Visit the St. James Social Outreach & Advocacy website here.
Opening Prayer
Prayer in Time of Crisis:
Let Our Cries Come Unto You

Most merciful and compassionate God,
Giver of life and love,
hear our prayers
and let our cries come unto you.
We weep with your people;
we hear the cries of orphaned children and laments of bereaved parents.
We feel the desperation of those searching for loved ones;
we behold the silence of vanished villages.
We see the devastation;
we are overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.
Our hearts are hushed, our minds are numb.
Let not our hands be stopped, our voices dumb.

God of the universe,
open our hearts to feel your compassion.
Galvanize in us the act of continued giving;
bond us to our sisters and brothers in need.
Comfort and heal the injured, the bereaved, the lost;
Strengthen the aid workers and medical personnel.
Bolster the resolve of governments and those with power to help;
open through this tragedy pathways to partnerships and peace.

In your most merciful, healing, and compassionate name,
we pray.
Amen.

From Xavier University's jesuitresource.org


This Week in History:
75th Anniversary of Hiroshima, Nagasaki
August 6 and 9 mark the 75th anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively.  This was the first, and we all hope the last, time that atomic weapons were employed in war.  In response to such a horrifying use of power, the U.S. Catholic Church heralds Pope Francis' call for peace and justice: "Our response to the threat of nuclear weapons must be joint and concerted - inspired by the arduous yet constant effort to build mutual trust and thus surmount the current climate of distrust."

Want to make a peace ribbon panel for the Peace Ribbon project?  Click here for the guide to starting your own. 
The Peace Ribbon Project aims to spur the imagination of all that would be lost if we succumb again to the use of a nuclear weapon.


Upcoming at St. James
Seattle in Black and White

Two opportunities to participate: 
August 11, 7pm and August 18, 7pm
Working for racial justice today begins with understanding our own yesterday.  The St. James Life, Peace, and Justice Commission will host this in-depth examination of Seattle's own racialized past.  This is a story that must be continually told - and heard!  Join us at 7pm for this invigorating discussion, facilitated by Sister Judy Ryan.

To register or for more information, email Patrick Barredo.

Book quantities may be limited; try Alibris, Thriftbooks, or Amazon.
Immigration Nation Netflix original screening and film discussion
St. James Cathedral Immigrant Assistance invites you to watch this new Netflix documentary: "the most important TV show you will see in 2020" (Time) on

Wednesday, August 19 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm.

Register by emailing Chris Koehler.  Once registered, you will receive the Zoom link to join.

Immigration Nation is available to stream.  Watch the trailer.
Anti-Racism in the Church
How Catholic social teaching explains why "Black Lives Matter"
Archbishop William E. Lori

"Three of the most prominent words in today's world are: Black Lives Matter. These words are emblazoned on streets, on public buildings and storefronts, on social media, in the windows of homes and indeed, at houses of worship. For some, these words are simply a call for racial justice long denied. For others, they are a call for fundamental changes in society...


source_ America Magazine_ July 2020
Community Engagement Opportunities
Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps is Calling!
Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps, a program of JVC Northwest, facilitates rewarding opportunities for service, community, and spiritual formation for adults committed to social and ecological justice. We are offering new ways for our members (JVEs) to serve from home during this time of increased need for those who live on the margins. JVEs meet monthly online or in-person, creating spiritual community while staying safe.

Our values arise from the Catholic Ignatian tradition and JV Encorps is an inclusive and welcoming community.

Priority application deadline: August 31st, 2020. Opening Retreat in September. For more information visit www.jvencorps.org.  Watch more about the JVC Northwest experience video here, and discern how you're called!

JVCNW 2019 Step into the Story

Advocacy Alerts: Act, Educate
UPDATE: Judge Blocks President Trump's "Public Charge" Policy on Immigrants During Coronavirus Pandemic
Good news for immigrant families!  Last week, the US Federal Court for the Southern District of New York issued two nationwide injunctions blocking the application and enforcement of the public charge rule,which means "immigrants are forced to make an impossible choice between jeopardizing health and personal safety, or their immigration status" according to federal Judge George Daniels.  The injunctions mean that immigrants with legal status who are eligible to use SNAP (Basic Food or supplemental nutrition assistance), Medicaid, and housing assistance would not have to make the choices that deny them dignity, health, and opportunity especially amidst the ongoing national emergency of the pandemic.

What can you do?  Help spread the word about what this means.  Encourage families that need these programs to utilize them, especially now when health care is essential for testing and treatment, when food is essential to stay healthy, and when housing helps keep families out of crowded shelters or off the streets.
TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to Include SNAP Expansions in Next Covid-19 Relief Package
This is a critical period to let Congress know how important expansions for SNAP are.  The HEALS act is still being debated and there's time to ensure that the families who need assistance the most will receive it as hardships continue to roll on over thousands of Americans.

What can you do?

  1. Share the following video from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on your social media and tag @SenatorCantwell and @PattyMurray: 15% Increase: #SNAPMatters Now More than Ever
  2. Show your support by posting and using #BoostSNAPNow
  3. Visit our SNAP Advocacy Toolkit for all the information you need to contact your members of Congress
TAKE ACTION: Urge the Senate to Help Catholic Schools
Covid-19 has contributed to the closure of nearly 140 Catholic schools across the country.  USCCB surveys show 10% of currently operating schools are uncertain they'll be able to open their doors this fall.  This jeopardizes thousands of schoolchildren's education. 

What can you do?  Support the one-time, emergency School Choice Now Act that will provide permanent dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits to continue much-needed scholarships for hundreds of Catholic schools.  Take action with the Washington State Catholic Conference.
Closing Prayer
In solidarity with the Church in Japan, we pray...
To the Creator of nature and man, of truth and beauty I pray:

Hear my voice, for it is the voice of the victims
of all wars and violence among individuals and nations;

Hear my voice, for it is the voice of all children
who suffer and will suffer when people put their faith in weapons and war;

Hear my voice when I beg you to instill into the hearts of all human beings
the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice and the joy of fellowship;

Hear my voice, for I speak for the multitudes in every country and in every period of history
who do not want war
and are ready to walk the road of peace;

Hear my voice and grant insight and strength so that we may always respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to justice, to need with the sharing of self, to war with peace.

O God, hear my voice and grant unto the world your everlasting peace.

Pope St. John Paul II, Peace Memorial Prayer, Hiroshima 25 Feb. 1981
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