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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Closing Prayers

List of Closing Prayers that might be useful for various social justice gatherings.

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Developing “Public Narratives” to engage others

At Bellarmine Chapel (Cincinnati), JustFaith “graduates” have prepared and shared “Public Narratives” (short talks, PNs can become e.g,. pulpit announcements and “graced history” reflections). Public Narratives are developed by leader-organizers to engage others (see introductory video (0:12:13, link) by Marshall Ganz and attached PN development workshop handouts from the Episcopal Diocese of California).

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Visit a Home with Parish Conf. of St. Vincent de Paul (Retreat pre-homework)

This is part of an assignment for a Dec. 2018 Retreat of parish JustFaith “graduates” in Christian Life Communities. This formation experience is part of our efforts to build a “Culture of Encounter,” so much encouraged by Pope Francis. See online article on a Culture of Encounter (URL below).

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View Resource (Homework)

 

 

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]

Ignatian Network Approach to Collaborative Framework

Presentation from Chris Kerr at the Jesuit Parish Justice Summit including: overview of Jesuit parishes in the US; ISN and Jesuit Conference of Canada and the US approach to immigration, racial justice, and environmental justice; and ways parishes can engage with ISN.

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Meeting Agenda Template

This is the template we use for all meetings – this sample is for the Healthy Earth Team but it could be used for any meeting or group.

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“Reconciliation in an Age of Rage” | Brian Christopher, S.J.

Brian Christopher, S.J.’s opening keynote on “Reconciliation in an Age of Rage” at the Jesuit Parish Justice Summit.

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Movie Screening Flyer Template

We use this template for all movies, just switching out the image and content.

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