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Saint James Cathedral
Social Outreach
& Advocacy
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Welcome to the mid-April edition of the St. James Social Outreach and Advocacy Newsletter!
As we continue to abide by the shelter-in-place directive, let us be mindful of Pope Francis' words today:
"'The joy of the Lord is your strength' (Nehemiah 8:10). The joy of the Lord is the great strength we possess which drives us to continue being witnesses of life. Today let us ask for the grace of this joy, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit."
Today, I'm sharing with you a few ways that you can help feed the hungry, support families experiencing homelessness, help protect our partners at Catholic Community Services, and care for Creation since the 50th anniversary of Earth Day is next week.
peace,
Patrick Barredo, director of social outreach and advocacy
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Helping the hungry and homeless
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Catholic Community Services/Catholic Housing Services (CCS/CHS) are inviting St. James Cathedral parishioners to help with meals for those in need.
1. CCS/CHS operates a Federal Way drop-in center that welcomes 75 people each day.
They are in need of hot casseroles, although sandwiches are also accepted. You could also contact a restaurant to deliver food. Toiletries are also needed. Please coordinate with Patrick Barredo (
pbarredo@stjames-cathedral.org
).
2. The Sacred Heart Family Shelter is asking for the following: toiletries (toothpaste and toothbrush, soap, shampoo, lotion), feminine hygiene products, women's underwear (all sizes) and children's clothes (all sizes). They would also appreciate arts & crafts supplies to help entertain the kids. Please coordinate with Patrick Barredo (pbarredo@stjames-cathedral.org).
3. The St. Martin de Porres Men's Shelter needs volunteers to prepare meals in their kitchen.
If you're interested, contact Jeff Cathey, the Operations Supervisor at St. Martin de Porres (206.323.6341 or
jefferyc@ccsww.org
).
4. As more meals are brought to CCS/CHS, they will need to be delivered.
If you can help transport food, contact CCS Network Builder Erin Maguire (
ErinMa@ccsww.org
).
These are difficult times we live in. Any meal support you can provide for those experiencing homelessness is greatly appreciated. However, please do observe our state's directive to stay in your home, especially if you or anyone in your household is in a high-risk group.
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A virtual sewing bee
Do you sew? You are invited to consider sewing protective masks to help those who are serving others during the coronavirus outbreak. Catholic Community Services is in immediate need of masks to protect both staff and clients in the weeks ahead, and the Cathedral Kitchen will have need of masks when the kitchen reopens (currently planned for May 4). Masks can be dropped off at the parish office on Tuesdays between 9am-11am. Information,
Patrick Barredo.
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The 50th anniversary of Earth Day
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St. James Cathedral is partnering with several groups to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Please check out some of these offerings.
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Earth Day Northwest 2020
Now, more than ever, we as a local and global community need to come together and to be the change we wish to see. For the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, 50 influential voices have been asked to share their visions for positive change in the world over the next 5 years.
Share your your vision of positive change in the next 5 years using the hashtag
#
voicescarry2020
And go to the Earth Day Northwest 2020 website to see how voices carry!
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Catholic Climate Covenant
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the 5th anniversary of Laudato Si'. Even though all of us are following the stay-at-home order, our need to care for creation continues. Consider a resource from the Catholic Climate Covenant that you and your family might want to use.
This is a free, downloadable one-hour program. This is an ideal resource, both to connect with each other and to share around care for creation.
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Earth Ministry
Earth Day Gatherings
Wednesday, April 22
Coffee Hour: 9:30-10:30am PST
Happy Hour: 5:30-6:30pm PST
Since we can't gather in person as we normally would, Earth Ministry invites you and others in the faith community to come together for a Zoom coffee hour or afternoon happy hour. Join virtually for a casual conversation to check in, share what's happening with your congregation, and reflect on how we can carry the message of Earth Day moving forward. Staff will also briefly share about the release of our new action toolkit. BYOB and see you online!
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Earth Talks at Seattle U
Earth Day, April 22, 2020
11:00AM-12:00PM (session 1) and 2:00PM-3:15PM (session 2)
Join us for Seattle U's virtual Earth Day event: EARTH TALKS
. Students, faculty, and community partners will present short 5-min talks about environmental justice and sustainability research, service and activism.
The event will kick-off with a special interview with Denis Hayes who organized the first Earth Day in 1970
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