Holy Creation

The snap peas in our garden are reaching toward the sky--a constant reminder of the miracle of life. Every morning as I pass our backyard garden, I am reminded of the few days I spent at the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (WVC) with the St. Joseph Worker Program.

Seven of us packed the green mini-van to full capacity and headed to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. We knew we would see Alpacas, we heard there were two rocking CSJs there, but beyond that we were left to wonder and wait. A few naps and several car games later, we arrived in Indiana and were greeted by Sister Mo and a loaf of pumpkin bread from Sister P.B.

The next morning, Alyssa and I had the task of weeding the potato field and covering the seedlings in hay to reduce the amount of weeds over the season. It frosted the evening before, and we witnessed resiliency and strength from the tiniest of sprouts. Some had lost their fight with the frost, but an overwhelming number had survived and were showing a healthy green stem under a brown-spotted leaf. A miracle. Awe-inspiring still were the rutabaga roots that had populated the same plot last year and survived the winter. These little plants had not been fostered by the gardeners, yet they grew--with support from the soil, rain, themselves and God they were actively growing. I couldn't help being continually amazed as we worked.

Throughout the weekend, all seven of us had the chance to garden and to work with the Alpacas. Observing the great reverence the WVC staff has for the land, plants and animals under their care is incredible. Sister P.B. told me of illnesses that have befallen the Alpacas, and the compassion and empathy for the animals was palpable. Sister Mo when showing us the compost had great pride and admiration for the created dirt--the beautiful, black pile of dirt that would foster the growth of many more plants.

This is the beauty of the White Violet Center, and the lesson I have brought back with me--the created world is to be revered, loved, and protected, after all...this too is our dear neighbor.

To learn more about the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, visit their website.

--Elizabeth Fairbairn, St. Joseph Worker & Justice Office Intern

LCWR Justice and Peace Alert: May 17 ACTION

Greetings great people  of justice: 

We received this Justice and Peace Action Alert from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) and encourage you to take action as you are able on behalf of the "rights of immigrants who continue to suffer from Congress and President Obama's lack of Action."

LCWR Justice and Peace Alert

We are asking you for 5-10 minutes of your time on Thursday, May 17, to contact President Obama and Speaker Boehner about the rights of immigrants which is part of our congregation's corporate stance. The United We Dream network is calling for a day of action with events across the country to secure rights for all immigrants because they continue to suffer from Congress and President Obama's lack of action. Please contact President Obama and  Speaker Boehner and tell them to honor the dreams of immigrant youth! President Barack Obama John Boehner, Speaker of House Phone 2020-465-1111 Phone: 202-225-0600 Email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments  Email:  www.speaker.gov/contact  Letter/post card: President Barack Obama 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington DC 20500 Letter/post card: Office of the Speaker H-232 The Capital Washington DC 20515 Possible comments for President Obama and Speaker Boehner:                                 Support the DREAM Act                Our Immigrant youth have the right to live without fear. Our Immigrant youth have the right to live with their families. Our Immigrant youth have the right to move freely. Our Immigrant youth have the right to be educated. Our Immigrant youth have the right to give back to the community. Our Immigrant youth have the right to build a strong sustainable economy. Our Immigrant youth have the right to build their dreams. An Immigrant's Prayer O holy God, Heart of heaven and earth, praised be your holy name. Your daughters and sons, from all peoples of the world, regardless of boarders, praise you. We praise you and give you thanks because you have placed in our hands the immigrant pilgrims who make the earth flourish and produce, to bring food to the table of the rich and poor alike. We praise you and give you thanks because you walk always with those who cross borders in search of wellbeing, doing their part in building the world you entrusted to us. On our way, we are mindful of your Presence in the promise to Abraham and in the liberation of your people, Israel. We praise you and give you thanks for your blessings on all immigrants, on those who cross all the borders in the United States. And you, O lady of Guadalupe, empress of the Americas, be always our protector and intercessor for reconciliation and the building of equality and peace. Amen.  Ann Scholz, SSND, PhD Associate Director for Social Mission Leadership Conference of Women Religious 8808 Cameron St. Silver Spring MD, 20910 301-588-4955 (W) 443-570-2606 (M) ascholz@lcwr.org  facebook.com/lcwr.org  www.lcwr.org

Food Justice at St. Catherine University

In September, the Justice Commission agreed to co-sponsor the first St. Kate's Food Week. This quickly planned collaboration resulted in over 30 events in one week all focusing on the injustices that surround food. That week spurred into a Food Justice movement on campus and has now been formalized into the Food Justice Coalition.

Two student organizers have led the charge at St. Catherine University in hopes of creating a greater sense of community on campus, engaging community members in action for justice, and producing a more socially just campus.  Cirien Saadeh and Liesl Wolf have poured time and energy into this effort, along with being busy students as well! On May 8th they had the chance to celebrate the progress of this year and publicly announce the Food Justice Coalition.

The Food Justice Coalition will serve as an organizing force of the Food Justice Movement. Individuals and groups will work in committees focused on key issues (currently they are Awareness & Outreach, Dining Services: Relations & Contract and a Community Garden). A Leadership Board will hold the big picture of the movement and coordinate the efforts of the task groups. The Food Justice Coalition is opened to "anyone and everyone committed to food justice at St. Catherine University." I am impressed with the commitment to fostering student leadership within the Food Justice Coalition and the commitment to the values of St. Kate's and the CSJ community. I am very excited to see how this will move forward.

If you are interested in learning more about the Food Justice Coalition at St. Catherine University, please contact Liesl Wolf at lwolf@stkate.edu or me at emfairbairn@gmail.com.

-Elizabeth Fairbairn, St. Joseph Worker & Justice Office Program Assistant

Immigration is Abuzz in the Headlines

The United States Supreme Court is set to review the legality of Arizona SB1070, the contentious immigration law that was passed a few years ago. According to BBC, the Supreme Court will review four provisions that were blocked by a lower appeals court:

· requiring officials to check the immigration status of anyone arrested and allowing police to stop anyone suspected of bein an undocumented immigrant

· making it a state crime to reside in Arizona without legal documentation

· banning all undocumented immigrants from working in the state or applying for a job

· allowing police to arrest a person believed to have committed a crime that could lead to deportation, even if the crime occurred in another state

See this BBC article for further details on the Supreme Court case.

While the Supreme Court prepares to hear this case, the Catholic Church in the United States has been doing some prep work of their own.

NETWORK, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, along with approximately 50 other civil rights, faith and community organizations filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court urging the court to affirm the blockage of the four provisions. The fifty page report argues that SB1070 will harm U.S. Citizens, misapprehends the federal immigration scheme and cannot be implemented constituionally. For further information click here.

The USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) released news that they, along with other faith leaders, called upon the President and Congress to reassert authority on immigration law. As the Supreme Court is working to review state authority of immigration, the USCCB called upon the President and Congress to enact immigration reform legislation "as soon as possible" in order to secure federal power over immigration policy. For further information click here.

Great examples of putting feet to the Gospel message and a glimpse of the Kindom.

-Elizabeth Fairbairn, St. Joseph Worker & Justice Office Intern

Women's History Month Reflection

As we move into the first week of April, I am called to reflect on March – Women’s History Month.

A single experience of March that comes to mind is the 11th Day Prayer for Peace – Celebrating Women—hosted by the St. Joseph Worker Program. The time spent with friends and in front of the computer for the planning of this event is memorable, and yet what that time provided is what resonates: to learn more about women who have laid the path for me, especially those from the CSJ community.

During the service, we recalled the lineage of women leadership that has come before all of us. Women who fought for the rights we enjoy today, who infuse society with love and passion that we carry in our hearts, and who opened the societal perceptions of women. In the narrative of this lineage, our hope was to name the unnamed sheroes that make up so much of this lineage, especially members of the CSJ Community who have gone uncelebrated and unnamed despite the large contributions provided.

With the help of Jill Underdahl, Mary Kaye Medinger and Mary Kraft, we were able to name and more fully understand three Sisters of St. Joseph from our lineage. Sister Jackie Slater (1934-1984) who integrated her values and relationships within her community as she served three terms on City Council representing the diverse Sixth Ward of Minneapolis. Sister St. Mark Wirtz (1904-1962) who had a deep passion for all of creation and carried this passion into her many positions at the College of St. Catherine as an Ornithologist. Finally, Sister Rita Steinhagen (1928-2006) who’s actions are often recognized within the great lineage of social justice leadership, but we chose to highlight the motivation for her work which was steeped in her experiences and relationships with people.

Several weeks after that beautiful service in the Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel, I still have a burning curiosity for the fullness and depth of the lineage of women which leads to my heart, mind and feet. I encourage everyone to learn a bit more about one woman who has inspired you as a leader-- with the caution that once you learn a little you will be captivated.

--Elizabeth Fairbairn, St. Joseph Worker & Justice Office Intern

The Nobel Peace Prize Forum is an annual event bringing together Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, civic leaders, and scholars together with students and other citizens in an effort to engage peacemaking efforts around the world. The 2012 Forum used a variety of mediums and topics, ranging from “The Ethics of Hip Hop” to an address by Nobel Laureate F.W. de Klerk.

I attended the “Business Day” of the forum at the beginning of this month and was pleasantly surprised by the continual emphasis on the need for the private sector to be involved if peace can prevail on earth. The day was filled with a variety of interests from the private sector epresenting the large field it is-- renewable energy, microenterprise and entrepreneurs, agriculture and food industry, chambers of commerce, economics, etc.

I greatly appreciated all the presentations I attended throughout the day, but the final keynote speaker was astonishing. Saki Macozoma served time on Robben Island during Nelson Mandela's imprisonment and was a business leader throughout the ending of apartheid. He spoke of the South African private sector's collective involvement that kept the debating factions at the table during the ending of apartheid, and the business community’s involvement presently to help decrease unemployment. The key to his presentation was that the South African business community recognizes the benefits from social reform and high quality of life. This is a revolutionary concept. If the worldwide business community supported and understood this we could have a radically different world--one where corporate power could be a term of social change, not greed and corruption.

May peacemaking prevail on earth, and may all of us play a role,
Elizabeth Fairbairn, St. Joseph Worker & Justice Office Intern

For a schedule of the Business Day click here.
Please click here for the video archive of the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Forum.

Call to Action Conference

The Marriage Amendment: Can Faithful Catholics Vote "No"?

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Registration 9:00; Conference 9:30 (lunch and snacks provided)

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
700 Snelling Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55116
Sponsored by Call to Action

"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?" Can Faithful Catholics vote "no"?

"Call to Action acknowledges that people of faith have differences on this issue and offers conference participants an opportunity to consider this issue from a variety of perspectives."
(CTA event brochure)

Conference Music: Donna Pena, composer and performer resding in Inver Grove Heights

Conference Presenters
Lucian "Mickey" Martinez, attorney who drafted a bried on behalf of a national civil rights organization in Log Cabin Republicans v. United States of America on the matter of the U. S. Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy. His topic: "A Holy, Civil Matter"

Patricia Beattie Jung, editor of the discussion text, God, Sex, Science and Gender and Professor of Christian Ethics and Health and Welfare Ministries at Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Missouri. Her topic: "Marriage Equality and Catholicism"

Project 515 Players, directed by Bryan Gerber, performs vignettes based on the real-life discrimination facted by same-sex couples and their families in Minnesota and highlights many of the 515 discriminatory laws through theatrical presentation and song.

REGISTRATION

Before March 31: $35 per person

After March 31: $45 per person

Young Adults (under 30) $10 per person

Adults traveling two hours or more $20 per person

PLEASE REGISTER EARLY to help with food count

Please make checks payable to CTA-MN, P. O. Box 19406, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Conference Contact Person

Art Stoeberl 651.278.6630 artstoeberl@yahoo.com

March is Minnesota FoodShare Month

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates collected over $300 to support the work of Minnesota FoodShare. Friday, February 24, Joanne Tromiczak-Neid, Justice Coordinator and Ginger K. Hedstrom, Justice Associate presented the check to Sara Nelson-Pallmeyer for the March Minnesota FoodShare Campaign 2012.

Nelson-Pallmeryer expressed gratitude to the sisters for their support of Minnesota FoodShare. She also cited examples of the sharp increase in hunger across Minnesota: 2008-2010 visits to food shelves increased 62% statewide and 97% in the Twin Cities area; and 36% of visitors to Twin Cities Area food shelves reported having at least one working adult in the household. Hunger Facts

Each March, Minnesota FoodShare directs the March Campaign, the largest food drive in the state and restocks 300 food shelves across Minnesota. It recruits thousands of congregations, companies, schools and civic groups to run local food and fund drives to aid in the effort.
Minnesota FoodShare organizes a statewide media campaign to promote food shelf donations. It produces and distributes free promotional and educational resources for food drive organizers. It acts as a clearinghouse for cash donations and distributes the funds to participating Minnesota food shelves. Throughout the year, Minnesota FoodShare advocates on behalf of hungry Minnesota families with both state and federal lawmakers and educates the public about hunger in Minnesota. http://www.mnfoodshare.gmcc.org/

The Catholic Spirit
100 percent to food shelves
“The March campaign raised approximately half of that,” Nelson-Pallmeyer said. “The beauty of the March campaign is that when there are donations to Minnesota FoodShare — general donations or donations from corporations during the month of March — we turn around and give 100 percent of those funds back to the food shelves. We don’t keep any for administration.” The Catholic Spirit

Nelson-Pallmeyer hopes Minnesotans will strongly support the March Minnnesota FoodShare Month Campaign and remember hunger needs in Minnesota do not end on March 31, hunger is a reality 365 days a year and our support of Minnesota families is needed all 365 days.

March is a good time to make a commitment and become involved as an individual, parish, congregation or organization. Visit Minnesota FoodShare Become involved.

We can make a difference and we can do it now.

Imagining a Just Economy

Last Wednesday night, the Eliminating Poverty Task Group hosted "Imagining a Just Economy" facilitated by Carol Gariano, CSJ Consociate and Terin Mayer from TakeAction Minnesota.

The event was a success! It was a wonderful collaboration between two organizations, and an exploration into the possibilities of our world. The two hour agenda was full of engaging activities, I found two to be most valuable.

We were given a timeline of past economic policies and recognized different policies that have impacted us. As Terin reminded us several times, the economy is not like the weather--we, as a society, shape and affect our economic future.

The second activity was the actual imagining of a new economy--a just economy. We first discussed our envisioned purpose of the economy: to foster success, for all to recieve bread and roses, to emphasize economic & societal relationships, to name a few.

Next we discussed what needs to change for the proposed economy to exist. We walked through different aspects of society - government, work, banks...we could have gone all night through the different areas. We had both tangible ideas (ending corporate personhood; adjusting current political campaign system; creating a liveable wage; etc) and ideas that truly rock the boat (ending individualism; changing the definition of success; etc).

I left feeling hopeful while skeptical of how immense some of our ideas were. I also felt liberated in the ability to have this conversation and the recognition of our knowledge and power in the situation.

I was pleasantly surprised while reading the newspaper this past Sunday. A few of our proposed changes are already being tried and tested by individuals. There is hope for our society, and a great need for continued imagining.

Star Tribune articles regarding just economic strategies:

"Company Prospers, and so do Workers"

"Serving those with Smaller Nest Eggs"

Interested in continued work on creating a just economy and world? Check out the current events from the Justice Office of the Sisters of St. Joseph

-Elizabeth Fairbairn, St. Joseph Worker & Justice Office Intern

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast

BUIDING PEACE & UNITY WITHIN

THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY

The 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast main event was held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, with community breakfasts held at four locations in Saint Paul (sponsored by the St. Paul Area Council of Churches) as well as Duluth and River Falls, WI.

The theme was lived powerfully throughout the event, beginning with the reminder that Dr. King spoke often of the "beloved community" in which truth, forgiveness and reconcilliation are alive and well.

Naomi Tutu, third child of Archbishop Desmund Tutu was keynote speaker. In her stirring speech, she repeatedly used the African word "omboto" which means humanity - shared humanity. She encouraged us to follow the guidance of Dr. King whose non-violent work helped guide the people of South Africa peacefully to an end of apartheid in 1993.

MS Tutu reminded us that the "true celebration is not this breakfast, the celebration begins when we step out of these doors and reach for justice."

Community Breakfast: Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Saint Paul
Cheryl Steeves, Consociate Candidate, Director, Sarah's...an Oasis for Women (pictured above) introduced Sarah's to those present at Mt. Olivet. In celebration more than $600 was collected to be donated to Sarah's.

Andria Canty, Consociate Candidate served on the planning committee and Mari Ann Graham, Consociate, participated in the program inviting all present to carefully consider how each will carry this celebration in our lives and communities.

Posted by Ginger K. Hedstrom, Justice Associate

Bread & Roses

Last Thursday marked the 100th anniversary of the Bread & Roses Strike (also known at the 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike) in Lawrence, MA. The story is a reminder of both the power of the collective and women leadership.

On January 12, 1912, Polish women weavers at Everett Cotton Mills realized their pay had been cut after the state decreased the work week for women. 10,000 women left the mill and went on strike. The number of protesters involved grew to 25,000 within a week -- involving almost every mill in the area.

The two-month long strike was ground-breaking as it was comprised of immigrant, largely female and ethnically divided workers -- defying American Federation of Labor's assumption that such a group could not be organized. The diverse group proved their strength and innovation in the creation of the first moving picket line to circumvent loitering laws.

After two months of persistence, the strike was settled on terms generally favorable to the workers. They won pay increases, time-and-a-quarter for overtime, and a promise of no discrimination against strikers.

Since the early 1970s, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates have had a justice concerned group “Bread & Roses” inspired by the women of this protest. As with many protests of this time period, think suffrage movement, the persistence and courage of those fighting for justice is humbling and inspiring. Workers' rights and fair wage issues are still prevalent in our world 100 years later. May this anniversary re-light our passion for such justice.

The below poem was later connected to the 1912 protest, giving it the title "Bread & Roses"

As we come marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,

A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill-lofts gray

Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,

For the people hear us singing, "Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses"

As we come marching, marching, we battle, too, for men--

For they are women's children and we mother them again.

Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes--

Hearts starve as well as bodies: Give us Bread, but give us Roses!

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead

Go crying through our singing their ancient song of Bread;

Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew--

Yes, bread we fight for--but we fight for Roses, too.

As we come marching, marching, we bring the Greater Days--

The rising of the women means the rising of the race--

No more the drudge and idler--ten that toil where one reposes--

But sharing of life's glories: Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses!

-James Oppenheim, 1911 American Magazine

-Elizabeth Fairbairn, St. Joseph Worker & Justice Office Intern

Justice for Immigrants Conference -Salt Lake City, Utah

Immigration - A 50 State Issue: a Focus on State and Local Immigration Initiatives: January 11-13, 2012

The conference opens later today with the Most Reverene John C. Webster, Bishop of Salt Lake City providing the keynote address Catholic Public Policy and State Compacts."

Marjorie Cortex, reporter for the Deseret News, in her article Catholic Bishops, advocates to meet in Salt Lake to discuss immigration reform writes, Conference organizers also recognize that Utah is a destination state for many immigrants, Bishop Wester said. "In our own Catholic Church, 80 percent of Catholics speak Spanish. That's an incredible statistic."

The conference agenda includes: 1. Immigration Laws and Their Impact on the Church: Harboring and Transporting Laws; Marriage Barriers for Undcocumented Immigrants; Separation of Children and Families and Impact on Clergy and Seminarians 2. Federal /State Enforcement Partnerships including John Sandweg, Special Counselor to DHS Seretary Janet Napolitano; Laura Olson, Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Department of Homeland Security and Don Kerwin, Executrive Director, Center for Migration Studies (respondent) 3. State Immigration Enforcement Laws - An Overview: Arizona and Alabama Laws and Copycats; E-Verify Legislation; Education and Public Benefits 4. Communicating the Message~ speakers are Alfonso Aguilar, Executive Director, Latino Partnershipfor Conservative Principles and former Chief, U. S. Office of Citizenship and Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum 5. Lessons Learned from Different States with speakers representing Nebraska, Phoenix, Georgia and Boston 6. Proacctive Strategies with presenters Mario Russell, Senior Attorney, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York and John F. Whitaker, General Counsel, Diocese of Birmingham; Rob Tasman, Associate Director, Louisiana Catholic Conference and Allen Sanchez, Director, New Mexico Catholic Conference.

223 are registered! This afternoon I met a wonderful woman from Hawaii who works on immigration with Roselani Enomoto, CSJ!

Posted by Ginger K. Hedstrom, Justice Associate

Second Chance Coalition - DAY ON THE HILL

Each year the Second Chance Coalition brings hundreds of ex-offenders and their supporters to the Minnesota State Capitol to rally and meet with legislators. Click here to learn more about the upcoming Second Chance Day on the Hill, January 31, 2012.

The Minnesota Second Chance Coalition is a partnership (including the Criminal Justice Working Group of the Justice Commission) of over 50 organizations that advocate for fair and responsible laws, policies, and practices that allow those who have committed crimes to redeem themselves, fully support themselves and their families, and contribute to their communities to their full potential.

Posted by Ginger K. Hedstrom, Justice Associate