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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World Fair Trade Day: This Saturday May 9th, 2009

Catholic Relief Services to Mark World Fair Trade Day

Catholics are invited to Take a ‘Fair Trade Break’ and Break World Record!

In celebration of World Fair Trade Day on May 9, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), a national sponsor of the day, invites Catholics throughout the U.S. to join workplaces, churches, schools, businesses and neighbors and hold a Fair Trade Break to surpass last year's World's Largest Fair Trade ‘Break’ record.

With a goal of 55,000 total participants on and around Saturday, May 9, CRS is rallying Catholics and Fair Trade enthusiasts to hold events like Fair Trade coffee breaks, food tastings, talks, music concerts and fashion shows to promote an ethical alternative to conventional shopping that ensures that producers get a fair price for their products.

“During today’s tough economic times, it is more important than ever to have our shopping habits reflect our values,” says Jacqueline DeCarlo, CRS’ Senior Program Advisor for Fair Trade. “The poor suffer the most during economic downturns, and ‘solidarity shopping’ can directly impact the lives of farming families and craft associations – often led by women.”

Hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. and in over 80 countries will promote Fair Trade by holding a Fair Trade Break and campaign for trade justice together with farmers and artisans in developing countries. In the U.S., World Fair Trade Day is coordinated by the Fair Trade Resource Network and highlights the benefits of Fair Trade and the support needed on a grassroots level.

The recent entry of mainstream companies into the Fair Trade marketplace demonstrates that consumer demand for socially responsible and sustainable products influences corporate decisions. Yet, it is vital to continue to support Fair Trade companies and organizations that are fully committed to small-scale producers and believe in long-term partnerships based on dialogue, transparency and respect.

CRS’ Fair Trade program has grown from two retail partners in 2004 to 16 today, including coffee, chocolate and handcraft retailers. All of these companies help Catholic schools, parishes, and households shop responsibly for the benefit of disadvantaged producers. To find CRS partners dedicated to Fair Trade, visit http://crsfairtrade.org/.

“U.S. Catholics can feel gratified that they are helping to build a market that has been growing at double-digit rates in recent years,” DeCarlo says. “World Fair Trade Day is becoming a rallying point for these groups to spread the word about Fair Trade to the larger community.”

To join the movement and mark World Fair Trade Day, Catholics can:

¨ Hold a Fair Trade coffee break at their parish or schools
¨ Join the CRS Fair Trade Network
¨ Buy Fair Trade items or give a Fair Trade gift for Mother’s Day
¨ Host a Fair Trade fair
¨ Become a CRS Fair Trade fan on Facebook

To find a World Fair Trade Day event near you, visit http://www.fairtraderesource.org/link-up/events-calendar/.


Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 100 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed. For more information, please visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org.

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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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Earth Hour: 8-9 pm on Saturday Mar 29th

Jesus asked: "Could you not keep watch for one hour? Mk 14:37

This Saturday night, people from around the globe are going to be "keeping watch" in a different way for "Planet Earth." As Christians we can add a deeper dimension to this unique, hour-long gesture of the global community by using this time to bring our care and concern for the gift of Creation to God in prayer.

Why not join the Earth Hour this year?

The following background and more links can be found at: http://www8.earthhourus.org/ Here is the Phoenix Earth Hour website: http://www9.earthhourus.org/phoenix.php

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On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.

What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas.

Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change. Don’t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.

One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!

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Sleuthing in Your Supermarket: Learning to Shop with a Conscience

Sleuthing in Your Supermarket: Learning to Shop with a Conscience

Kitty Ufford-Chase, Faith Community Coordinator at the Community Food Bank, offers a five-session course at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, (just East of Swan on 22nd St.) on issues surrounding food and faith Monday evenings from April 7 through May 5 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm in the Awareness meeting room.

The following will be explored:

• The history of supermarkets, current and future trends, and how the supermarket fits into the global food system.


• Supermarket advertising, marketing and consumption: understanding the corporate role, and the messages we get from supermarkets.


• Environmental impacts within the supermarket itself, in its supply chain, and in the household.


• Social justice in the food system and supermarkets from middle-class and low-income perspectives: accessibility, affordability, and food appropriateness.


• Looking at alternatives and options for action to support a more just food system.

The fee for the five-session class is $15 to cover supplies; any money left over will be donated to the Food Bank by UUCT. Scholarships are always available and always given.

Please email mike-greenbaum@qwestoffice.net or call him at 326-8831 to sign up. Payment may be made by credit card by calling Jean in the church office at 748-1551.

Fr. Richard Rohr to speak in Tucson Monday March 24th

CONTEMPLATION and Non-Dual Consciousness -- RICHARD ROHR,OFM

WHEN: Monday, March 24, 2008 Afternoon session: 2pm-4pm Evening session: 7pm-9pm

WHERE: The Benedictine Monastery, 800 N. Country Club, South of Speedway on Country Club
COST: $40 for both sessions or $25 for each session

Fr. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan of the New Mexico province. He founded the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque in 1976, where he presently serves as Founding Director.

FOR INFORMATION: 520-325-6401 or email: conprayer@bspa.us

TO REGISTER: Send in the form on this FLYER [pdf]

Seating is limited, register early! Your tickets will be mailed to you. Mail-in deadline is March 17.

Community Supported Agriculture

Encouraging Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is one way we can live more simply, sustainably, and in tune with our environment. Learn more at the Tucson CSA website.


KUAT TV recently aired two segments on Community Supported Agriculture and how one can live sustainably -- even in Tucson. Here are links to the two videos on KUAT's website:

Community Supported Agriculture-1 "Community Supported Agriculture in Tucson"

Community Supported Agriculture-2 "Urban Chickens"


The KUAT website also includes the following links:

Community Food Bank

Farm directory

Native Seeds Search