Benedictine College Reminds Students “Slavery Still Exists;” Educates on Human Trafficking Issue

In a partnership with the Kansas Association for Family & Community Education (FCE), Benedictine College brought a diverse panel of attorneys, experts, and those who have personally experienced sex trafficking to campus on October 10 to educate the campus community on the issues surrounding human trafficking. The title of the event was “Human Trafficking: Slavery Still Exists” and the evening included a discussion on the history of human trafficking as well as education on how it is present in the local area. Located in Atchison, KS Benedictine College is very close to the large metropolitan area of Kansas City, which like many other urban areas has been identified as a major center of trafficking.

The panel aimed to raise awareness of the overall issue as well as education on the warning signs of victimization and possible ways to help combat human trafficking. This panel offered participants a way to learn more about a crisis that impacts people globally as well as in their own cities. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers additional resources for learning more about this issue through their Anti-Trafficking Program.  Benedictine’s panel is a great step in helping people become informed, which the USCCB identifies as an important way to help fight human trafficking.

Another way to join the fight is by becoming an ethical consumer. To find out how your actions contribute to or reduce the demand for human trafficking, visit www.slaveryfootprint.org and www.knowthechain.org. To continue learning about human trafficking and how the Church is called to respond visit the USCCB Anti-Trafficking Program website, here.

Justice for Immigrants: Faces of Migration

Justice for Immigrants, a campaign by the USCCB and other national Catholic networks in support of immigration reform, is sharing a new story on “Faces of Migration” each week.  “Faces of Migration” features refugees who have had an impact on their community.

Read their stories on the JFI website, and check back weekly for new updates.

 

Lenten Resources for Peace and Justice

As Ash Wednesday approaches, consider using some of these resources related to peace and justice for reflection during the season of Lent.

• The Catholic Mobilizing Network has information, prayers, and reflections on the issue of the death penalty for Lent.
• Catholic Relief Services also provides Lenten resources specifically for use on college campuses in addition to their annual CRS Rice Bowl campaign.
• The USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development shared a reflection on Lenten fasting, Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2017, and many more resources on their website.
• The Ignatian Solidarity Network is hosting a blog series called “Rise Up: A Lenten Call to Solidarity” that seeks to understand one another’s stories and to rise up to respond by creating a more just and peaceful world.  Sign up on their website to receive daily updates during Lent.

 

CSMG Advocacy Training and Issues Briefing Webinars

The USCCB Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development recently hosted two webinars on advocacy and legislative issues. The Catholic Social Ministry Gathering is not occurring this year because of another one-time national convening, but the CSMG community is encouraged to participate in district visits to legislators to advocate for just social policies during the Congressional recess.

The first webinar is Advocacy 101. This webinar focuses on training new advocates (or refreshing seasoned veterans) on the fundamentals of visiting legislators. The webinar covers the basics on setting up meetings, what to know before you go, best practices during your visit, how to handle problems that may arise, and what to do after the meeting.

The second webinar is a Legislative Advocacy Issues Briefing. This webinar goes over informational advocacy materials and the importance of each of the issues that the district visits are focused on.  For more information on these webinars, visit the CSMG website.

Register for the Advocacy Issues Briefing Webinar

Register now for the 2017 Legislative Advocacy Issues Briefing webinar on February 7, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. ET hosted by the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG).  The free briefing will prepare your students to take our issues of concern to our Senators and Representatives in their home district offices with other members of state delegations during the Congressional recess week of February 20-24, 2017.

Join 2017’s CSMG virtual community in ongoing efforts to raise our collective voices to defend and empower the most vulnerable. This webinar will feature advocacy experts from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and its collaborating organizations. They will reveal step-by-step strategies for advocating with your Senators and House Representatives in a clear, consistent voice on issues important to the Catholic community.

Following the webinar, you will receive additional information on coordination of legislative in-district visits.

Please fill out the registration form by Wednesday, February 1, to ensure your spot. Click here to learn more about visiting your Congressional representatives.

Catholic Social Teaching on Campus Webinar Now Available

Last month, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and the USCCB Dept. of Justice, Peace and Human Development co-sponsored a YouTube live event on how college and university communities learn about and respond to the Church’s social mission.  The webinar is the fourth video in the We are Salt and Light series and is available to watch online.

The 30-minute video features Kathleen Smythe, on how Xavier University in Ohio engages sustainability students to assist a local cooperative coffee shop, Tom Southard, on Cabrini University’s community-based learning about refugees and climate change, and Fr. Etido Jerome, on Xavier University of Louisiana’s work on global solidarity.

Watch the video of the live event here!  Looking for more online CST videos?  You can also watch past live events on Pray Together, Reach Out Together, and Racial Justice.

Save the Date: 2018 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering

Mark your calendars: The 2018 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering is February 3-6 in Washington, DC.

In recent years, almost 40 colleges and universities have joined Catholic leaders from around the country at the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, an annual event sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and 15 other national organizations.

The Young Leaders Initiative seeks to invite college students to participate in the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2018 in order to:

• Meet national Catholic social ministry and advocacy leaders
• Build knowledge of current Catholic social ministry priorities and initiatives.
• Develop advocacy skills to empower students to call for positive change.
• Voice concerns with legislators on issues of human life and dignity in the U.S. and internationally.
• Grow in faith, studies, and future work through Catholic social ministry and advocacy.

You can indicate your interest in the Young Leaders Initiative at CSMG 2018 by completing the Young Leaders Initiative Interest Form or get more info here.

YouTube Live Event: Catholic Social Teaching on Campus

Join us for the fourth live event in the WeAreSaltAndLight.org series on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at noon EST. The 30-minute event, which is co-sponsored by the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, will focus on how college and university communities learn about and respond to the Church’s social mission.

The event will feature Kathleen Smythe, on how Xavier University in Ohio engages sustainability students to assist a local cooperative coffee shop, Tom Southard from Cabrini University on community-based learning about refugees and climate change, and Fr. Etido Jerome from Xavier University of Louisiana on global solidarity.

Participate here!  You can also view past live events on Pray Together, Reach Out Together, and Racial Justice.

Resources for Faithful Citizenship

Election season can be challenging, but it is also a great opportunity to help Catholics reflect on the call to form our consciences and engage in political life. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship is the U.S. Catholic bishops’ reflection on the call to participate.

Other resources are also available, such as Part 1 and Part 2 summaries of the statement, a teaching video, discussion questions, faith sharing sessions, ideas for campus ministers, and simple handouts on conscience formation, civil dialogue, and contacting your elected officials. The website also has other materials to assist in holding candidate forums and conducting voter registration drives.

In addition, the WeAreSaltAndLight.org website provides ideas for year-round, ongoing efforts to put faith in action on campus through efforts to pray, reach out, learn and act together.

Thank you for your efforts to form consciences for faithful citizenship!

Day of Prayer for Peace

In light of recent incidents of racial violence and tension, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has called for a Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities on September 9, 2016, the feast day of St. Peter Claver.  Catholics across the country are encourage to join together in prayer, reflection, and discernment of action steps to promote peace and racial justice.  USCCB president Archbishop Joseph Kurtz has also announced that the USCCB will form a special task force in order to promote peace and heal racial tensions, led by Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta.

Many resources for the Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities are available on the USCCB racism page,  including a video, bishops’ statements, prayer and liturgy resources, teaching materials, articles and more. The WeAreSaltAndLight.org diversity and racial justice page also includes additional resources.  Additionally, campuses are invited to participate in a WeAreSaltAndLight.org Google Hangout on racial justice on September 14 at 2 p.m. ET, or to watch the event on YouTube.