Latest Updates. Back to School. Office for Social Concerns. Catholic Diocese of Columbus. Urban Plunge Retreats. September 2013

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1 Office for Social Concerns Catholic Diocese of Columbus September 2013 Latest Updates 2013 Labor Day Statement The 2013 Labor Day Statement by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is available online. The statement reflects on rising economic inequality and issues a rousing call for everyone to work together to build a just economy. USCCB produced supplementary materials in concert with the Labor Day Statement including Catholic Social Teaching primers on workers, labor unions, unemployment, and poverty; and an examination of conscience for business owners. To read the statement online, go to For more information about the Labor Day Statement, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at (614) Catholic Social Services Breakfast with the Bishop September 13 Catholic Social Services Annual Breakfast with the Bishop will be held on Friday, September 13, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency, 350 N. High Street, Columbus. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Program begins at 7:45 a.m. and concludes at 9:15 a.m. Speakers for the event are Bishop Frederick F. Campbell and Matt Swaim, producer of The Son Rise Morning Show and author of Prayer in the Digital Age. All proceeds from the breakfast will support the vital programs and services of Catholic Social Services. Individual tickets are available for $40. Inquires about purchasing tickets or event sponsorship can be directed to Emma Helms at (614) or via the CSS website at Back to School Urban Plunge Retreats Did you know the Office for Social Concerns leads Urban Plunge Retreats each year for hundreds of high school juniors, elementary and high school faculty & staff, and even students from the University of Notre Dame? In August 2013, the office led a retreat for the diocesan seminarians. Each urban plunge includes prayer, a brief session on Catholic Social Teaching, description of social service agencies, volunteer service experiences, small and large group reflections, and a closing commissioning. Participants learn about poverty, hunger, homelessness, isolation, disabilities, and environmental stewardship. 40 Days for Life September 25 to November 3 The greater Columbus community will be uniting with hundreds of cities from all 50 states in the 40 Days for Life campaign. Faithful believers are praying that this effort will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in America. This peaceful prayer

2 September 2013 Latest Updates Page 2 vigil will take place an abortion facility in Columbus. Participants are asked to volunteer and sign a statement of peace. For details, visit Friends of the Poor Walk September 28 The Friends of the Poor Walk is scheduled for Saturday, September 28, at the St. Francis DeSales High School Stadium, 4212 Karl Road, Columbus. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. The walk route is approximately one mile, to signify "walking a mile" in the shoes of the poor. Walkers are invited to walk the route as many times as they like. Money raised for the walk will support efforts of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. For more information, contact Patti Aellig at (614) or columbusfriendsofthepoorwalk@live.com. Voice for the Voiceless Prolife Youth Training Conference September 29 Voice for the Voiceless Prolife Youth Training Conference will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2013, at Run the Race Club, 880 S. Wayne Ave., Columbus. Doors Open at 12:00 p.m. Lunch Provided. Conference: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Keynote Speaker is Bryan Kemper of Stand True Pro-Life Ministries. A new prolife youth group Crusaders for Life is sponsoring the event. More information, complete schedule and registration, go to October is Respect Life Month October is Respect Life Month and Sunday, October 6, 2013, is Respect Life Sunday. Open Your Hearts to Life! is the theme of the Respect Life Program. Celebrate the gift of life in all its stages. For more information, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at (614) Parish respect life packets that provide an overview of the pressing life issues of today are available online on the U.S. Catholic Bishops website at Holy Hour for Immigration Reform October 1 Join us for a special Holy Hour to Pray for Immigration Reform on Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 313 N. State St., Westerville. The U.S. Catholic Bishops say now is the time enact comprehensive immigration reform. It is time to pray, learn, and act. For more information, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at (614) or Catholic Latino Ministry at (614) Meet the Candidates Night October 9 The diocesan Office for Social Concerns and Black Catholic Ministries partner with the Franklin County Consortium for Good Government to provide events in Franklin County that give voters opportunities to get to know the people and issues that will appear on the November ballot. The Consortium is a civic group that accepts no support from political, governmental, or commercial interests, thus insuring that its tradition and reputation for scrupulous nonpartisanship is maintained. This year, six events are planned, including one on October 9 at All Saints Academy near Christ the King Church, 2855 E. Livingston Ave., Columbus. Most events begin with an informal meet-and-greet at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Candidates Forum at 7:00 p.m. Other Meet the Candidates Nights include: September 24 Peace Lutheran Church October 3 Unitarian First Universalist Church October 8 Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church October 10 Agudas Achim October 15- McConnell Arts Center For more information contact the Office for Social Concerns at (614) or socmailbox@colsdioc.org, or visit the Consortium website at Catholic Social Services Service Saturday October 12 Join Catholic Social Services to help older and disabled Franklin County residents in need of help with a small home repair, painting, yard work, or special project. Volunteer: Saturday, October 12,

3 September 2013 Latest Updates Page No time to volunteer? Donate. Help by providing a donation to assist CSS with purchasing supplies for the day of service. Identify a person in need. Do you know of an older adult (60+) or disabled individual who lives in Franklin County and needs help with a small home repair or special project? For more information about CSS Service Saturday, contact Peggy Sirbaugh at (614) or psirbaugh@colscss.org. Please RSVP by September 23. National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) National Convention November 1-3 NCPD will hold its Partnership 2013: Where Faith and Disability Meet, on November 1-3, in Houston, TX. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn how meaningful participation for all individuals with disabilities can become a reality. For details, visit Election Day November 9 "In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation." (U.S. Catholic Bishops, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship). To read the statement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States go to their website at Visit the Catholic Conference of Ohio's website at for issue positions. Please vote. Let your voice be heard! Catholic Campaign for Human Development Collection November 24 The Catholic Campaign for Human Development Collection will be on the weekend of Sunday, November 24, 2013, the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Help break the cycle of poverty. For more information about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, visit the CCHD website at or contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at (614) Thanksgiving Day November 28 "O GOD, source and giver of all things, who manifests Your infinite majesty, power and goodness in the earth about us, we give you honor and glory. For the sun and rain, for the manifold fruits of our fields, for the increase of our herds and flocks, we thank you. For the enrichment of our souls with divine grace, we are grateful. Supreme Lord of the harvest, graciously accept us and the fruits of our toil, in union with Christ Your Son, as atonement for our sins, for the growth of Your Church, for peace and charity in our homes, for salvation to all. Amen." This prayer and other resources for parishes are available online from the National Catholic Rural Life Conference at Resources For additional resources visit Respect Life Program Open Your Hearts to Life! The Respect Life Program begins anew each year on Respect Life Sunday, the first Sunday in October. The program is highlighted in liturgies and marked by special events. The USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities publishes a program packet each year to call attention to numerous human life issues. These materials are especially helpful for priests, parish groups, and other organizations. The packet includes articles and bulletin inserts, liturgy guide, posters, flyers, and a catalog of pro-life publications. To access the packet online, go to

4 September 2013 Latest Updates Page 4 New Publication: Catholic Teaching on Migration Are you interested in learning more about the Catholic Church s teaching on migration? In honor of the 10 th anniversary of the joint Mexican/US pastoral letter Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope, the USCCB Department of Migration and Refugee Services has released a new book that includes essays on major themes addressed in the pastoral letter titled On Stagers No Longer. This book provides insights into the historical, pastoral, and theological insights into the Church s teaching on migration and includes essays written by theologians, legal scholars, and policy experts. For details, visit Poverty USA More than 46 million Americans live in Poverty USA. American families were having a difficult time making ends meet before the recession. With continuing unemployment and increasing costs of living, more and more families have to choose between necessities like health care, child care, and even food. Poverty affects us all. Help break the cycle of poverty. Visit the Poverty USA website to learn more about how the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is making a difference and how you can too, Like Coffee, Chocolate, or Crafts? Think CRS Fair Trade Program. Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Program is good in more ways than one. Just as Catholic Relief Services responds in other countries to ease poverty, hunger and injustice, here at home CRS works to transform the world through tangible acts of solidarity. The CRS Fair Trade Program creates opportunities for you to bring the values of our faith to bear in the marketplace and to make consumer choices that help lift our brothers and sisters around the world out of poverty. CRS works in partnership with fifteen fair trade partners to bring fair trade handcrafts, coffee, and chocolate to thousands of communities across the United States. Catholic parishes host Consignment Sales to create ethical consumption opportunities for members of their communities. Catholic institutions serve exclusively fair trade coffee as a demonstration of their commitment to live out Gospel values. Teachers in Catholic schools use fair trade chocolate as a way to bring the lessons of Catholic Social Teaching into their classrooms. To learn more about CRS Fair Trade, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at (614) , socmailbox@colsdioc.org or go online at

5 September 2013 Latest Updates Page 5 Catholics Confront Global Poverty USCCB and Catholic Relief Services partner through Catholics Confront Global Poverty to help Catholics pray, learn, act, and give to confront global poverty. Go to Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples This color, 32-page booklet can help all Catholics to better understand the connections between the celebration of the sacraments and our social mission as followers of Jesus and members of the Body of Christ. To order through USCCB, go to or for download visit Care for Creation The Catholic Conference of Ohio s webpage on environmental justice entitled Care for Creation provides resources for families, parishes, schools and other institutions. Go to Action Alerts For current legislative action alerts visit Support Medicaid Reform & Expansion Because of our concern for the poor and vulnerable, the Catholic Conference of Ohio stands in solidarity with our Ohio Catholic hospitals and Catholic Charities agencies in advocating for an expansion in Medicaid coverage. Call members of the Ohio General Assembly today. The Legislative Information Hotline is For a copy of the CCO action alert, go to Support a Balanced Farm Bill Urge your elected federal officials to oppose drastic cuts to hunger programs that support hungry people such as SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), emergency food assistance programs, and overseas food assistance aid; promote stewardship of creation; assist small family farmers; and help rural America thrive. To learn more and to act, go to Immigration Reform: Now is the time. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urges that a reformed immigration system can protect human dignity and the nation at the same time. Now is the time to enact comprehensive immigration reform. USCCB s Justice for Immigrants Campaign launched a nationwide e-postcard campaign. For details, visit Call, write, or visit your Congressional leaders today! Urge Support for the Heath Care Conscience Rights Act Please urge members of Congress to support the Health Care Conscience Rights Act, HR 940. The government must not force Americans to violate their religious and moral beliefs on respect for life when they provide health care or purchase health coverage. For details and action, visit the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment s Action Center at

6 September 2013 Latest Updates Page 6 Circle of Protection Because of your advocacy, the spending bills and budget deals agreed to by Congress and the Administration over the last two years have maintained a circle of protection around programs that help poor and vulnerable people at home and abroad. However, on March 1, 2013, the sequester (a mandatory across the board cuts to most federal programs) went into effect because Congress and the Administration were unable to reach an alternative agreement on federal spending and deficit reduction. Please continue to tell your members of Congress that the budget for FY 2014 should replace the sequester with fair and just spending and revenues that reweaves a circle of protection around those programs that provide vital services to poor and hungry people at home and abroad. For details, visit Send an action alert, go to International Issues USCCB urges action on a number of international issues which include Palestinian Assistance/Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Conflict, HIV/AIDs, and Poverty-Focused Assistance. To view policy positions and action alerts, visit Death Penalty in Ohio The State of Ohio scheduled executions through Please pray for victims of violence, victims families, death row inmates, and their families. Continue to urge the governor and members of the Ohio General Assembly to stop the use of the death penalty in our state. Visit Receive Action Alerts via . Join the Information and Response Network. If you would like to receive legislative action alerts and upcoming events from the diocesan Office for Social Concerns via , subscribe to the Information and Response Network. Please send an to socmailbox@colsdioc.org. Don t forget to visit our website at Care Enough to Act Pray Volunteer Donate Support our Catholic Charities Today offers an opportunity to rediscover in a personal way the call to love of neighbor, especially those in need. In addition to the parish based efforts and organizations that serve the poor and vulnerable, we have several diocesan sponsored agencies and organizations that respond to need and act in our name. Our diocesan Catholic Charities include Catholic Social Services, J.O.I.N., St. Francis Center in McArthur, St. Stephen s Community House, St. Vincent Family Centers, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Visit the website for more information.