Diocese of Winona-Rochester Social Concerns   
News and Announcements
 "To promote and support parish social action through education"

Our committee meets on a monthly basis to discuss the issues of Social Concerns within our Diocese, and to plan opportunities to learn and explore issues of concern. Updates and information are available below. Feel free to contact us by responding to this newsletter or through the feedback button at the bottom of the newsletter with any questions or feedback. 
"Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC), the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Minnesota, introduced a new educational resource, entitled “ Minnesota, Our Common Home ” in February.
It was approved for publication by the bishops of Minnesota and was developed by MCC staff in conversation with dozens of outside consultants. “Minnesota, Our Common Home” is intended to distill the teachings of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato si’ , and apply its message locally, with consideration for the particular gifts, opportunities, and challenges that we face here in Minnesota with regard to the ecological crisis." - MCC

For the next couple of months we will highlight sections of the document in our newsletter. Let's take a look at whats in its pages:

"INTRODUCTION
A great cultural, spiritual, and educational challenge stands before us, and it will demand that we set out on the long path of renewal. - Pope Francis, Laudato si’, 202

TWO DISTINCT CRISES?
Minnesota—Land of 10,000 Lakes … though sometimes it feels like it’s the Land of 10,000 Debates. Among our many challenges, there are a multitude of environmental disputes: oil pipelines, mining projects, hydraulic fracturing, water quality, and agricultural resources—matters that attract significant media attention, and significant controversy. These conversations heat up quickly, too, because most of the time these issues are presented as black-and-white and “either-or,” forcing everyone to take a side; one must choose between the cause of environmental stewardship, or that of workers, industry, and economic growth. Similarly, a lot of ink gets spilled discussing difficult social questions that drive to the very heart of our identity as human persons—marriage and family, gender and sexuality, reproduction, and end-of-life issues. Again, the conversation is all too often framed in an ideological way, exacerbating conflict rather than facilitating a constructive dialogue in pursuit of truth, human dignity, and the common good.

We find ourselves embroiled in many questions that all ultimately derive from one key issue: our stewardship of creation—not just of the natural environment, but also of our bodies and even of our very lives. Too often, however, the inherent connections between human and environmental questions are obscured because the political and ethical landscape is dominated by ideologies, which substitute a narrow and absolutist vision of reality for the truth. At face value, the two sets of questions—environmental and social—seem distinct. Yet when we step back from the false dichotomies presented to us, we notice that these issues are deeply connected...."
Action Alerts
Click on the red "take action" line to get more information and to take action today!

Climate change changes everything.
Climate change and poverty are closely intertwined. The people who suffer most from the disruption of natural systems are our brothers and sisters living in the poorest countries. Facing the loss of crops, livestock, shelter and income, the challenges are immense.
It's time to address climate change and poverty. Together, let’s take concrete actions that could stop this disastrous trajectory and achieve lasting results.
Urge your legislators to protect our common home and address climate change--sharing why you believe this issue is important to make your message more impactful!

In Fall 2018, the Administration issued a Presidential Determination (PD) setting the annual U.S. refugee admission level at 30,000 refugees, the all-time-lowest number in the history of resettlement. This record low comes when there are over 25 million refugees worldwide with 1.4 million needing resettlement. The average refugee admission goal over the nearly 40 years of the program has been 95,000.

March 31, 2019, was the midpoint of fiscal year 2019 (FY19) and so far, the U.S. has only admitted 11,425 refugees. At this rate, our country is on pace to admit less than 23,000 refugees by the end of the year, far short of the annual goal of 30,000.

As Catholics, we affirm the inherent dignity of every person and the ability of refugees to seek security and safety for themselves and family members. For this reason, the U.S. Catholic Bishops urge you to express solidarity with refugees now in this moment of great need.
                                                  
Urge your Representative and Senators:
(1) To urge the Administration to admit 30,000 refugees in FY19 and 75,000 in FY20; and
(2) To provide robust oversight and appropriations to achieve both goals.
             
Learn more about refugees and refugee resettlement on our  resource page .

The Minnesota Family Investment Program provides basic economic assistance for children and their parents working toward full-time, paid employment. All parents enrolled in MFIP must be working, job searching, pursuing education, or job training. This program has not kept up with inflation and has not seen any increase in 33 years!

Let's make MFIP work for working families going through tough times. Ask your legislator to strengthen the ladder out of poverty by supporting HF 799 /SF 905.

Wondering where certain bills are at in the legislative process? Follow up on bills in areas related to Labor and Economy, Life and Bio-Ethics, Healthcare, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, Migration, Care for Creation, Education, Marriage and Family, Religious Freedom !
TAKE ACTION: Contact your Senator and ask them to support MN "Freedom to Drive" legislation!

This  law  and this approach was the law in Minnesota until 2002. According to Fox 9 there are an estimated 95,000 undocumented immigrants in Minnesota. In order to get to work, school and daily life many must drive anyway without passing a driving test or having proper insurance. That is why law enforcement is behind the bill. Other supporters of the bill include the hospitality lobby and Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who calls the bill "a moral imperative".

“I believe this legislation is an important human rights test,” Archbishop Hebda said. “Will we as Minnesotans embrace our brothers and sisters and help them in a way that costs us nothing as a community, or will we be overcome by what Pope Francis calls a ‘culture of indifference’ that fails in the duty to see the needs of others and respond effectively?

“I hope today that we as Minnesotans follow the most common biblical, moral exhortation to welcome the stranger, and remember that our families, too, were once strangers in this land, who arrived with the same hope that our undocumented community has today.” -  The Catholic Spirit  

Here are some links to get more info:
Upcoming Events
Mark your Calendars for the upcoming reflection days:



This event is offered free of charge. To Learn more or to schedule this event, contact Tom Parlin at 507-452-2270 ext.246 or tparlin@ccsomn.org.

Social Justice Morning of Reflection
Life and Dignity of the Human Person:
Responding with Love in a Polarized Society

The Parish Social Ministry Office is offering a day of reflection on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person entitled Responding in Love in a Polarized World.  This day of reflection is being offered in parishes throughout the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Some of the topics covered include Consistent Ethic of Life, Racism, Immigration, Abortion, Peacemaking, faithful citizenship and how to live in a polarized world.

The reflection day was prepared by Tom Parlin, Director of Parish Social Ministry from Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota. A member of the Parish Social Ministry team, which includes Tom Parlin, Richard DeBona, and Nicole Henrichs will facilitate the day.  The time frame of the reflection is flexible, typically running 2 to 3 hours.
JRLC 2019 Legislative Recap for Faith Communities
June 13, 2019 from 6:30 - 8 pm.
First Congregational United Church of Christ 1910 3rd Ave NW, Austin, MN 55912


June 25, 2019
7-8:30pm at St. Catherine Church
203 E Brown St. in Luverne, MN 56156

Join us for an evening recap of the 2019 legislative session. Together we will:

Learn: About major changes put into place during the 2019 legislative session • How and where the faith community impacted legislators • Best practices to continue advocating out of session

Share : Issues that impact you and your community most • Impressions of 2019 legislative session — what went well, what do you want to see changed • Visions for MN’s future

These events are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
May 6, 6:30-8:00pm
$10 preregistered/prepaid. $15 at the door.

Being present at the bedside, and even at the moment of death, can become an experience embedded in the minds and souls of family members for generations. It is a deeply emotional time, one of relief and sadness. Anyone who has ever taken the final journey with a loved one will never forget those moments. The focus of this presentation is about navigating those last days at the bedside, and saying farewell with hope, love, and compassion.

Dr. Edward T. Creagan has dedicated his life to death. Now this esteemed medical doctor examines death, not only from a medical standpoint, but also from an acutely emotional perspective as these events, which are beyond our control, unfold.
Spotlight on Resources
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR A SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM
 “Dream Catchers” is a youth servant-leadership training program for the children of Worthington-area immigrants, and we are looking forward to our 4th summer of learning/growing together, but we need volunteers to help! 
The program is conducted one day a week (Tuesdays) from 9 am to 4 pm during the summer months (June/July/August) and is sponsored by Familias Juntas (Families Together). Each week the participants are bused to a rural location – south of Iona – where they study leadership skills and learn about teamwork in a faith-based setting, through presentations, gardening, doing crafts and enjoying many activities/games together. We are in need of volunteers ages 16 and older to supervise, lead sessions, help with gardening, serve food, and plan games and activities. A current background check is required for those 18 years old and older. A meeting/training for volunteers will be scheduled for mid-May; if you are interested in helping please contact Lisa Kremer at 507-360-3423 or  familiasjuntas.mn@gmail.com  
"More than 65 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, poverty and violence. There are more refugees and internally displaced people now than at any other time in history. Church teaching encourages us to welcome foreigners seeking the security and livelihoods they cannot find in their home countries." - CRS
Start Planning for World Refugee Day on June 20th
"As the refugee crisis continues, we remain challenged as people of faith to nourish refugees' hope for the future. The resources below can be used to help involve faith communities take up Pope Francis' charge by praying, learning, acting and giving to support those in need. "

Start planning today with resources from CRS:
Schedule a "Caring for Our Common Earth Home" Event at your parish today!
If you missed “Caring for our Common Earth Home” at St. John the Baptist with Fr. Joe Fogal and Ms. Briana Baker contact Catholic Charities Parish Social Ministry Director Tom Parlin ( tparlin@ccsomn.org ) to arrange for them to present at your parish!  Here’s the flyer!

And for a final nudge to invite them to your parish, view this powerful poignant 98-second video from Pope Francis .
Let us celebrate AND protect Creation !
You’ve heard about the Green New Deal, an ambitious, visionary, and for some, controversial Congressional proposal to deal with the urgent climate crisis while simultaneously investing in job creation and advancing social and racial justice. Do you have questions about how we as people of faith should respond to the Green New Deal?
Catholic Climate Covenant hosted an educational webinar to discuss Catholic Social Teaching and The Green New Deal that is now available online.

Topics discussed:
- What the Green New Deal is, how and why it’s a lightning rod on Capitol Hill and around the nation, and why young people are the driving force behind this proposal.
- How Catholic social teaching should inform legislative approaches (such as the Green New Deal) that address climate change.
- How the US Catholic community can faithfully respond to legislative opportunities that address the climate crisis, including ideas found in the Green New Deal.
CELEBRATING MARY’S MONTH!
by Richard DeBona, Catholic Charities, Mankato.

In celebration - and contemplation-for-action -of Mary’s month of May, let us beseech our Queen of Peace and Her Son, our Prince of Peace,to petition our God of Life to strengthen us to work for a peace based on justice -forged through nonviolence!

I invite you to begin this “celebration” by viewing this short video from our Pope: Pope Francis' prayer intentions for June 2017: Eliminate arms trade
“Is this war or that war really a war to solve problems or is ti a commercial war for selling weapons..."
View this powerful 74-second video HERE!

Pray about being a peacemaker this May: “Jesus asks us to speak for peace whether or not it is effective in the worldly sense. The whole question is the question of faithfulness and not just the question of change… So, in the middle of this world we need to say “no’ to war even when we don’t see immediate results.” – Henri Nouwen.
SPEAK UP and STAND OUT for PEACE this May!

AND SAY “NO” TO WAR, war-making and war-profiteering!

During this month of Mary, Queen of Peace, please join us in a weekly Peace Vigil happening in downtown Mankato across from the Post Office (corner of S 2 nd and E. Jackson) each and every Wednesday from 12noon – 1pm. 

SAY NO TO WAR! Join us for 15 minutes or longer, once a month or whenever you can. This Peace Vigil has been going on since 2001. Come be a VOICE FOR PEACE!  
What are you doing in your community?
Is your community doing a project or working on an issue that you would like to share? We would love to highlight your efforts, events and ministry! Let us know what you are doing.
How are we doing?
 We would love to hear your feedback on this newsletter. What do you like? What is helpful? What would you like to see? We can't wait to hear from you!  Send Feedback

Looking for past editions of our newsletter? You can access them ALL on Catholic Charities of Southern MN's Parish Social Ministry Page.