 |
|
This week we update on our travels to Texas and the new Secretary of Ag, and we share the May Blessing. Visit our website for more.
|
|
Blessing of All Who Work the Land
We share in God's work through our human labor. Work is not drudgery that our Creator has imposed on us, nor is it a penance for our sinfulness. Work is a gift: human participation in the creative activity of God.
In Church tradition, we have a beautiful partnership of work by the married farm couple, Isidore & Maria. These saints labored with their hands, cared for the land and its creatures, and brought a blessing to the poor of their day and the Church for all time.
All who have a part in helping bring food to the table are a precious treasure in the human community and especially in the Church. Their country lifestyle and the spirituality that flows from it is a witness to Biblical faith.
Work is our communion with God and is also our communion with people, our way of taking responsibility for the well-being of our neighbors, communities and the environment.
Click
here to pray the May Blessing.
|
|
CRL Visits Texas
Acknowledging the Agricultural Vocation
Last week, CRL was welcomed in the Diocese of St. Angelo and the Diocese of Victoria in Texas for a series of workshops and presentations on our three programs: Vocation of the Agricultural Leader, Rural Life Celebrations, and Life in Christ. It is always a blessing to be out in the field meeting our members and those interested in our work. We had many great moments on this trip.
One of the comments we hear most often when presenting Vocation of the Agricultural Leader is that the acknowledgement of agriculture as a vocation is refreshing, new and welcomed, as this vocation is not often affirmed. One participant commented: "We've never heard this before, and I wish I would have known. I would've invited all of my neighbors--Catholic and non!"
Click
here
to see more highlights from the trip in our blog post. For more information, visit our Faith, Food & the Environment website
here.
|
|
Rural Life Celebration Handbook
A Rural Life celebration helps highlight the life of the rural church and reminds us that our roots are deep in the soil of this earth: we and the earth belong to God. Our Creator placed us here to till the garden, not to despoil it; to grow and share food, not to hoard it; and to leave this treasure of soil, air, and water more productive than we found it.
We have put together a 30-page handbook to give you ideas and information to put on a
Rural Life Celebration in your area.
The spring season is an apt time to celebrate in the manner that best suits your situation. Although written with a Catholic audience in mind, it can be used in any ecumenical setting.
Click
here to see and download the Rural Life Celebration Handbook.
|
|
New Secretary of Agriculture
Task Force on Agriculture and Rural
As many of you know by now, former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue was sworn in as the new head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has quickly picked up the reins and, on his first day in office, was appointed by President Trump to lead
an inter-agency
Task Force on Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America
.
The Task Force is charged with studying the struggles of rural Americans and identifying "legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to promote in rural America agriculture, economic development, job growth, infrastructure improvements, technological innovation, energy security, and quality of life."
Here at CRL, we are encouraged by Secretary Perdue's pledge to support the diversity of American agriculture, including small and mid-sized family farms as well as young and beginning farmers. He has also said that land stewardship and natural resource conservation would be cornerstones of his tenure.
Along with sustainable agriculture partners,
CRL will advocate for federal policies
that best serve our nation's diverse family farms, protect natural resources and support our rural communities.
See our
website for more on the 2018 Farm Bill.
|
|
|
|
STAY CONNECTED WITH US
|
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
