Rick Steves’ Program on Immigration

Rick Steves, the well know travel writer and PBS personality, has developed a public television special about hunger, hope and the impact of smart development aid in the Global South. He is introducing the program at Town Hall in Seattle on Sept. 8. The web link includes more information about the program and a short video that will be live after Sept. 8. This program comes from Rick’s passion for “Travel as a Political Act.” The program shares lessons learned while traveling in Guatemala and Ethiopia.

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Current Immigration Program/Activities

St. Joe’s is continuing their immigration effort in 2019 & 2020 with a variety of programs and activities:
* Immigration subcommittee – We created a subcommittee of our Faith Justice Commission to support our immigration programs and activities.
* Casa Latina – We formed a partnership with Casa Latina, a local non-profit that supports low income documented and undocumented hispanic immigrants throughout the City of Seattle. Casa Latina will be presenting a public forum at the parish on Immigrant/Refugee/Asylum stories on 9/12.
* Sister Parish Celebration – This year in October, we celebrate 30-years in relationship with San Bartolme, Arcatao, El Salvador. Padre Miguel, the long time pastor will be joining us and on Oct. 23rd will speak about why people are leaving El Salvador for the US and other destinations. St. Joe’s supports a post secondary scholarship program and a sustainable livelihood program. The sustainable livelihood program provides an alternative to outbound emigration.
* KBI Immersion – St. Joe’s is leading a 10 person delegation to the border from 11/9-14/2019.
* Parish Witness/Action – The parish is planning a non-violent demonstration from our campus to the Federal Building in downtown Seattle. We hope to walk around or surround the Federal Building to call attention to the continued separation of immigrant families and the incarceration of immigrant children. We plan to do this in collaboration with other Catholic parishes and faith communities.

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JustFaith Resources

JustFaith has several new short programs or modules that are especially useful to parish social justice ministries:
* Faith and Racial Equity (Brand New)
* Cultivating Nonviolence, Harvesting Peace
* Exploring Migration: A Faith Journey (Global and National Migration/Immigration
* Hunger for Change (Food Insecurity)
* Just Engagement: The Power to Change (Advocacy)
These are excellent programs running 6-8 weeks that can be facilitated by parishioners. They are best suited for small faith sharing groups of 8-15 people. At St. Joe’s we have done Exploring Migration and plan to offer Faith and Racial Equity this year.

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Ignatian Charism for Dialogue

Points for reflection for those working in Jesuit social justice ministries concerning dialogue.

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The Racial Healing Circles

St. Joe’s offered a five-week Racial Healing Circle utilizing the peacemaking circle process. This was a different way of talking about race and racism that is safe, preemptive and proactive; a way that was aimed at building strong relationships capable of holding the needed healing dialogues around race and racism. Each session was themed to give focus and attention to various aspects for racial healing (e.g., racial identity development, impacts of race and racism, implicit/unconscious racial bias, understanding racial privilege, and racial reconciliation). Racial healing has been described as a way of healing from the cumulative effects of racism —individual and societal— most likely caused by racial mis-education, separation, and disunity.  This series culminated with various groups within the Parish developing action items to continue their work for racial justice throughout the St. Joseph Parish community.  The process was facilitated by Dr. Pamela Taylor, a professor in the School of Education at Seattle University.  For more information contact Dr. Taylor at [email protected]

Pastor Statement: Family Separation at the Border

Pastor Statement from John Whitney, S.J. at St. Joseph’s parish on family separation at the border.

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Racial Justice Book Group

Parish promotes and provides space for a racial justice book group.

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For more information, contact [email protected].

Partnerships

The parish partners with a variety of local social service agencies. These organizations provide volunteer opportunities for our parishioners and needed service in our community. We connect them to the parish through a number of events: Epiphany dinner, Parish Work Day, Space in the Bulletin to promote their activities, Reflections during Mass and our Giving Tree at Christmas.

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