January 26 Winter – Celebrate Life Giving Water
April 20 Spring – Celebrate the Beauty of the Earth
June 22 Summer – Celebrate the Amazing Diversity of Life through the symbol of Fire
October 19 Fall – Celebrate the Sun, Moon and the Stars Through the symbol of Air

Bishop Barber, Bishop Cummins, Sister Aurora, and all present today to honor Sister Aurora for her many years of ministry as director of SPRED. I am grateful to be here.

In 1988, Sister came to St. Clement in Hayward to speak at the Masses in order to recruit catechists to begin a SPRED Center (which, by the way, is in its 24th year with Belem Reta, leader catechist and here with us today). Starting as a SPRED catechist and Parish Chairperson at St. Clement so many years ago, I am finding it difficult to accept the reality of that Sister moving on. At the same time I am happy for her, that after acting as a consultant for the new SPRED director until January 1, she will have time for some long, overdue rest, prayer and renewal.

When Sister Aurora asked me to speak today, she asked that I talk about SPRED, not her. I had to smile because Sister Aurora and SPRED seem very much to be made of one piece with catechists, families, supporters and our beautiful participants – our SPRED friends with special needs.

It was in 1991, after two years in SPRED, that I was asked to work in the Diocese with Sister, first as the coordinator of Parish Chairpersons in the Diocese and later as Associate Director. One of the first things I noticed on her office wall at Sacred Heart was an oil painting of three peasant women working in a field – it was The Gleaners by the painter, Millet, done in 1857. She explained that the three peasant women were gleaning, or gathering, scraping with their hands the stray grains of wheat in a field after it had been harvested. The Sisters of the Holy Family have a statement that reads, “We stand at the edge of society where Christ is encountered in Word, Silence and Action, where power of His Kingdom pushes out the boundaries of our world. We will be recognized by our…visible presence among the most abandoned. Our mission as Gleaners will be to serve segments of the population who are under served by Church and social institutions.”

This is the work of Sister Aurora in SPRED that we are here today to recognize, honor and celebrate. 

She has gathered and welcomed friends with intellectual challenges that in so many cases are left on the margins, overlooked or dismissed as “not as important” or unable to understand. She has put into action the words of the U. S. Bishops in their Pastoral Statement on Persons with Disabilities, “The same Jesus who heard the cry for recognition from the disabled in Judea and Samaria two thousand years ago calls us, his followers, to embrace our responsibility to our own disabled brothers and sisters in the United Sates.” Some may question the value of time, money and effort spent in this unique, one of a kind, faith formation for children, teens and adults with intellectual challenges. That was one of the first things a relative asked me when I began in SPRED, “Why are you doing this, Mary, when they won’t understand, isn’t it a waste of time?’

The method of catechesis that Sister Aurora brought back to the Oakland diocese in 1980, after her training in the Archdiocese of Chicago at the SPRED Model Training Center and through a masters degree from Loyola University, is unmatched by any other catechesis for persons with developmental disabilities. Other methods rely on books to teach about the faith which for many of our friends is not the vehicle through which they can learn. If you feel you have at times in your life experienced God with you, then you will accept the method of SPRED – the method Vivre – French for “life”.

The catechism tells us we must meet people in their life or lived experiences in order to share the message of God’s love for them in a meaningful way. This is exactly what we do in SPRED. It is in a setting much like an altar, that each friend and catechist is invited, called by name, to come and pray together. They sit in a semicircle around a beautifully enthroned Bible, with lighted candle and fresh flowers. The session begins with a symbol, something our friends can relate to, one of their lived experiences, e.g. a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Each smells them, touches them, and sees how different each flower is yet how beautiful. Juxtapose now to the immediate group, the community of friends and catechists gathered together, noting how different each is (tall-short, young-older, brown hair-blond or gray hair, etc.), yet how beautiful, how happy to be together. Juxtapose again to liturgy; “When we look around us in church we see how different others are, yet how happy we are to be together to thank and to praise God.” Juxtapose to the Bible, In the Book of God’s Word we read:

Jesus said, “If my Father cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the fields how much more will He care for you…” Now a message, the leader catechist takes each ones hands saying, “(Aurora),

Jesus says to you today, I will be with you, always.” A song of thanksgiving is sung with gestures, followed with instrumental music; the group sits for a short time in silence to rest in what has been experienced. The evening closes with agape, eating together in loving friendship with laughter and joy. To quote Fr. Mesney, “The human experience most like that of faith is friendship.”

Sister Aurora also brings to this diocese an annual SPRED Labor Day Retreat for adults with special needs. For the 36th year it will take place at beautiful San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville. The hospitality of the Franciscan staff is so gracious. My favorite place on the day of the friends’ arrival was at the front door as they drove up, car after car, to be dropped off for the weekend. Their smiles and hugs are heart memories I will always carry as well as seeing them get their individual hug from Sister when departure time arrives. The first time I experienced the retreat I wrote to the Catholic Voice that if anyone wanted to experience a little  bit of heaven on earth they just needed to be at San Damiano chapel on Labor Day Sunday. The retreatants with their catechists take active part in the Liturgy of the Word, portraying the First Reading, and the Gospel as they are proclaimed, the responsorial and Communion meditation with gestures of prayer, and reverently prepare the altar and present the gifts of bread and wine. Truly, for me, it is a little preview of what I think heaven will be – a place where everyone sees the other as God sees us – equally valued and loved.

So, I thank you, Sr. Aurora, with a grateful heart for all your years in the fields. Rather than gleaning scraps of wheat as the woman depicted in the painting, you have tirelessly, passionately (which many of us in this room can attest to) recruited and trained catechists, worked in partnership with parishes to form new SPRED centers for those who were not able to participate in their parish faith formation programs and established the Diocesan SPRED Labor Day Retreat for adults. In a parish setting they experience a community of faith where God’s message of love is shared one on one with a catechist.

In friendship and love catechist and friend journey together in faith. For no one gives the gift of faith to another, however, we do have the privilege of helping another discover the gift of faith given to them by God.

You have touched the hearts and souls of families who need to know that their children are embraced by us, the church, in a meaningful, ongoing and lasting way. Through SPRED their children, throughout their entire lives, are able to experience belonging to the church. They come to know God’s love for them through life experiences and their catechist’s friendship, love, and respect which fosters their dignity and self-esteem. According to individual capabilities many, because of SPRED, are able to actively participate and to share their gifts in the faith and life of their parish.

My prayer for you, Sister Aurora, is that in the coming years you are surrounded with blessings of faith, hope, joy and love bringing you renewed life and enduring peace.

Chicago, IL (June 3, 2013)–Band of Sisters premiered in Chicago in September 2012 and is now touring the U.S. Noted critic John Hartl of The Seattle Times called the film “fresh… striking… revealing.” The documentary will premiere in San Francisco, CA July 18-21 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Band of Sisters is a documentary about the journey of Catholic sisters in the United States from sheltered “daughters of the church” to citizens of the world. In Band of Sisters, two nuns advocate for the rights of immigrant detainees and deportees in and around a Chicago-area deportation center. It is 50 years since Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council to let a little fresh air into the church, and most Catholic nuns in the U.S. have never looked back. Fascinating scenes of convent life prior to Vatican II contrast with those of nuns in the tumultuous and exciting years after the Council, when sisters became engaged with the great social movements of our day.

Adeptly illuminating the path from direct service to social justice to the transformation of consciousness, Band of Sisters travels with nuns across the U.S. who continue their mission as organic farmers, environmental attorneys, peace activists, holistic health care practitioners, podcasters, and more. With poignancy, drama and humor, the film fosters well-deserved recognition for its engaging characters and the thousands of sisters like them. In the face of obstacles and threats cast by government agencies, the military, and the hierarchy of their own church, the forward-thinking U.S. nuns are on a mission of love, and it appears that nothing can stop them.

http://bandofsistersmovie.com/

A film that shows the sisters as they are, Band of Sisters is a deeply moving story of inspiration and hope for people of all faiths.

The two main characters in Band of Sisters, Pat Murphy and JoAnn Persch, both Sisters of Mercy, are well-known in activist circles across the country for their efforts to assure basic human rights for immigrant detainees and deportees. Other sisters featured in the film include Carol Coston, Elise Garcia and Pat Siemen, Adrian Dominicans; Kathleen Desautels, Sisters of Providence, Madeline Gianforte, Sisters of St. Agnes; Nancy Sylvester, Margaret Brennan, Julie Vieira, and Maxine Kollasch, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Yolanda Tarango, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word; Lillian Murphy and Theresa Kane, Sisters of Mercy; Avis Clendenen, former Sister of Mercy; Miriam Therese MacGillis, Caldwell Dominicans; Margaret Galiardi, Amityville Dominicans; and Patricia Chappell, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Mary Fishman, the producer/director of Band of Sisters, was educated by the Springfield Dominican Sisters in elementary school and the Sisters of Mercy in high school. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, she led a career as an architect and urban planner before switching to filmmaking. She began work on Band of Sisters in 2004.

Band of Sisters was edited by Bernadine Colish, a New York-based editor. The score was composed and recorded by Miriam Cutler of Los Angeles.

Major funding for the film was provided by the Sisters of Mercy Agatha O’Brien Ministry Fund. Additional funding came from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Illinois General Assembly; a West Midwest Mercy Ministry Grant; the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Ministry Fund; a Community Arts Assistance Program grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council; from 40 women’s congregations; and from close to 600 generous individual donors.

Band of Sisters was completed in May 2012 and is 88 minutes long. For more information please visit http://bandofsistersmovie.com

Schedule of screenings for Band of Sisters at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts:

Thursday, July 18 at 6:00 and 8:00 pm
Friday, July 19 at 4:00, 6:00, and 8:00 pm
Saturday, July 20 at 2:00, 4:00, 6:00 and 8:00 pm
Sunday July 21 at 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00 pm

Director Mary Fishman will be present for audience discussion after the screenings on Thursday at 6:00 and 8:00 pm, Friday at 8:00 pm, and Saturday at 8:00 pm.

* * *

Band of Sisters will be presented at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, located at 701 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA. Tickets are: $10 Regular, $8 Student, Senior, Teacher, $8 YBCA Member. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the box office Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from noon-6:00 pm, Thursday-Saturday from noon-8:00 pm, first Tuesdays of the month from noon-8:00 pm. To order tickets by phone, or to arrange discounts for groups over 10, please call 415-978-ARTS. Phone hours are Tuesday-Sunday from noon-6:00 pm. Tickets may be purchased anytime online: www.ybca.org/tickets
For information about Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: www.ybca.org/band-of-sisters

###

http://bandofsistersmovie.com/

“How admirable to devote one’s whole life to others, To live, work, and die in their service.” ~Mother Dolores

Sister Kathryn Morrow went to her final reward on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

Mass will be held Sunday, June 2 at 11:00 AM at MSJ Motherhouse.

Burial will take place on Monday, June 3 at 10:30 AM at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.

In its resolution, the General Assembly also noted that the family-related provisions of the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits of the 1990s and their follow-up processes continue to provide policy guidance on ways to strengthen family-centred components of policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensive approach to development.

The International Day of Families has inspired a series of awareness-raising events, including national family days. In many countries, that day provides an opportunity to highlight different areas of interest and importance to families. Activities include workshops and conferences, radio and television programmes, newspaper articles and cultural programmes highlighting relevant themes.

The collapse at the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh, where more than 1,000 workers lost their lives, reminds us there is still much work to be done to make global trade fair.

In honor of World Fair Trade Day and the 3.5 million workers in Bangladesh’s more than 4,000 garment factories, we’re calling on all clothing companies to work to make this tragedy the last of its kind.

We’re asking clothing manufacturers doing business in Bangladesh to sign on to the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Agreement, a legally binding agreement that will require the largest clothing brands to make immediate safety improvements to their supplier factories.

The deadline to sign up is May 15. Four days away!

Please take our action to send a message today »

So far, almost all major clothing brands have refused to sign on to this agreement.   Walmart, JC Penney, Benetton, The Children’s Place, Dress Barn, and Cato Fashion were just a few of the brands connected to manufacturing at Rana (by taking our action, your message will go directly to decision-makers at these companies).

However, any brand manufacturing in Bangladesh has the responsibility to ensure that workers who sew their products have a safe place to go to work. The tragedy at Rana is only the most recent of a series of preventable disasters, including the Tazreen factory fire last fall that killed 112 people.

Your voice can make the difference.  The leaders of these companies need to hear from you that you value the lives and livelihoods of workers overseas, and that you demand they respond to this latest tragedy with meaningful change — no more business as usual.

Together, we can work to make this the last garment-factory disaster of its kind.

This year, Catholic Extension received more than 40 nominees for the 2013 Lumen Christi Award from all across the United States. Of all the priests, women religious, lay people, and groups who have dedicated their lives and service to making a difference and spreading the Word of God, Sister Sandra Ann Silva, SHF from your diocese was chosen as one of nine finalists!

Now WE NEED YOU to help spread the word — and support Sister Sandra Ann Silva, SHF!

The recipient of the Lumen Christi Award will not only receive the accolades of Catholic Extension, but also a $50,000 grant – $25,000 for the honoree and $25,000 for his or her nominating diocese.

Tell everyone in your diocese and your community that we need them to cast their vote right away.  While voting is not the only criteria for choosing the winner, it is an important one.  And voting is easy —all they need to do is visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/CatholicExtension, read about all our finalists, and cast their vote for their favorite. (They may have to “like” our Facebook page first in order to vote!)

Hurry! Facebook voting will only be open until May 10!

We thank you for your nomination of Sister Sandra Ann Silva, SHF and wish you luck in the final voting for our 2013 Lumen Christi Award!

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.

A Presentation by LaVrene Norton, MSW
Thursday, May 16, 2013  -   6:45 – 8:15 pm

Nursing Homes, Assisted and Independent Living Environments
Embrace the Household Model

I want to be at home, no matter where I may reside. Don’t you? I want that for my mom and dad, and I want that for every elder in this country – no matter how frail or how much nursing care they need. Why would we expect our aging and frail elders to give up home – just when they need it the most!

The Household Model is a powerful answer. From coast-to-coast, nursing homes, assisted living, and even friend groups of independent and healthy elders are shaping into small, shared households of 8- 20 people. There’s a kitchen and living room and privacy and autonomy. There’s often a front porch, backyard and a car. There’s daily life to be lived – breakfast when and what I want; a chance to help with lunch if I desire; housework that I can choose to contribute to; opportunities to have friends over; to show off my apple pie recipe, grocery shopping to be done; plans to be made for this evening or this weekend. Come over and join us for coffee and a little chit chat. This session will provide a round robin visit through images, stories, and video into a half dozen care homes deeply engaged in renovating and reorganizing into home. Be inspired to be learn more. Consider exciting your aged care community to embark on this great adventure.

There is no charge for the event which will take place in the Sisters of the Holy Family auditorium: 159 Washington Blvd., Fremont CA 94539.

Call 510-624-4500 for directions.

LaVrene Norton, MSW, is Executive Leader of Action Pact, LLC. Milwaukee, WI, a national organization specializing in transforming senior retirement communities and care organizations into pleasant environments through the development of households and resident directed life.

LaVrene has assisted organizations on their journey to households since 1997, and has guided scores of organizations as they have become leaders in the household movement. An organizational change facilitator, Norton is coauthor with Steve Shields of In Pursuit of the Sunbeam, and publisher of Culture Change Now, a magazine dedicated to promoting change strategies in elder services.

She is co-author with Carmen Bowman of Vibrant Living, Inspirations to Energize Vibrant Life. She is also executive producer of educational videos focusing on the household model: Chances Are, A Way Back Home, The Tale of Transformation, and The New Face of Leadership among many others.

Website: www.culturechangenow.com

This May, help older Americans unleash the  power of age. Plan an activity in your local area  that shines a spotlight on the important role older adults play in sharing their experiences and  wisdom with other generations.

http://www.OlderAmericansMonth.ACL.gov/ActivityIdeas

Related articles

• May is Older Americans Month (theagelist.wordpress.com)

Modern business is a storm. Modern office professionals bring order. That’s why we’re celebrating Administrative Professionals Week April 21-27, 2013.

Office professionals anticipate needs, connect stakeholders, track details, deliver results and ensure that business gets done. When resources are stretched, they find solutions. When roadblocks appear, they build workarounds. They ensure that projects end on time and under budget. When their executive gets a new smartphone or tablet, they figure out how to use it. When a meeting goes too long and off topic, they make sense of it. When you have two dozen team members on three continents meeting remotely with a client, they schedule the event, invite the participants, master the application, record what’s said and summarize the results.  

Since 1952, the International Association of Administrative Professionals has honored office workers by sponsoring Administrative Professionals Week. Today, it is one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays.

Administrative Professionals Day – April 24, 2013

Today, there are more than 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants working in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, and 8.9 million people working in various administrative support roles. More than 475,000 administrative professionals are employed in Canada. Millions more administrative professionals work in offices all over the world.

Earth Day 2013 theme is “The Face of Climate Change”

Climate change can seem like a remote problem for our leaders, but the fact is that it’s already impacting real people, animals, and beloved places. These Faces of Climate Change are multiplying every day. Fortunately, other Faces of Climate Change are multiplying too: those stepping up to do something about it. Together, we’ll personalize the massive challenge climate change presents by telling the world these stories through images shown at thousands of Earth Day events around the world.

“Many people think climate change is a remote problem, but the fact is that it’s already impacting real people, animals, and beloved places all over the world, and these Faces of Climate Change are multiplying every day,” said Kathleen Rogers, president of Earth Day Network. “Fortunately, other Faces of Climate Change are also multiplying every day: those stepping up to do something about it. For Earth Day 2013, we’ll bring our generation’s biggest environmental challenge down to size – the size of an individual faced with the consequences.”

Each year, more than one billion people participate in Earth Day-related activities, making it the largest civic observance in the world. On and around April 22, communities across approximately 192 countries voice their concerns for the planet and take action to protect it.

“We’ll harness that power to show the world The Face of Climate Change,” said Russell. “And we’ll call on our leaders to act boldly together, as we have, on this critical issue.”

To learn more about Earth Day 2013 and The Face of Climate Change, go to www.earthday.org/2013.

Earth Day Network mobilizes over one billion people in 192 countries through year-round advocacy, education, and public policy campaigns to protect the environment. www.earthday.org

Every year on April 22, more than one billion people take part in Earth Day. Across the globe, individuals, communities, organizations, and governments acknowledge the amazing planet we call home and take action to protect it.

Earth Day 2013: The Face of Climate Change

Climate change has many faces.

A man in the Maldives worried about relocating his family as sea levels rise, a farmer in Kansas struggling to make ends meet as prolonged drought ravages the crops, a fisherman on the Niger River whose nets often come up empty, a child in New Jersey who lost her home to a super-storm, a woman in Bangladesh who can’t get fresh water due to more frequent flooding and cyclones…

And they’re not only human faces.

They’re the polar bear in the melting arctic, the tiger in India’s threatened mangrove forests, the right whale in plankton-poor parts of the warming North Atlantic, the orangutan in Indonesian forests segmented by more frequent bushfires and droughts…

These faces of climate change are multiplying every day.

For many, climate change can often seem remote and hazy – a vague and complex problem far off in the distance that our grandchildren may have to solve. But that’s only because they’re still fortunate enough to be insulated from its mounting consequences. Climate change has very real effects on people, animals, and the ecosystems and natural resources on which we all depend. Left unchecked, they’ll spread like wildfire.

Luckily, other faces of climate change are also multiplying every day.

Every person who does his or her part to fix the problem is also a Face of Climate Change: the entrepreneurs who see opportunity in creating the new green economy, the activists who organize community action and awareness campaigns, the engineers who design the clean technology of the future, the public servants who fight for climate change laws and for mitigation efforts, the ordinary people who commit to living sustainably…

On April 22, 2013, more than one billion people around the world will take part in the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day. From Beijing to Cairo, Melbourne to London, Rio to Johannesburg, New Delhi to New York, communities everywhere will voice their concerns for the planet, and take action to protect it. We’ll harness that power to show the world The Face of Climate Change. And we’ll call on our leaders to act boldly together, as we have, in this pivotal year.

Between now and Earth Day, we’ll collect and display images of people, animals, and places directly affected or threatened by climate change – as well as images of people stepping up to do something about it. We’ll tell the world their stories. But we need your help. We need you to be climate reporters. So, send us your pictures and stories that show The Face of Climate Change.

On and around Earth Day, an interactive digital display of all the images will be shown at thousands of events around the world, including next to federal government buildings in countries that produce the most carbon pollution. The display will also be made available online to anyone who wants to view or show it.

Together, we’ll highlight the solutions and showcase the collective power of individuals taking action across the world. In doing so, we hope to inspire our leaders to act and inspire ourselves to redouble our efforts in the fight against climate change.

A Presentation by LaVrene Norton, MSW
Thursday, May 16, 2013  -   6:45 – 8:15 pm

Nursing Homes, Assisted and Independent Living Environments
Embrace the Household Model

I want to be at home, no matter where I may reside. Don’t you? I want that for my mom and dad, and I want that for every elder in this country – no matter how frail or how much nursing care they need. Why would we expect our aging and frail elders to give up home – just when they need it the most!

The Household Model is a powerful answer. From coast-to-coast, nursing homes, assisted living, and even friend groups of independent and healthy elders are shaping into small, shared households of 8- 20 people. There’s a kitchen and living room and privacy and autonomy. There’s often a front porch, backyard and a car. There’s daily life to be lived – breakfast when and what I want; a chance to help with lunch if I desire; housework that I can choose to contribute to; opportunities to have friends over; to show off my apple pie recipe, grocery shopping to be done; plans to be made for this evening or this weekend. Come over and join us for coffee and a little chit chat. This session will provide a round robin visit through images, stories, and video into a half dozen care homes deeply engaged in renovating and reorganizing into home. Be inspired to be learn more. Consider exciting your aged care community to embark on this great adventure.

There is no charge for the event which will take place in the Sisters of the Holy Family auditorium: 159 Washington Blvd., Fremont CA 94539.

Call 510-624-4500 for directions.

LaVrene Norton, MSW, is Executive Leader of Action Pact, LLC. Milwaukee, WI, a national organization specializing in transforming senior retirement communities and care organizations into pleasant environments through the development of households and resident directed life.

LaVrene has assisted organizations on their journey to households since 1997, and has guided scores of organizations as they have become leaders in the household movement. An organizational change facilitator, Norton is coauthor with Steve Shields of In Pursuit of the Sunbeam, and publisher of Culture Change Now, a magazine dedicated to promoting change strategies in elder services.

She is co-author with Carmen Bowman of Vibrant Living, Inspirations to Energize Vibrant Life. She is also executive producer of educational videos focusing on the household model: Chances Are, A Way Back Home, The Tale of Transformation, and The New Face of Leadership among many others.

Website: www.culturechangenow.com

This May, help older Americans unleash the  power of age. Plan an activity in your local area  that shines a spotlight on the important role older adults play in sharing their experiences and  wisdom with other generations.

http://www.OlderAmericansMonth.ACL.gov/ActivityIdeas

Related articles

• May is Older Americans Month (theagelist.wordpress.com)

Tens of thousands of people filled New York’s Fifth Avenue, Congress adjourned so members could speak across the nation, and at least 2,000 colleges marked the occasion. American Heritage Magazine called the first Earth Day ‘one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy.’

Today, Earth Day is celebrated in 174 countries by over a half billion people, making it the most celebrated secular holiday in the world, a day on which people get outdoors, plant trees, clean up trash and lobby for the environment.” National Park website: http://www.nps.gov

Earth Day is not news to us. By now we are all aware that we celebrate Earth Day every year on April 22. But what we need to remember is that it is not a onetime remembrance and it should not be a once a year thing. We also need to remember that this commitment to the earth is deeply rooted in our faith.

Most Catholics don’t realize that environmental stewardship is an intrinsic part of their faith, and has been a part of Catholic Social Teaching for centuries.
Here are just some of the Catholic Social Teaching Resources on Environment:

• USCCB – Global Climate Change: A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Common Good (2001)
• Economic Justice for All (1986)
• Vatican II Documents – The Church in the Modern World
• Encyclicals:
  • On Human Work (JPII, 1981)
  • On Social Concern (JPII, 1987)
  • On the Conditions of the Working Class (Leo VIII, 1891)
  • On the Development of Peoples (Paul VI, 1967)
  • Mother and Teacher (John XIII, 1961).

The core of Catholic Social teaching on environment is not about economic theory or politics, or about interest group pressures. It is about the future of God’s creation and the one human family. It is about protecting both “the human environment” and the natural environment. It is about our human stewardship of God’s creation and our responsibility to those who come after us.

In fact, Care for God’s Creation goes back even further that Catholic Social Teaching. We just heard it in the Scripture reading of Genesis at the Easter Vigil. If you wish to spend some time reflecting on Scripture as part of Earth Day, below is a quote from the USCCB web site:

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth and set humans as stewards to care for creation.
Care for God’s creation was God’s fruitful  commandment to humanity and a fundamental requirement of our faith. Moreover creation witnesses to God’s existence. God is revealed in creation and we see in nature the fingerprints of God. Creation is always an object of praise in Israel’s prayer and the prayers of the early Christians. We are called to honor and protect our planet and its people—to live in relationship with all of God’s creation. At the dawn of creation, God commanded us not only to be fruitful and multiply, but also to use for God’s good creation.

- Genesis 1:1-31 — God made the heavens and the earth and it was good.
- Genesis 2:15 — Humans are commanded to care for God’s creation.
- Leviticus 25:1-7 — The land itself must be given a rest and not abused.
- Deuteronomy 10:14  – All of heaven and earth belong to the Lord.
- Psalm 24:1-2  – All the earth is the Lord’s.
- Daniel 3:56-82 — Creation proclaims the glory of God.
- Matthew 6:25-34 — God loves and cares for all of creation.
- Romans 1:20 — Creation reveals the nature of God.
- 1 Corinthians 10:26 — Creation and all created things are inherently
good because they are of the Lord.

Links and Resources

Excerpt from the USCCB Catholic Social Teaching Scripture Guide

Below are a few environmental justice links and resources:

• Interfaith Power and Light: Founded in 1998, Interfaith Power and Light focuses on tangible results in congregations – putting faith into action. This work includes educating congregations and helping them buy energy-efficient lights and appliances, providing energy audits and implementing the recommendations, encouraging people to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles and to drive less, supporting renewable energy development through “greentags,” working on large-scale renewable energy installation projects such as rooftop solar and advocating for sensible energy and global warming policy.  http://interfaithpowerandlight.org
• Who’s Under Your Carbon Footprint? Environmental issues and climate change have the greatest effect on the poor and underprivileged in our society. See who’s under your carbon footprint with this short video by the Catholic Climate Covenant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McdULlbg1_0  
• Environmental Justice Coalition for Water: The Environmental Justice Coalition for Water is an important community advocate within California water policy. Learn more about the water issues in California and what’s being done to ensure that everyone has access to clean, safe, and affordable water. http://www.ejcw.org 
• If you do wish to celebrate Earth Day with a hands on experience of caring for the Earth, many local and national parks have events and project that you can get involved with. Check out http://www.nps.gov for a National Park events; http://www.ebparks.org for the East Bay Regional Parks events; http://www.rei.com for events offered by REI stores (Recreational Equipment Inc.); or contact a community or park near you.

This article was written and prepared by the Peace and Justice Committee:
ISSUES AND ACTIONS
Sisters of the Holy Family, P.O. Box 3248, Fremont, CA 94539
April 2013

http://www.holyfamilysisters.org/news/10/Issues-and-Actions—April-2013

The San Francisco Division is pleased to honor the Sisters of the Holy Family, advocates for human trafficking prevention and Internet safety, as recipients of the 2012 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

The Sisters of the Holy Family mirror the FBI’s efforts to build a safer community. They provide support for those who have been victimized by human trafficking and support healing, restoration, and reintegration into a life worthy of human dignity. They also play an intricate role in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California’s Human Trafficking Working Group.

The Sisters of the Holy Family participated in the May 2012 San Francisco Division’s Community Leader Forum in their Oakland Resident Agency. They work closely with FBI San Francisco’s criminal and cyber programs and support the mission of squads that conduct investigations into public corruption, civil rights violations, and exploitation of children via the Internet.

You can read more about the award, see a clip of the ceremony and a group picture at this link http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2013/april/directors-community-leadership-awardslink The San Francisco portion at this link: http://www.fbi.gov/aboutus/ partnerships_and_outreach/community_outreach/dcla/2012/san-francisco

We are grateful to Sisters Caritas and Elaine Marie who help focus the Congregation’s efforts on antitrafficking.

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 2013 Week of the Young Child™ is April 14–20 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.

“For every time there is a Season…for every season there is a Celebration.”

Saturday morning, April 20th, Sisters of the Holy Family will host the second in their series of seasonal workshops, which brings adults together to celebrate one aspect of our world. April’s theme is “Spring-Celebrate Earth Day.”  The morning will include presentations, workshops and activities. There is no cost, but reservations are requested. For more information, or to make reservations, call 510-624-4500.

Event: “Spirituality of the Seasons” Workshop

When: Saturday April 20, 2013, 9:00 am – 12 noon

Where: Holy Family Motherhouse, 159 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA. 510-624-4500

Place: Holy Family Motherhouse, 159 Washington Blvd., Fremont, Ca. 94539

April 20 Spring – Celebrate the Beauty of the Earth
June 22 Summer – Celebrate the Amazing Diversity of Life through the symbol of Fire
October 19 Fall – Celebrate the Sun, Moon and the Stars Through the symbol of Air

January 26 Winter – Celebrate Life Giving Water

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.

NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child™ in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child™ is a time to plan how we—as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation—will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

In 2011, NAEYC celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Week of the Young Child™. For more information about the history to the event and the  40th anniversary and the history of the Week of the Young Child™, read “Week of the Young Child™ Turns 40!”

Today we know more than ever before about the importance of children’s earliest years in shaping their learning and development. Yet, never before have the needs of young children and their families been more pressing.

The Week of the Young Child™ is a time to recognize that children’s opportunities are our responsibilities, and to recommit ourselves to ensuring that each and every child experiences the type of early environment—at home, at child care, at school, and in the community—that will promote their early learning.

Read NAEYC’s A Call for Excellence in Early Childhood Education, which describes our vision for all children, all early childhood professionals, all families, and all communities.

Here are a few descriptions of recent WOYC events in communities around the country:

“We held a Family Writing Workshop where parents were invited to create a book with their children. A book-writing kit was provided, and children and parents shared their books at a show and tell. The books are now part of our library collection.”

“We displayed children’s artwork throughout the center and made a DVD slide show of the children. Monday was Parent Appreciation Day, where parents were served light refreshments and received a card from their child. Tuesday was Hat Day. Wednesday was Teacher Appreciation Day, with a pot luck lunch for staff. It was also Beach Party Day. Thursday was Inside Out Day and Friday we had an ice cream social.”

“Our city granted us a permit to hold a parade and children’s fair celebrating young children. There were over 500 children who paraded down the main street in decorated wagons, tricycles, or on foot. They marched with their child care providers or early childhood teachers. The free fair had booths representing all of the early childhood agencies and other services and also childcare providers.”

“A group of parents and children marched to City Hall. The mayor joined us and read a proclamation adopted by our City Council about the Week of the Young Child. Additionally, we held a press conference sharing information about the importance of quality early care and education.”

Immigration Policy Reform needs our action now. Our representatives must be encouraged to adopt just and fair policies affecting our undocumented sisters and brothers.
Here is an opportunity for us as Sisters of the Holy Family to “seek out and advocate for the poor, especially poor families, for the kingdom of God.”
The USCCB has listed 5 necessary components of a just and compassionate immigration policy that:
provides a path to citizenship for undocumented persons in the country;

• preserves family unity;
• provides legal paths for low skilled immigrant workers to work here;
• restores due process protections to our immigration enforcement policies;
• addresses the root causes of migration, such as persecution and economic disparity.

What can we do? 
Take a few minutes to access www.justiceforimmigrants.org and sign on to the petition;

or
Write a note or give a call to your congresspersons and senators asking for reform;

or
Encourage family and friends to do the same;

and/or
Pray for a just and compassionate solution

DON’T HESITATE PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW! Last years gala was completely SOLD OUT

Saturday morning, April 20th, Sisters of the Holy Family will host the second in their series of seasonal workshops, which brings adults together to celebrate one aspect of our world. April’s theme is “Spring-Celebrate Earth Day.”  The morning will include presentations, workshops and activities. There is no cost, but reservations are requested. For more information, or to make reservations, call 510-624-4500.

Event: “Spirituality of the Seasons” Workshop

When: Saturday April 20, 2013, 9:00 am – 12 noon

Where: Holy Family Motherhouse, 159 Washington Blvd, Fremont, CA. 510-624-4500

Click here for the March 2013 edition.

Ms. Donna Cahill, Executive Director of the Holy Family Day Home

M.Cahill Executive Director Holy Family Day Home for this recognition and  acknowledged Ms. Cahill and her contributions to the community at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 3:30 PM. A brief reception, hosted by the Friends of the Commission, was followed the Board of Supervisors presentation. 

The theme for the 2013 Women’s History Month celebration was “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.” This theme recognized the different aspects of women’s achievements, from the classroom to the executive office, and recognize those who have lead by example and paved the path for others in fields not traditionally held by women.

The Sisters of the Holy Family are proud and happy for Donna M.Cahill the Executive Director Holy Family Day Home! Congratulations!

Formerly, the post-Easter festivities involved a week of secular celebration, but this was reduced to one day in the 19th century. Events include egg rolling competitions and, in predominantly Roman Catholic countries, dousing other people with water which traditionally had been blessed with holy water the day before at Easter Sunday Mass and carried home to bless the house and food.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite, Easter Monday is known as Bright Monday or Renewal Monday, and is the second day of Bright Week. The services are exactly the same as on Pascha (Easter Sunday), except that the hymns from the Octoechos are in Tone Two. It is customary to have a Crucession (procession headed by a cross) either after Paschal Matins or after the Paschal Divine Liturgy. It is customarily a day for visiting family and friends. Easter Monday is also the day when the feast day of St. George is celebrated, in years when St George’s Day (April 23) falls during Holy Week or on Easter Sunday. (From: Wikipedia, license: CCA-SA)

With fire and water, word and Eucharist, we celebrate the Lord’s victory over death.

Why is Easter, rather than Christmas, the highlight of the Church’s year?

1) Genesis 1:1 – 2:2 or Genesis 1:1, 26-31

Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12-14, 24, 35 or Psalm 33:4-7, 12-13, 20-22

2) Genesis 22:1-18 or Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18

Psalm 16:5, 8-11

3) Exodus 14:15 –15:1

(Ps) Exodus 15:1-6, 17-18

4) Isaiah 54:5-14

Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13

5) Isaiah 55:1-11

(Ps) Isaiah 12:2-6

6) Baruch 3:9-15, 32 – 4:4

Psalm 19:8-11

7) Ezekiel 36:16-28

Psalm 42:3, 5; Psalm 43:3-4 (Read when baptism is celebrated)

(Ps) Isaiah 12:2-6 or Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19 (Read when baptism is not celebrated)

8) Epistle: Romans 6:3-11

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

9) Gospel: Luke 24:1-12

“Creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God.”

On this day of keeping vigil, for what do you hope and dream and long?

The Easter Triduum are three days that precede Easter Sunday. Starting with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday, continuing through the Good Friday service, and concluding with the start of the Easter Vigil on the evening of Holy Saturday, the Easter Triduum marks the most significant events of Holy Week (also known as Passiontide).

Jesus made for us, and helps us to understand and admire the life he lived. This period shows us how Jesus loved every human being no matter where they came from or who they were.

So what exactly is Good Friday?

Good Friday commemorates the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross and it is believed to be the day Jesus Christ was crucified.  Which begs the question why do we call such a day Good? Christians call this day Good Friday because it is believed to be the day Jesus sacrificed himself for all mankind’s sins. Ever thankful, Christians admire and worship Jesus for this and set time aside on Good Friday to appreciate Jesus for what he did for us all. It is believed that Jesus was sacrificed in the year 33 AD but some sources claim 34 AD.

If you would like to learn more about Good Friday 2013, please see the Good Friday Wiki or perhaps check out a book on the subject.