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November 25, 2019
Who is My Neighbor?
On Nov. 14th the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule that would drastically raise the costs of immigration benefits while slashing the availability of fee waivers for low-income immigrants. Among the proposals is a new $50 fee to seek asylum, which would risk the lives of asylum seekers. The proposed rule would also increase application fees for naturalization, DACA, lawful permanent residency,and other applications. It would also transfer $207 million from USCIS to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for enforcement purposes. Right now we have the opportunity to speak out by submitting public comments. CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.) has made it easy to comment.
Click on the link below and be a voice for the voiceless. Deadline: Dec. 13thI oppose a wealth test on American citizenship!
A Just Advent
The season of Advent affords us opportunities to prepare for Emmanuel, the Son of Justice, whose coming in history we celebrate at Christmas. Here are some ideas and resources that might be helpful to use in our local communities as we continue living Pauline’s legacy of justice in our day.
Themes:
Eco-Advent - focus on practicing eco-justice acts that keep us mindful of the longing of our earth for justice; reflect on Laudato Si and Pope Francis’ plea to hear the cry of our earth
Peace (with justice) On Earth --focus on non-violent, peaceful thoughts, words and actions in our daily encounters; reflect on how peace can only be a reality if we work for justice and how we can be peace/justice makers building a kingdom of justice.
Welcoming the Stranger - focus on immigration justice - Who is my Neighbor? - Adopt a local refugee family for Christmas or connect with an organization that supports our immigrant families such as Catholic Charities.Resources: Pax Christi Advent booklet: The Time to Be Awake: order on paxchristiusa.org Advent Justice Calendar (see attachment)
Education for Justice website (search “Advent”)Earth, Teach Me
Earth teach me quiet ~ as the grasses are still with new light.
Earth teach me suffering ~ as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility ~ as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring ~ as mothers nurture their young.
Earth teach me courage ~ as the tree that stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation ~ as the ant that crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom ~ as the eagle that soars in the sky.
Earth teach me acceptance ~ as the leaves that die each fall.
Earth teach me renewal ~ as the seed that rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself ~ as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness ~ as dry fields weep with rain.— American Indian Ute Prayer passed down from White Buffalo Calf Woman
As we celebrate Thanksgiving let us remember all our indigenous brothers and sisters who reverence the earth as holy ground and who teach us to hear the cry of our suffering earth! Let us give thanks for the blessings of earth and commit ourselves to care for our common home every day!
