often heart-rending.

Today would be a fitting date to spend some time in prayer and soldiarity with the people of Haiti and those who minister to them!

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World Refugee Day 2008

Today we remember refugees throughout the world:

From the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) website:

World Refugee Day 2008


"On June 20, we celebrate World Refugee Day. This year, events around the world will focus on the fundamental need for protection. For some, this means economic security; for others, protection is freedom from violence and persecution. On World Refugee Day, we will turn our attention to the millions of refugees who live without material, social and legal protection."

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Bus Fares are frozen

Advocacy works! Thanks everyone for your advocacy for the poor and the environment!!

See:

Rally to protest Sun Tran fare hikes on Tuesday (Tucson Citizen 6-14-08)

120 protest proposed bus fare increase (Tucson Citizen 6-17-08)

Council turnaround freezes bus fares (Arizona Daily Star 6-18-08)

Council kicks bus fare increase to the curb (Tucson Citizen 6-18-08)

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