The Community of Saint Andrew

Portland, Oregon

Peace, Justice and Ecology Committee

 

St. Andrew Lenten Listening Season 2011

Immigration and Catholic Social Teaching: A step along the way

Tuesday-March 29, 2011

 

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Each person is not only sacred but also social, not only individual but also communal. We realize our dignity and rights in relationship with others, in community. How we organize our society directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. A central test of political, legal, and economic institutions is what they do to people, what they do for people, and how people participate in them.

A personal story based on this teaching

My name is Charlie Crowther, and I am the Jesuit Volunteer working in Emergency Services here at St. Andrew’s.

Thank you for inviting me to share in your experiences here tonight. Kelli has asked me to offer up a few words on the topic of Community.

On a couple of different occasions over the last few years, I have been able to spend time visiting different locations on and around the U.S.-Mexican border, ranging from shelters and the homes of our gracious hosts on the Mexican side to federal courthouses and relief services on the American side. Through these experiences, I have been exposed not only to the issues of immigration but more importantly to the people affected by these issues.

I do not have the slightest idea of what it must feel like to live a day in this country without documentation, experiences that Yolanda has so eloquently shared with you all, but the places I have seen and the people I have met have been a constant source of inspiration to learn as much as a I can.

Last year, I wrote a thesis on immigration and naturalization reform. Kelli said it might not be the best idea to read all sixty pages, so I’ll get down to the heart of it.

Why is it that so many Americans are opposed to more inclusive immigration and naturalization reforms? And what does it have to do with community?

These are obviously questions that we cannot fully address here, but it seems that many in this country view newcomers as a threat to the cohesion and unity of their own communities, both nationally and locally, as a corrupting influence to their way of life.

They forget, however, about the waves upon waves of immigrants who have splashed upon America’s shores since its founding and made this country what it is today; they forget that their very own ancestors were once among these newcomers.

Like many of you here tonight, I hope that we as a nation can take a different approach to these issues, one that treats those who have come, or want to come, to this country as contributing members of our society, as brothers and sisters, rather than as threats or outsiders.

Rather than assimilation or outright exclusion, I hope we can focus on integration as a framework for reform.

As we’re short on time, I’ll use a visual to try to portray this model of integration. Imagine a mosaic, comprised of a series of small pieces, each with its own color and shape, but assembled in such a way as to create a beautiful, unified pattern or picture.

Now, imagine that those small, colored pieces are not bits of stone or shards of glass but instead different cultural subgroups or communities, each with its own clothing, cuisine, dance, music, language, literature and other defining qualities. Upon taking a step back, these diverse cultural pieces come together to form the harmonious, coherent whole that is our American identity. Each piece brings its own beauty to the mosaic. Each cultural subgroup makes its own enriching contributions to the local and national community.

In this image, there is diversity, but it is diversity within unity. Such a mosaic clearly exists here at St. Andrew’s. A variety of diverse communities embrace one another’s differences and come together to form the larger church community, unified in their love of Christ and of each other, the glue that holds the pieces together.

Working at the food pantry, I have been especially amazed with how the Hispanic community here at St. Andrew’s has cared for not only one another but also those here in the neighborhood.

Many of the volunteers in the pantry have come from the Hispanic community, dedicating countless hours of time, talent, and energy to providing food to those living here in the neighborhood, be it in the form of going to the food bank and picking up the food, unloading the trucks and stocking the shelves, guiding clients through the pantry and helping them pick out their food, or cooking and selling food on Sundays to raise money for the pantry.

As a quick plug, I would encourage anyone here who is interested to come and do the same.

I cannot put into words the impact that these efforts have made. Suffice it to say that in January and February alone, 379 families received more than 54,000 pounds of food from the pantry, a powerful testament not only to this community’s willingness to lend a helping hand in a time of need but also to what a community can accomplish when allowed to flourish freely.

I consider myself extremely fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to work so closely with all the different communities here at St. Andrew’s. Through shared conversation and experience, through tough moments and laughter, I learn so much from this incredible group of people, whose openness and genuine compassion for others is an endless source of inspiration.

I look forward to learning more tonight and in the months to come. Thank you for listening, and God bless.

Reading from scripture: In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, he summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied. He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. (Mark 8:1-9)

Llamado a la Familia, a la Comunidad y a la Participación

Cada persona no es solamente sagrada, sino social, no solo individuo, pero comunitario. Realizamos nuestra dignidad y derechos en relaci ó n con las dem á s, en comunidad. La manera en que organizamos nuestra sociedad afecta directamente la dignidad humana y la capacidad de los individuos para crecer en comunidad. Una piedra de toque central de las instituciones politícas, legales y econ ó micas es la forma en que afectan al pueblo, lo que hacen por el pueblo, y c ó mo el pueblo participa en ellas.

Una historia personal sobre esa enseñanza

Mi nombre es Charlie Crowther, y soy el Voluntario Jesuita que trabaja en los Servicios de Emergencias aquí en San Andrés.

Gracias por invitarme a compartir esta noche. Kelly me ha pedido que diga algunas palabras en un tema que concierne a la Comunidad.

En un par de ocasiones, en los últimos años, he tenido la oportunidad de pasar de tiempo en diferentes lugares en la frontera de México y Estados Unidos, desde refugios y casas que nos han dado acogida del lado mexicano, hasta cortes federales y servicios de ayuda del lado americano. A través de estas experiencias, he podido estar expuesto no solo a los problemas de inmigración, sino que también, y más importante, a las personas que han sido afectadas por esta cuestión.

Yo no tengo la menor idea lo que se siente vivir un día en este país estando indocumentado, cosa contraria a la experiencia que Yolanda ha compartido con ustedes, pero los lugares que he visto y la gente que he conocido han sido una fuente constante de inspiración para aprender todo lo que se pueda.

El año pasado, escribí una tesis sobre la reforma de inmigración y naturalización. Y pues Kelli me ha dicho que no cree que sea buena idea leer las sesenta paginas de la tesis esta noche, así que iré al punto.

¿Por qué hay tantos americanos que se oponen a reformas de inmigración más inclusivas? ¿Y eso que tiene que ver con la comunidad?

Obviamente esta pregunta no se puede contestar del todo, pero pareciera que muchos en este país ven a los nuevos inmigrantes como una amenaza a la unidad de sus propias comunidades, tanto a nivel nacional como a nivel local, y como una influencia que afecta su estilo de vida.

Sin embargo, se olvidan de las olas de inmigrantes que han llegado a las costas americanas desde su fundación y han hecho de este país lo que es hoy en día; y más aun, se olvidan que sus propios ancestros estuvieron entre esos primero inmigrantes.

Al igual que ustedes, yo espero que como nación logremos ver esta situación de una manera diferente, que logremos ver a los que vienen o quieren venir a este país a contribuir como miembros de nuestras comunidades nacionales y locales como hermanos y hermanas, en lugar de verlos como una amenaza y como fuereños.

En lugar de asimilación o extrema exclusión, espero que podamos enfocarnos en la integración como marco para la reforma.

Como tenemos poco tiempo, usare una idea visual para este modelo de integración. Imagínense un mosaico, compuesto de una serie de piezas pequeñas, cada pieza con su propio color y forma, pero puestas de una manera que creen una forma o figura unida y de gran belleza.

Ahora, imaginen que esas pequeñas y coloridas piezas no son de piedra o cristal, sino de diferentes subgrupos o comunidades culturales, cada uno con su propia vestimenta, cocina, baile, música, lenguaje, literatura y otras cualidades que la definen como tal. En vez de retrocedernos, estas piezas de diversidad cultural se unen para formar un todo harmonioso y coherente que es nuestra identidad americana. Cada pieza pone su propia belleza a este gran mosaico. Cada subgrupo cultural hace sus propias contribuciones a la comunidad local y nacional.

En esta imagen, hay diversidad, pero es diversidad dentro de la unidad. Este tipo de mosaico existe aquí en San Andrés. Una variedad de diversas comunidades abrazan sus diferencias y se unen en una comunidad más grande, unida en su amor a Cristo y hacia los demás.

El trabajar en el dispensario de comida, me ha llevado a sorprender de cómo nuestra comunidad hispana aquí en San Andrés se preocupan no solo de ellos mismos, sino de todos los que viven en el vecindario.

Muchos de los voluntarios en el dispensario son de nuestra comunidad hispana, que dedican incontables horas de su tiempo, talento y energía en proveer comida para los que viven en este vecindario, ya sea yendo al banco de comida y traer la comida, bajar esa comida de la camioneta y ponerla en los estantes, guiar a los clientes y ayudarles a empacar sus alimentos, o cocinando y vendiendo comida los domingos para dar fondos al dispensario. No puedo poner en palabras el impacto que estos esfuerzos han logrado.

Yo me considero extremadamente afortunado y bendecido de tener la oportunidad e trabajar tan de cerca con todas estas diferentes comunidades aquí en San Andrés. Por medio de compartir nuestras experiencias, a través de momentos difíciles y de risas, he aprendido muchísimo sobre este grupo de personas, quienes por medio de su compasión y apertura genuina hacia los demás es una fuente interminable de inspiración.

Espero aprender más esta noche y en los próximos meses. Gracias por escuchar. Que Dios los bendiga.

Lectura biblica: En aquellos días se reunió de nuevo mucha gente. Como no tenían nada que comer, Jesús llamó a sus discípulos y les dijo: «Siento compasión de esta gente porque ya llevan tres días conmigo y no tienen nada que comer. Si los despido a sus casas sin haber comido, se van a desmayar por el camino, porque algunos de ellos han venido de lejos.» Los discípulos objetaron: «¿Dónde se va a conseguir suficiente pan en este lugar despoblado para darles de comer?» «¿Cuántos panes tienen?» les preguntó Jesús. «Siete» respondieron. Entonces mandó que la gente se sentara en el suelo. Tomando los siete panes, dio gracias, los partió y se los fue dando a sus discípulos para que los repartieran a la gente, y así lo hicieron. Tenían además unos cuantos pescaditos. Dio gracias por ellos también y les dijo a los discípulos que los repartieran. La gente comió hasta quedar satisfecha. Después los discípulos recogieron siete cestas llenas de pedazos que sobraron. Los que comieron eran unos cuatro mil. (Marcos 8:1-9)

Reflexión y Dialogo Durante la Cuaresma: Parroquia de San Andrés 2011

Inmigración y Enseñanza Social Católica: Un paso en el camino

 

Martes—22 de marzo de 2011

La Vida y la Dignidad de la Persona

La Iglesia Católica proclama que la vida humana es sagrada y que la dignidad de la persona es la base de una visión moral para la sociedad. En la visión social católica, es central la persona humana, el más claro reflejo de Dios entre nosotros. Cada persona posee una dignidad básica que proviene de Dios, no de ninguna calidad o logro humano, ni de raza o género, edad o condición económica. La piedra de toque de toda institución o medida política es si realza o amenaza la vida humana y la dignidad humana.

-Obispos Católicos de EE.UU., Un siglo de enseñanza social

Aislando en nuestro nombre:

Observaciones del Centro de Detención del Noroeste de Tacoma

Jim Enright, 22 de marzo de 2011

La manana era fría y mojada. No era sorpresa ahí: era Diciembre en Portland. La lluvia había caído toda la noche y seguía lloviendo al mismo tiempo que las mamas y papas en sus casas por toda la ciudad apuraban a sus hijos de dormir, de darles de comer y los abrigaron de cuidados y de seguridad y calientitos a la escuela o a la guardería. Una rutina mananera en un día típico de la vida Americana.

En otras partes, en Departamentos y casas, desde Portland a Seattle, de arriba a abajo de río Columbia y del Río Willamette, de la Costa de Oregon a la costa de Washington y en lo mas profundo del interior de ambos estados, otros padres—la mayoría madres—también preparaban a sus hijos para el día que les esperaba. Su día no los llevaría ni a la escuela ni a la guardería sino a Tacoma, el sitio de Detención de Noroeste del Centro de la Inmigración y de el Enforzamiento de Aduanas.

My esposa y yo manejamos alla ese día también. Una lluvia fría se sintió por todo el camino.

Nosotros fuimos a Tacoma para ser testigos de nuestros amigos María Damaris Silva y su esposo Ignacio Miranda Miranda. María y Nacho me han dado permiso para compartir sus nombres y la historia. En ese tiempo Nacho había sido detenido por cuatro meses. María se quedo sola en Portland para seguir en su trabajo y cuidar a su 2 ninos, Maya, de tres anos y Mexi, de 9 meses en aquel entonces. Maya extrañaba a su papu, y lloraba constantemente. Mexi sufre de Asma y seguido esta enfermo.

No puedo ni imaginar lo que es hacerse cargo sola de dos ninos pequeños, cuando tu esposo esta siendo encarcelado simplemente por querer hacer una mejor vida para tu familia. No puedo pretender saber lo que es el trabajar y preocuparte y luchar simplemente para sobrevivir cada día, sabiendo siempre que tu esposo puede ser sacado del país en cualquier momento, alejado de sus esposa e hijos, de su comunidad de amigos, de regreso a una tierra que el ya desconoce.

Yo no puedo y ni siquiera voy a pretender conocer ese dolor. Pero puedo decirte lo que vi ese Diciembre en Tacoma cuando iban llegando de todo el Noroeste a las familias esperando visitar a la persona que aman.

El centro de Detención es un un edificio de ladrillo gris en una área industrial de 1.5 millas de de la estación de camiones del Domo de Tacoma. Los banos públicos, bebederos de agua y lugares para comer mas cercanos están en la estación camionera. Los banos y el agua esta disponible en la área de visitantes del centro de Detención pero para usarlos tiene que pasar por la área de seguridad primero.

Hay 1,575 camas en el centro de detención. Las horas de visita son de las 8 am a 11 am y de 1 a 3:30 pm, de Jueves a Lunes, incluyendo los días festivos. El departamento de Inmigración y del enforzamiento de Aduanas subcontrata con la compania global privada Geo Group, para operar el centro. Mi gobierno subcontrata el enforzamiento de Inmigración en mi nombre. Esto es mi América.

En mi América, Las familias que están esperando visitar a sus seres queridos saben lo que les espera adelante. Ellos saben que no van a tener Refugio, ambiente cálido, agua o bano hasta que pasen por la seguridad del edificio. Ellos saben que no tendrán un pase hasta que no escriban su nombre y la razón de la visita. No pasaran hasta que no intercambien su licencia o identificación por un permiso laminado y numerado. Ellos no podrán pasar hasta que no apachurren y aprieten sus abrigos, sombreros, bolsas, carteras, mochilas, guantes, llaves, botellas de agua, bocadillos, mamilas, sombrillas, libretas, periódicos o papeles, celulares, medicinas, y—Se los juro—el chicle también en una gaveta de 12 pulgadas cuadradas por 12 de hondo. Así no podrán pasar.

Mi gobierno hace esto en mi nombre. Esto es mi América.

Las familias saben los que les espera. Ellas saben que la fila se mueve lentamente y que las gavetas se llenan rápido, así es que traen consigo mismo lo menos que puedan cargar y la poca de ropa que puedan usar, sin importar el frío. Hay muy poco espacio adentro en el edificio en el pasillo de espera para entra por la seguridad. Los guardias de seguridad se aseguran de que las puertas estén siempre cerradas. Un techo arquea un poco saliente del edificio como por 10 pies, el cual provee un poco de refugio. La fila de gente pasa por el techo pero pronto sale fuera del techo y termina en la intemperie de lluvia. Las familias se amontonan y las madres aprietan cerca a sus bebes. Es Diciembre y aun sigue lloviendo. La lluvia cae como si fueran las lagrimas de Dios.

Mi gobierno hace esto en mi nombre.

A las 11 am los guardias paran de aceptar visitas. Ellos empezaran otra vez a la 1 pm. Si llegaste a la fila a las 11 am debes entonces esperar. Uno de los guardias checa a los visitantes. Los que pasan tienen que pararse en el panel de seguridad y otro guardia los revisa con una macana (sensor de metal) eléctrica. El proceso es lento. El lenguaje es una barrera. Hay muchos gestos y apuntan aquí y alla. Los guardias se frustran. Las familias permanecen pacientemente. Ellos saben que hacer. Ellos encierran sus pertenencias pero nunca su orgullo. Cuando se acaba el espacio en las gavetas, uno de sus ninos se tiene que quedar afuera. El cuidara las chamarras, las bolsas y las mochilas, y las mamilas del bebe. El no vera a su padre o a su hermano ese día. Pero si tiene suerte, el agarra todas las pertenecía de la vida que trae y se acurruca en una esquina cerca de las gavetas, y espera donde esta caliento y seco. Esta es una pequeña victoria.

Mi gobierno hace esto en mi nombre. Esto es mi América.

En los Estados Unidos, si estas alineado con las encuestas, aun eres permitido votar. Si aun sigues comiendo el almuerzo dominguero cuando cierra un restaurante, no se te apresuras a que termines tu comida o que te la lleves afuera. En el centro de Detención, si aun siguen en la fila a las 3:30, se les dice que se vayan. Que ya se terminaron las horas de visita. Regresa manana. A menos que manana sea Martes. Estamos cerrados a los visitantes los Martes y los Miércoles. Larguense ahora.

Mi gobierno hace esto en mi nombre.

Eso es lo que vimos, ese día en Diciembre. Esto es lo que nos preguntamos. Porque debemos de imponer mas capas de aislamiento entre familias quienes ya esta separadas? Porque debemos tratar de remover la dignidad de aquellos quienes ya han perdido demasiado? Porque decimos que estamos actuando por seguridad, cuando en verdad estamos reaccionando por miedo? En mi América, porque nos aislamos nosotros mismo de nuestra propia compasión, sentido común, y simple decencia humana?

Mas tarde después, Nacho fue puesto en libertad. Otra pequeña victoria. María lo llevo en el carro a su casa, su casa con Maya y Mexi. Muchos otros mas fueron dejados atrás. Muchos otros todavía están ahí.

Mi esposa y yo manejamos de Tacoma a nuestra casa en Portland en medio del frío y de la obscuridad. La lluvia nunca paro.

Amen.

Lectura biblica: Fue a Nazaret, donde se había criado, y un sábado entró en la sinagoga, como era su costumbre. Se levantó para hacer la lectura, y le entregaron el libro del profeta Isaías. Al desenrollarlo, encontró el lugar donde está escrito: «El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí, por cuanto me ha ungido para anunciar buenas nuevas a los pobres. Me ha enviado a proclamar libertad a los cautivos y dar vista a los ciegos, a poner en libertad a los oprimidos, a pregonar el año del favor del Señor.» Luego enrolló el libro, se lo devolvió al ayudante y se sentó. Todos los que estaban en la sinagoga lo miraban detenidamente, y él comenzó a hablarles: «Hoy se cumple esta Escritura en presencia de ustedes.» (Lucas 4:16-21 )

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. In the Catholic social vision, the human person is central, the clearest reflection of God among us. Each person possesses a basic dignity that comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment, not from race or gender, age or economic status. The test of every institution or policy is whether it enhances or threatens human life and human dignity.

-United Sates Conference of Catholic Bishops, A Century of Social Teaching

Isolating In Our Name: Observations at the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center

Jim Enright, March 22, 2011

The morning was cold and wet. No surprise there: It was December in Portland. Rain had been falling all night and was still falling as moms and dads in homes throughout the city roused their kids from sleep, fed them, and bundled them off safe and warm to school or day care. A routine start to a typical day in this American life.

Elsewhere, in apartments and houses from Portland to Seattle, up and down the Columbia and Willamette, along the Oregon and Washington coasts and deep into the interior of both states, other parents—mostly moms—were also preparing their children for the day ahead. Their day would take them not to school or day care but to Tacoma, site of the Northwest Detention Center for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

My wife and I drove there that day as well. A cold rain fell the entire way.

We went to Tacoma to bear witness for our friends Maria Damaris Silva and her husband, Ignacio Miranda Miranda. Maria and Nacho have given me permission to share their names and story. At that time, Nacho had been held in the detention center for four months. Maria was left alone in Portland to hold down a job and take care of their two children, Maya, three years old, and Mexi, then nine months old. Maya missed her papu, and cried often. Mexi suffers from asthma and is often sick.

I cannot pretend to know what it is like to care for two very young children, alone, when your husband is incarcerated simply for trying to make a better life for his family. I cannot pretend to know what it is like to work and worry and struggle simply to survive each day, always knowing that your husband may be sent out of the country at any time, away from his wife and children and community of friends, back to a land he no longer knows.

I cannot and will not pretend to know this pain. But I can tell you what I saw that December day, as families came to Tacoma from all around the Northwest, hoping to visit a person they loved.

The detention center is a gray cinder-block building located in an industrial area about 1.5 miles from the Tacoma Dome Bus Station. The closest public restrooms, water fountains, and place to eat are in the bus station. Restrooms and water are available in the visitor’s waiting room at the detention center, but you have to pass through security first.

There are 1,575 beds in the detention center. Visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Thursday through Monday, including holidays. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contracts with a private, global company, the GEO Group, to operate the center. My government outsources immigration enforcement in my name. This is my America.

In my America, families waiting to visit their loved ones know what is ahead of them. They know they will not have shelter, warmth, water, or a bathroom until they pass through security. They know they will not pass through security until they sign their name and write down the reason for their visit. They will not pass until they exchange their license or identification for a laminated and numbered permit. They will not pass until they cram their coats, hats, purses, wallets, backpacks, gloves, keys, water bottles, snacks, baby bottles, umbrellas, notebooks, reading material, cell phones, prescription drugs, and—I swear to God—chewing gum, into a metal locker 12 inches square and 12 inches deep. They will not pass.

My government does this in my name. This is my America.

The families know what lies ahead. They know the line moves slowly and the lockers fill quickly, so they bring as little as possible and wear few layers of clothing, no matter the cold. There is very little room inside the building, waiting to pass security. The guards make sure the doors stay closed at all times. A roof arcs out from the building for maybe 10 feet, providing some shelter. The line of people coils under the roof, but soon winds back out into the rain. Families huddle together and mothers hold their babies close. It is December and still the rain falls. The rain falls like the tears of God.

My government does this in my name.

At 11 a.m. the guards stop processing visitors. They will start again at 1 p.m. If you are in line at 11 a.m., you must wait. One guard checks visitors in. The ones who pass step through a security panel and another guard checks them with a wand. The process is slow. Language is a barrier. There is lots of pointing and gesturing. The guards get frustrated. The families stay patient. They know what to do. They lock up their possessions but never their pride. When there is no more room in the lockers, one child stays behind. He holds the coats and the purses and the backpacks and the baby bottles. He will not see his father or his brother that day. But if he is lucky, he takes all the everyday stuff of life he is holding, wedges himself into a corner near the lockers, and waits where it is warm and dry. This is a small victory.

My government does this in my name. This is my America.

In the United States, if you are in line when the polls close, you are still allowed to vote. If you are still eating Sunday brunch when a restaurant closes, you are not rushed to finish your meal or forced to take it outside. At the detention center, if you are still in line at 3:30, you are told to leave. Visiting hours are over. Come back tomorrow. Unless tomorrow is Tuesday. We’re closed to visitors on Tuesday and Wednesday. Leave now.

My government does this in my name.

That is what we saw, that day in December. This is what we wonder. In my America, why must we impose so many more layers of isolation between families who are already separated? Why must we try to remove dignity from those who have already lost so much? Why do we say we are acting for security, when we are reacting out of fear? In my America, why do we isolate ourselves from our own compassion, common sense, and simple human decency?

Much later that day, Nacho was released. Another small victory. He will have a hearing on his immigration status in June. Maria drove him home, home to Maya and Mexi. So many others were left behind. So many others are there still.

My wife and I drove home from Tacoma in the cold and the dark, home to Portland. The rain never stopped.

Amen.

Reading from scripture: He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” ( Luke 4:16-21)

 

 

 

Tuesday—March 15, 2011

 

Global Solidarity

We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. The ultimate injustice is for a person or group to be treated actively or abandoned passively as if they were not members of the human race.

Reading from scripture

He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. ( Ephesians 2:17-22 )

A Personal Story

When I was six years old, I came to the United States from Mexico with my mother to visit my oldest sister in Portland. My sister convinced Mom that we should stay, that I would be afforded a better education and a good career as an adult.

So I was enrolled in school. Attending school in English was difficult, but I was determined to do well so I worked hard.

When I was in middle school Mom was diagnosed with cancer. This was the second time she had cancer. This time the prognosis was grim. We prayed. And eventually she was healed. I promised my Mom I would continue working very hard at school, and I did.

When I was sixteen, Mom was diagnosed with her third cancer. This time there would be no cure. She wanted to return to Mexico to die in her country. I wanted to go with her, but she said it was too dangerous. She said I might not get back to the United States. Before she left, she made me promise that I would get an education so I could have a good career. Mom went back to Mexico and died. I was devastated, but I went to school. I had promised my Mom.

I finished high school and earned a scholarship to Portland State University. That was when I found out I was not a citizen. I was not able to get a Social Security number. My scholarship was rejected. I found that as a result of not being a citizen, and without a Social Security number, I couldn’t apply for a job, get a driver’s license, attend a university, apply for financial aid, school grants, or student loans. It is even difficult to find an apartment.

Today I am a student at Portland Community College. I pay my own way with money I have earned and saved. I am vice-president of M.E.Ch.A., a student group that organizes Latinos. I am a catechist and on the Pastoral Council at my church.

There are millions of young people in the United States in my shoes. They were brought here when they were very young, and they struggle to get an education. I urge people to get educated on our position. See the movie Papers, read the Dream Act, find out about Tuition Equity (SB 742) and HB 2802-2806, a law being introduced in Oregon with similarities to the law recently enacted in Arizona. Help us fulfill out promise.

National M.E.Ch.A. web site: http://www.nationalmecha.org/

 

 

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Peace, Justice and Ecology Committee

The Peace, Justice and Ecology committee facilitates education, connection and communication around Catholic Social Teaching within the parish community and the community at large.

Activities of the committee have included:

• Tabling at the Children’s Peace Fair
• Education and/or Action Bulletin Inserts (see link)
• Connection with King Farmers Market and the Northeast Coalition of Neighbors around food security issues
• Participation in the Catholic Sustainability Network which meets on the first Friday of the month 7-8:30 am at Tabor Space at 55 th and SE Belmont.

The committee meets monthly on the 2 nd Thursday of the month from 7 – 8:30 at the Granger (503-771-3916) home.

 

The Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching:

1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
2. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
3. Solidarity
4. Call to Family, Community and Participation
5. Rights and Responsibilities
6. Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
7. Care for God's Creation

For more information:

Link to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/catholicteachingprinciples.shtml

Link to the Archdiocese of Portland Office of Justice and Peace/Respect Life   http://www.archdpdx.org/jprespect/

St. Andrew Church is a Jubilee Congregation.

Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of 75 religious denominations and faith communities, human rights, environmental, labor, and community groups working for on the issues of third world debt and global economic justice.  When people of faith join together for a holy purpose, rooted in the scriptures, we can turn the tides of economic injustice, challenge harmful polices and advance a prophetic vision of fairness, equality and hope for the world’s people. 

Link to Jubilee USA   http://www.jubileeusa.org/truth-about-debt

 

Repeal of the Death Penalty

Books, Novels, Pamphlets, and Hand-outs

- Bosco, Antoinette (2001). Choosing Mercy: A Mother of Murder Victims Pleads to End the Death Penalty. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books.

- Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty (2009). What Every Catholic should Know About the Death Penalty. Washington D.C: USCCB.

- Long, William (2001). The Story of Capital Punishment in Oregon.  Eugene OR: Oregon Criminal Defense Attorneys Association.

- Prejean, Sister Helen (1993). Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness of the Death Penalty in America. New York: Random House.

- Prejean, Sister Helen (2004). The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions. New York: Random House.

- Rakha,Naseem (2009). The Crying Tree. NY: Random House.

- US Council of Catholic Bishops (2005). A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death. Washington D.C: USCCB.