Justice Jottings #3
May 2004
An Email Update from the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative (MSJC)
Visit our website – www.msjc.net
Scroll down to read over the following items:
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Issue Team Updates - why not get involved and join one of our teams?
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Sharing the Good News - justice happenings in the Marianist world
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MSJC Steering Committee Update
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Resources - for leading a more justice-oriented life
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In the News - MSJC Opinion Leaders
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Events - International Festival of Hope
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Issue Teams Update - For more info or to get involved, click on the contact listed
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Ecology & Environment
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Beginning to work on our recently adopted goals and objectives, particularly the
one that calls for developing a Marianist Family policy statement to work against racism and for cultural solidarity. Check out the Anti-Racism Team info on our website - www.msjc.net - to read the entire plan. Or be part of the action by joining our Yahoo discussion group. Contact Ted Cassidy tcassidy@capemaymarianists.org or Len Roberts eaglelen@ameritech.net and they will get you connected.
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- Can you help?? We are looking for someone to help coordinate the sweatshop workers' tour next fall that will visit Marianist communities and institutions. We want to bring workers from Third World sweatshops to the US to tell their stories along with reps from the National Labor Committee. If you can help or know someone else who might, contact: Al Prendergast alprendergast@prodigy.net
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Death Penalty
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1) Brochure available that outlines our mission and objectives. Get copies for your institution,
ministry, or community.
2) June 29-July 2 - 11th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the US Supreme
Court. One focus topic will be the juvenile death penalty in the U.S.
See http://www.ABOLITION.org for details. Death Penalty Team will have representation at
this event. If you're interested, contact us, even if you can only participate for one or two
days!
3) Oct. 15-17 - National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty annual conference in
Washington DC. Details at http://www.NCADP.org. Death Penalty Team will have
representation at this event. If you're interested contact us.
More information about these and other activities of the Death Penalty Team on the website - www.msjc.net.
To follow up on any of the above, contact Brian Halderman, nSM, brianhalderman@yahoo.com.
War and Peace -
Considering the role of the US in this time of political, economic and military globalization -- and of us as members of an international religious family -- the activities of this team are of ever-growing relevance. Recent input from top officials (who are old friends and colleagues) at the UN and on Capitol Hill will help us make good critical judgments and ensuing actions. A newsletter with "the latest" will be appearing within a few weeks. The input of any interested persons, as well as requests for inclusion on our mailing list, are encouraged! Contact: Laola Hironaka HironakaFMI@aol.com
Sharing the Good News - justice happenings in the Marianist Family. Let us know about
others and we'll pass them along. Send information to: jimvogt2@yahoo.com
• Mary Andrews, Marianist State Community member, is part of a group working to establish Our Children's Place, a first of its kind residential correctional facility in North Carolina that will allow young children and babies to live with their mothers who are incarcerated. Its mission is to break the intergenerational cycle of crime, poverty, substance abuse and family violence and to empower the mother and child to change their lives. For more info, contact Mary at muandrews@nc.rr.com.
• Queen of Apostles Parish in San Jose CA, under the leadership of Fr. Jim Mifsud SM, has an extensive program, called the "Ascent Program," to help former prisoners get jobs.
• St. Francis DeSales Parish in Cincinnati offers a Way of the Cross experience each Good Friday focusing on justice issues.Parishioners in this urban parish walk to 10 different stations in the neighborhood around the church. The stations focus on justice issues like the environment, domestic violence, homelessness, discrimination, abortion, war. Fr. Ed Jack SM (edmjac@queencity.com) started this tradition 12 years ago.
MSJC Steering Committee
• Great meeting with reps from 10 Marianist Sponsored Parishes about how to integrate social justice concerns in the life of the parish.
• Planning a 3 day gathering with the SM Faith and Culture Task Force in July to discuss societal and religious trends and their implications for our ministry choices, particularly in the area of social justice.
A Possible New Project???
Bruce Segall, an MSJC member, writes: "How about forming a committee to investigate setting up a Charter School with a focus on 'Peace and Justice!!' I always felt the SM should get more involved directly in serving poor children in the urban areas." Any interest in his idea? Contact Bruce basegall@yahoo.com - or Jim Vogt - jimvogt2@yahoo.com
Resources - know any good ones? Share them with us
• Looking for a place to purchase clothing that has not been made in sweatshop conditions? Visit No Sweat Apparel at www.nosweatapparel.com
• Here's a simple way to benefit your health, your community, and the earth. Consider joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program that offers a way to connect area residents with local farmers. For more information and to find a CSA in your area, contact either CSA Resources (www.csacenter.org) or Local Harvest (www.localharvest.org).
• If you want to help get out the justice vote this fall, consider getting involved in the Center for Community Change (www.communitychange.org) or "One Nation, Many Faiths, Vote 2004" (www.interfaithalliance.org).
In The News
Al Prendergast, chair of the Sweatshop Labor Team, and Bro. Victor Forlani SM each wrote essays for the Catholic News Service on the question, "Will Americans Have Full-Time Jobs in the Future?" They will be appearing in Catholic papers in the next month. To read a text-only copy of the essays, go to www.msjc.net.
Events
International Festival of Hope, sponsored by Pax Christi, on May 22-23 at Seton Hall U., So. Orange NJ. Join peacemakers from around the world for workshops, a Peace Bazaar and a global consultation on "From War on Terrorism to Inclusive Security." Visit www.paxchristiusa.org for details, registration info, etc.
Job Opening
The Province of the United States is seeking a full-time Director of Peace and Justice at the St. Louis Province office. The director will assist the Provincial Council and communities to articulate and promote issues of justice, peace and ecology. The application deadline is May 10, 2004. The Province is seeking an individual who understands Marianist spirituality. For a job description, contact Ann Mueller at amueller@sm-usa.org.
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