In this time of pain and promise,
we call on God’s Spirit to bless
the leadership of LCWR, of our
Congregation, and all women religious
who strive to live the gospel in these
uncertain times.

We call on the Spirit of God to reveal
the way forward that is faithful to God’s
dream for us and our lives together.

May all who are called to engage
in prayer and conversation come to
the table with hearts that are open,
transparent, and faith-filled. May their
reflection be marked by a deep listening
to the voice of the Spirit at work in
our world.

May the holy ones who have gone
before us inspire us by their courage
and wisdom and affirm that we are
not alone.

May we continue to faithfully live the
questions of our time and witness to
the people of God that we are women
at home with mystery and filled with
fierce hope for our shared future.

Amen.
Prayer by Chris Koellhoffer, IHM

The Sisters of Bon Secours generously provided translations of this prayer in Spanish and French.

Conferencia de Liderazgo de Mujeres Religiosas
Estados Unidos

Oración – El Espíritu de Dios
En este momento de dolor y promesa,
acudimos al Espíritu de Dios para pedirle bendiga
al liderazgo de LCWR, a nuestra
Congregación, y a todas las mujeres religiosas
que se esfuerzan por vivir el Evangelio en estos
tiempos de incertidumbre.

Acudimos al Espíritu de Dios para que nos revele
el camino correcto fiel al sueño de Dios
para nosotras y para nuestras vidas juntas.

Que todos los llamados a participar
en la oración y la conversación
lleguen a la mesa con corazones abiertos,
transparentes y llenos de fe. Que su reflexión
se caracterice por una escucha profunda
a la voz del Espíritu que actúa en nuestro mundo.

Que los santos que nos han precedido
nos inspiren por su valor y
sabiduría y confirmen que no
estamos solas.

Que sigamos viviendo fielmente los
problemas de nuestro tiempo y sigamos
testimoniando ante el pueblo de Dios que
somos mujeres arraigadas en el misterio
y henchidas de indoblegable esperanza
en nuestro futuro compartido.

Amén.
Oración de Chris Koellhoffer, IHM

It’s Older Americans Month!

The City of Fremont presented a Proclamation to the Gladys Guenther of the Sisters of the Holy Family and Janice Sujii of On Lok Life Ways on May 15, 2012

What are you doing to celebrate and honor our elders?

Children’s Book Week is the national celebration of books and reading for youth.

Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!

Administered by Every Child A Reader and sponsored by the Children’s Book Council, Children’s Book Week celebrates the transformative power of literacy.

History

Children’s Book Week originated in the belief that children’s books and literacy are life-changers. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children’s books. He proposed creating a Children’s Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.

Mathiews enlisted two important allies: Frederic G. Melcher, the visionary editor of Publishers Weekly, and Anne Carroll Moore, the Superintendent of Children’s Works at the New York Public Library and a major figure in the library world. With the help of Melcher and Moore, in 1916, the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association sponsored a Good Book Week with the Boy Scouts of America.

In 1944, the newly-established Children’s Book Council assumed responsibility for administering Children’s Book Week. In 2008, Children’s Book Week moved from November to May. At that time, administration of Children’s Book Week, including planning official events and creating original materials, was transferred to Every Child a Reader, the philanthropic arm of the children’s publishing industry, and The Children’s Book Council became a CBW anchor sponsor.

Monday, May 7, 2012
General Introductions
Introduction to the Traditions of Hinduism Cosmic Sacredness

Monday May 14, 2012
Introduction to the Traditions of Buddhism Compassion for A11 Creatures

Monday, May 21, 2012
Introduction to Judaism The Splendor of God

Monday, May 28, 2012
Introduction to Islam The Peace of God

Good will offering – Contact: 510-656-2331

This afternoon our readings have been about three women; Hannah, Mary, and Elizabeth who all became pregnant in miraculous ways. All three dedicated their sons (Samuel, Jesus, and John the Baptist) to God’s service. The songs that were offered by Hannah and Mary were in response to God’s gift of these sons to them and to Israel. The theme of each is God’s reversal of fortune by bringing down the powerful and        raising up the lowly.

Both Hannah and Mary are mothers rejoicing at the birth of an unexpected child. Hannah praises God that he has seen fit to end her barrenness, while Mary glorifies the Lord because he has chosen her to bear the promised Messiah. Each knew to her sorrow that she would have to give up her son one day.

Near the beginning of the first book of Samuel, we find Hanna deep in prayer asking God to end her barrenness and give her a son. She promises to give her son to God. Her prayer is answered and Samuel is born to her. When he is three years old, she brings him to Eli, the priest to be raised in God’s house. Later, Samuel becomes a great prophet of Israel and anoints its future king: David. (After Samuel, Hanna has three more sons and two daughters. God will not be outdone in generosity!)

Centuries later, in Luke we find Mary deep in prayer. When an angel visits she shows a willingness to be and do whatever God asks of her. However, in her relationship with God, she is not afraid to ask questions. “How will this be …?” and then “Let it be done, according to your word…”

Holding all these things in her heart, she hurries to visit Elizabeth. Now we women know when something momentous happens to us, we have a need to tell another woman or a group of our close friends! Perhaps this was true for Mary and Elizabeth. They needed to share the wonders that God was working in and through them.

It is when she meets Elizabeth that Mary proclaims the Magnificat. It echoes the song of Hanna. It is a song of hope and joy as well as a challenge.

To reflect more deeply on the Magnificat, I have divided it into three sections. Each section will have a brief commentary followed by one or more reflection questions.

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
For he has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed
For He has done great things for me and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.

This first part proclaims that God is a God of surprises. This is a song of pure joy – joy and gratitude in what God accomplished through a young woman of faith and the hope it brings for generations.

God is Good. God is Love. God’s great love encircles each of us and all of us. Let’s take a few moments to recall a time when we were overwhelmed with God’s love and goodness. It may have been so powerful that we were rendered speechless with awe; it may have been a time when we wanted to shout out in joy or to sing a song of gratitude.

(Pause)

God is Good. God is Love. God’s great love encircles each of us and all of us. With Mary, we give ourselves to God and sing with pure joy!

He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones
And exalted those of low degree.

This second part is a call to a prophetic stance. God redeems; God saves. God is God of the unexpected. God is the Mighty One, but he uses his might and power to help the poor. God wants all people to be free to live in a just and peaceful world.

What does it mean to be a prophet? A prophet speaks for God. In the Scriptures, there were fiery prophets, like John the Baptist or reluctant ones like Jeremiah: “I am too young…I don’t know how to speak…” But all of us are called by the Spirit to stand for the truth. Some of us are called to speak publicly; others are called to work quietly behind the scenes. By our words and actions – by our example, we speak for God. St. Francis said, “Preach always; sometimes use words.”

Let us take a few moments to reflect on how are we being called today? What issues draw us? Ecology? Human Rights? The Poor? Another?

(Pause)

He has filled the hungry with good things
And the rich he has sent away empty
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His servants forever.

The third part is a call to servanthood. As Jesus was Servant to us, we are called to serve one another with joy; with love. And God is with us.

There is a movie called The Three Feathers – I didn’t see the movie, but I was impressed with what I heard about it. The story takes place in India, during the 1800s. An English soldier is wounded and stranded in the dessert. A young Indian, the enemy, stops to help him – does everything for him, cleans his wounds, gets him food, and even protects him when there is danger of being attacked or captured by other Indians. Finally the soldier asks him, “Why are you helping me?” He answers, “Because God put you in my way.”

Let us take a few moments to reflect on who God is “putting in our way?”

(Pause)

As you can see, the Magnificat is a song of joy and a challenge. As we move forward to honor Mary, the Woman of the Magnificat and our Mother, we pray that we, too, will be people of the Magnificat:

Joyful Singers,

Courageous Prophets and

Humble Servants.

Tuesday, May 8th 7:00 pm – 8:30 p.m.
Speaker: Donna Schempp, L.C.S.W.
Topic: Positive Aspects of Aging: You’re Never Too Old to Play

• Never too old to laugh
• Never too old to give
• Never too old to nurture
• Never too old to learn

The talks are intended for Seniors, caregivers, the sandwich generation, etc. There is no charge for the event which will take place in Holy Family auditorium.

Tuesday, May 29th 7:00 p.m.
Speaker: Sylvia Gandolfo, M.S.W., Certified Care Manager
Eldercare Services
Topic: Playing with a Full Deck

• Making the most of the hand you are dealt
• Tips for aging well

Never Too Old To Play!

May is Older Americans Month, a perfect opportunity to show our appreciation for the older adults in our communities. Since 1963, communities across the nation have come together to celebrate Older Americans Month—a proud tradition that shows our nation’s commitment to recognizing the contributions and achievements of older Americans.

The theme for Older Americans Month 2012, Never Too Old to Play…

encourages older Americans to stay engaged, active and involved in their own lives and in their communities. In celebration of Older Americans Month, the U.S. Administration on Aging is pleased to provide this website which offers useful resources and tools to help you plan and promote events and activities honoring older Americans.

• 1.

  Host a Day of Play.

  The Administration on Aging is encouraging Aging Network partners and other organizations around the country to host a Day of Play. This website includes numerous suggestions to help you plan and promote your Day of Play.

• 2.

  Use Social Media.

  AoA’s social media tools and sample story arc make it easy to promote Older Americans Month on your social media networks. Use the pledge badge to the right to show your support of Older Americans Month. Share messages from the OAM story arc on yourFacebook page and Twitter feed, remember to use the hashtag #OAM2012.

• 3.

  Promote Older Americans Month.

  Use traditional tools like posters, newsletters, and website banner-ads to promote Older Americans Month to your partners and stakeholders.

RELATED ARTICLES

• May is Older Americans Month (naplesnews.com)
• Seniors Missing Out on Billions in Benefits (tcpalm.com)
• African-American elders growing in numbers, but who will tend to them? (thegrio.com)
• Physical Activity, Functional Limitations, and Psychological Distress in Older Adults(expsychlab.com)
• Why Are People More Forgiving When They Get Older? (my.psychologytoday.com)

Did you know? The Latin word for “Tree” is “Arbor”…sure you did!!!

Trees make a difference!

National Arbor Day is the Tree Planter’s holiday, and has been celebrated since 1872. It began in Nebraska, a largely treeless plain back in the 1800′s. It is a day to plant and dedicate a tree to help nature and the environment. Millions of trees are planted on this day.

The National Arbor Day Foundation provides millions of trees for planting. It is estimated that 18 million tress are planted each year on Arbor Day.

On Arbor Day, people are encouraged to plant and care for trees. A wide range of events are organized to promote Arbor Day. These include: communal tree planting ceremonies; proclamations by city governments; exhibitions and educational activities on trees and their importance to local communities and the planet as a whole; and fairs, musical performances and open days in garden centers. Schools are encouraged to plan lessons around the theme of trees. Arbor Day awards are also presented to individuals and organizations across the United States and around the world. These are awarded for outstanding service to trees, forestry or related ecological themes.

Bird day, Bird Day, held on May 4th, is often celebrated in conjunction with Arbor Day.

Friday, April 27
EASTER WEEKDAY; ARBOR DAY

tree of life

Plant a tree of life
When J. Sterling Morton moved to Nebraska in 1854, one of the first things he and his wife did was plant their property with trees, bushes, and flowers. On the prairie, trees were important: They acted as windbreaks, helped prevent soil erosion, could be used for firewood and construction, and provided shade. Morton was a newspaper editor and later a Nebraska Territory official, and he used both those platforms to promote tree-planting, culminating in a national holiday for the proper planting of trees: Arbor Day. “Each generation,” Morton said, “takes the earth as trustees.” What God has given, each generation is to protect and pass on. Get involved in your local Arbor Day activities or find some other ways to conserve God’s great gift of creation.

TODAY’S READINGS: Acts 9:1-20; John 6:52-59 (277)
“The living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father.”

CONTRIBUTORS
Alice Camille, Daniel Grippo, Caroline Hopkinson, Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M., Ann O’Connor, Joel Schorn, Patrice J. Tuohy, and Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M.

TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH is a simple and effective way to embrace the Pope‘s call to a new evangelization. Keep the members of your parish or faith community inspired and informed each day with well-crafted reflections on the rich traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church. Take Five’s daily reflections are available to you online and via email and can easily be printed in your church bulletin or parish newsletter and also forwarded electronically to your faith community email list, posted on your community’s website—or all of the above! When you sign up for a Take Five Site License you have the ability to use it in multiple ways in your faith community. The daily reflections even provide a great starting point for homilies!

At last, an economical and simple way to spread the good news and share the best of our faith tradition with everyone in your pastoral care!

Click here to subscribe

Please take a moment to LIKE  TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH on Facebook
and follow TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH on Twitter
and share your comments to their daily posts. 

– John O’Donohue

“I’m just so angry all the time!”

Those words, in a desperate plea for self understanding, often burst out from the men who turned up at my office door. As chaplain in a state prison, much of my time was spent in listening and counseling. At these times, all too often, a sad history would unfold. 

The themes which came to light generally included abandonment and/or abuse by parents or other caretakers, multiple foster homes, self medication with drugs and alcohol. Often a vicious cycle of senseless crime and self loathing led to imprisonments and eventually long or even life sentences.  Surprisingly, seldom had these men seen any connection between their situation and its roots in their early lives.

It was my experience with these stories, repeated in so many ways by so many men that initially drew me to volunteer as a CASA. For the men I came to know, the harm done to themselves and to others could not be undone. I was attracted by the possibility of in some way helping even one child through the labyrinth of traumatic situations at the time when that help was most needed.

I am so grateful for CASA!

I know of no other volunteer organization that can be so effective in helping the children who must face so many difficult challenges.

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Carolyn Whited has been an advocate for CASA for over five years; first in Tulare County and currently In Stanislaus County. Her passion and (compassion) for all of her clients is astounding … and reflects the same commitment of all of her fellow advocates.

Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children [CASA] of Stanislaus County is a passionate community organization that provides every child received through the court system with personalized advocacy and support. Our goal is to provide a safe, permanent, nurturing environment for every child served.

This article was originally published in the CASA of Stanislaus County Newsletter for March-April, 2009

Reading Now Matters Later

What matters most for your child’s school success?

YOU.

Your voice, your home, your family can do more to help a young child be ready for reading than any teacher or school.   Children whose families talk with them, share stories with them, and read with them will have more knowledge and skills when they begin school than those who don’t—and that’s important.  Very often those who start school behind never catch up.

Helping You Raise A Reader

The struggles parents and families face are real.

“Where do I find the time?”
“My child won’t sit still.”
“We can’t get to the library.”
“I don’t want my child to learn my bad habits.”

Raising a Reader can help. Raising A Reader’s award-winning program does more than tell parents what “should” be done it can help overcome the challenges .  Each week Raising A Reader rotates a bright red bag filled with high quality children’s books into homes making access to books convenient.  Raising A Reader also works with agencies to support families as they build the habit of “book cuddling.”

Read More:

• Tips for Sharing Books
• Raising A Reader’s Impact
• Current Locations and Starting A Program
• How you can help Imagine Raising A Reader 

Also

• The Essentials of Early Literacy Instruction from the NAEYC

The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the Week of the Young Child™ is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. The 2012 Week of the Young Child™ is April 22–28 and the theme is Early Years Are Learning Years®.

Information above from: 

Raising A Reader (RAR) is a national nonprofit organization that has helped families successfully build and sustain literacy routines in their homes since 1999.

RAR operates through a robust network of over 2,500 community partners (including school systems, libraries and community agencies) across 30 states. Last year, the organization served over 111,000 children and families, nearly 75% of whom lived at or below the poverty level, and more than half of whom were English language learners. Since its inception RAR has reached over 700,000 children throughout the country.

Administrative Professionals Day will mark its 60th anniversary on April 25, 2012. Over those decades, the job of an administrative professional has changed dramatically thanks to new tools, techniques and seismic shifts in the economy and culture itself. But admins have remained the steady center of efficiency through it all, helping ensure that jobs get done right, on time and under budget. Admins are one of the engines of business, particularly in a complex economy. In a world that demands the accurate and speedy movement of digital information, admins are masters of data. And they do this while maintaining their more traditional role as the gatekeepers for many customers, clients and employees. Quite simply,admins are the pulse of the office.

To commemorate the 42-year-old event, Explore.org, the multimedia organization of the Annenberg Foundation, is featuring a new live HD feed of panda cubs at the Bifengxia Panda Reserve in China.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

“There is something magical and inspiring about watching panda cubs interact with each other in real-time,” said Charlie Annenberg, the founder of Explore.org, in press materials. “The hope is that by viewing these cams, people will develop deeper emotional connections not just to the bears, but also to the planet.”

The four panda bear cubs, who are named Zhichun, (“Spring”), Qingshan (“Green Mountain”), Zhaoyang (“Morning Sun”) and Ao’Ao (“Pride”), are all under two years of age. The feed will be live between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m. EST; at other times, previously recorded highlights of the pandas’ activity will be featured.

Explore.org’s other live cameras include, among others, feeds of polar bears, jellyfish, whales, the aurora borealis and the Santa Monica beach.

The giant panda, or Ailuropoda melanoleuca, is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. There are an estimated fewer than 2,500 mature giant pandas remaining in the wild, according to the IUCN.

Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22, began in 1970.

For more on Earth Day 2012, visit The Huffington Post’s Earth Day page.

Click here to see Pandas LIVE!

• The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of the Week of the Young Child™ is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. The 2012 Week of the Young Child™ is April 22–28 and the theme is Early Years Are Learning Years®.

The Sisters of the Holy Family have had  along history of serving young children and their families. San Francisco was an amazing conglomeration of wealth and poverty. There were many millionaires and there were also hundreds of struggling families. The Sisters of the Holy Family were founded for families, and one of the needs perceived by the new organization was day care for the children of working parents. In 1878 the Sisters opened their first children’s “day home,” to provide a place where the needs of the child could be attended to while peace of mind and material assistance could be offered to the struggling parents.

Read more here

On April 22, more than one billion people around the globe will participate in Earth Day 2012 and help Mobilize the Earth™. People of all nationalities and backgrounds will voice their appreciation for the planet and demand its protection. Together we will stand united for a sustainable future and call upon individuals, organizations, and governments to do their part.

Attend a local Earth Day event and join one of our Earth Day campaigns as we collect A Billion Acts of Green® and elevate the importance of environmental issues around the world.

Earth Day — April 22 – each year marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, proposed the first nationwide environmental protest “to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda. ” “It was a gamble,” he recalls, “but it worked.”

The fight for a clean environment continues.

We invite you to be a part of this history and a part of Earth Day. Discover energy you didn’t even know you had. Feel it rumble through the grass roots under your feet and the technology at your fingertips. Channel it into building a clean, healthy, diverse world for generations to come.

Sister Cabrini Catania, SHF volunteers as a “visitor” at Washington Hospital in Fremont,CA.While at St. Augustine’s in Pleasanton, California, Sister trained over 30 “visitors” and made sure the patients were being visited. The “visitors” are out serving seven days a week. http://ow.ly/9vR11

Romanian students dressed as caged brides attend an event to raise awareness to the risks of human trafficking and sexual exploitation faced by young girls lured by the prospect of a better paying job abroad, in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011. (File/AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

By EDITH M. LEDERER  04/ 3/12 10:17 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. crime-fighting office said Tuesday that 2.4 million people across the globe are victims of human trafficking at any one time, and 80 percent of them are being exploited as sexual slaves.

Yuri Fedotov, the head of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, told a daylong General Assembly meeting on trafficking that 17 percent are trafficked to perform forced labor, including in homes and sweat shops.

He said $32 billion is being earned every year by unscrupulous criminals running human trafficking networks, and two out of every three victims are women.

Fighting these criminals “is a challenge of extraordinary proportions,” Fedotov said.

“At any one time, 2.4 million people suffer the misery of this humiliating and degrading crime,” he said.

According to Fedotov’s Vienna-based office, only one out of 100 victims of trafficking is ever rescued.

Fedotov called for coordinated local, regional and international responses that balance “progressive and proactive law enforcement” with actions that combat “the market forces driving human trafficking in many destination countries.”

Michelle Bachelet, who heads the new U.N. agency promoting women’s rights and gender equality called UN Women, said “it’s difficult to think of a crime more hideous and shocking than human trafficking. Yet, it is one of the fastest growing and lucrative crimes.”

Actress Mira Sorvino, the U.N. goodwill ambassador against human trafficking, told the meeting that “modern day slavery is bested only by the illegal drug trade for profitability,” but very little money and political will is being spent to combat trafficking.

Full Article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/03/human-trafficking-victims_n_1401673.html

We rank the best chocolate companies on our chocolate scorecard »
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Shop for Fair Trade chocolate at greenpages.org »
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Order a copy of the movie The Dark Side of Chocolate for a screening in your  community »

At this time of year, Cadbury Creme Eggs are some of the most visible — and popular — chocolates sold as treats for children’s Easter baskets.

What you might not know is that in the US Cadbury products are Hershey products. In 1988, the Hershey company purchased Cadbury’s US business, including the exclusive rights to sell well-known brands like York Peppermint Patties, Cadbury Chocolate Bunnies, and Cadbury Eggs.

And while Cadbury has demonstrated its commitment to ending forced child labor in the cocoa supply chain by selling Fair Trade chocolate through its operations overseas, the US arm, controlled by Hershey, falls short. Chocolate lovers in the UK,Ireland,Japan,South Africa, and Australia can purchase Cadbury chocolates for Easter that include fairly traded cocoa, why shouldn’t the same be true for chocolate lovers in the US?

Tell Hershey to bring Fair Trade Cadbury products to the US »

We know you’ve sent repeated messages to Hershey demanding better — persistence pays! Here’s why you should take this action today: This time we’re copying our message to Cadbury executives as well, reminding them that their good name suffers in the US from Hershey’s business practices. Let’s thank Cadbury for doing a good job in other countries, and get them on board to push for change in this country.

Recently, Hershey committed to improve the supply chain for its “Bliss” line of chocolate. Let’s push them to the next level with its Cadbury products as well. We won’t stop until we’ve achieved meaningful change across all Hershey’s products.

Thanks for all you do,
Alisa Gravitz,
Executive Director,
GreenAmerica

P.S. Please consider a donation to our Fair Trade Program to ramp up our pressure on the corporations who are the worst when it comes to abusive child labor – and support the 100% Fair Trade companies in our Green Business Network™. Thank you for your commitment to the green economy.