Cesar E. Chavez Day of Service & Learning

Painting by Octavio Ocampo
(click on the image to see the detail)


"Chavez Day" is March 31st






From the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation website:


A true American hero, Cesar was a civil rights, Latino, farm worker, and labor leader; a religious and spiritual figure; a community servant and social entrepreneur; a crusader for nonviolent social change; and an environmentalist and consumer advocate.

His motto in life-"si se puede" (it can be done)-embodies the uncommon and invaluable legacy he left for the world's benefit. Since his death, dozens of communities across the nation have renamed schools, parks, streets, libraries, other public facilities, awards and scholarships in his honor, as well as enacting holidays on his birthday, March 31. In 1994 he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America.

Cesar Chavez-a common man with an uncommon vision for humankind-stood for equality, justice, and dignity for all Americans. His ecumenical principles remain elevant and inspiring today for all people.

Some of his quotes follow. Find more HERE,


"It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity."

"When any person suffers for someone in greater need, that person is a human."

"I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally non-violent struggle for justice."

"When the man who feeds the world by toiling in the fields is himself deprived of the basic rights of feeding, sheltering and caring for his own family, the whole community of man is sick."


Used by permission of the César E. Chávez Foundation

The Feast of the Annunciation

About the icon


The Feast of the Annunciation
is celebrated on March 31st this year.






Aubade: The Annunciation
(a poem by Thomas Merton)


When the dim light, at Lauds, comes strike her window,
Bellsong falls out of Heaven with a sound of glass.

Prayers fly in the mind like larks,
Thoughts hide in the height like hawks:


And while the country churches tell their blessings to the distance,
Her slow words move,
(Like summer winds the wheat) her innocent love:
Desires glitter in her mind
Like morning stars:


Until her name is suddenly spoken
Like a meteor falling.


She can no longer hear shrill day
Sing in the east,
Nor see the lovely woods begin to toss their manes.
The rivers have begun to sing.
The little clouds shine in the sky like girls:
She has no eyes to see their faces.


Speech of an angel shines in the waters of her thought like diamonds,
Rides like a sunburst on the hillsides of her heart.
And is brought home like harvests,
Hid in her house, and stored
Like the sweet summer's riches in our peaceful barns.


But in the world of March outside her dwelling,
The farmers and the planters
Fear to begin their sowing, and its lengthy labor,
Where, on the brown, bare furrows,
The winter wind still croons as dumb as pain.



Thomas Merton 1946




More Merton poems at: http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/resources/poetry/merton02.html



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Divine Mercy Sunday

Icon of "Christ of Divine Mercy
and His Apostle Saint Faustina"
by Fr. William McNichols, S.J.

Divine Mercy Sunday is a fitting time for the "Justice & Peace Shall Kiss" blog to reflect on the relationship between Justice and Mercy.

Here is Pope John Paul II on the subject, from his 19080 Encyclical titled Dives in Misericordia - Rich in Mercy :

Thus the fundamental structure of justice always enters into the sphere of mercy.

Mercy, however, has the power to confer on justice a new content, which is expressed most simply and fully in forgiveness.

Forgiveness, in fact, shows that over and above the process of "equalizing” and “truce” which is specific to justice, love is necessary, so that persons may affirm themselves as human.

Fulfillment of the conditions of justice is especially indispensable in order that love may reveal its own image.

In analyzing the parable of the prodigal son, we have already called attention to the fact that he who forgives and he who is forgiven meet one another at a vital point, namely, the dignity or essential value of the person, a point which cannot be lost.

The confirming of this point of dignity of the person or finding it anew is a source of the greatest joy.

Dives in Misericordia VII:14 Translation by Rev. George W. Kosicki, C.S.B.

To learn more about Pope John Paul II and Divine Mercy Sunday, see the AmericanCatholic.org article on: Why Catholics Celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday

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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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Solar Rock 2008 Saturday March 29th

Tucson's 2nd Annual 100% Solar-Powered SOLAR ROCK FESTIVAL will be held on:

Saturday, March 29 from 12-5 pm
Himmel Park
(South of Speedway, East of Tucson Blvd.)

Activities include:

Green Business Exhibitors
Lightbulb Exchange
Freecycle "Free Bee"
Cellphone Recycle
Children's Activities
Free Bike Valet Service

For more details see: http://www.solar-rock.blogspot.com/

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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.

Take Action: Respect for Unborn Life

From the The Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC):

The ACC is the public policy agency for the Diocese of Gallup, the Diocese of Phoenix, and the Diocese of Tucson

Support Partial Birth Abortion Ban

AZ Legislature Passes Partial Birth Abortion Bill

Take Action!

Please Ask Gov Napolitano to Sign HB 2769

Support Arizona's Partial Birth Abortion Ban. Please Ask Governor Napolitano to Sign HB 2769
HB 2769 is important pro-life legislation that essentially duplicates the Partial Birth Abortion Act passed by Congress in 2003 and upheld by the United States Supreme Court last year. Despite the passage of the federal law, however, there is still a need for a state ban on partial birth abortions so that Arizonans do not have to rely on the United State Department of Justice to bring such actions.

Additionally, a state ban is helpful because federal prosecutors attempting to enforce the current partial birth abortion ban must first show that interstate commerce is somehow impacted. With a state ban, however, local prosecutors can bring forth such charges without having to deal with interstate commerce issues.

Partial birth abortions involve a horrific procedure to which most people are opposed. HB 2769 is a reasonable piece of legislation aimed at making sure that they do not take place in Arizona.

Please follow the TAKE ACTION links in this alert and urge Governor Napolitano to sign HB 2769.

Take Action!