A blessing of 2021 is the initiation of a new administration in Washington, a time for new visions, for hope. No administration is perfect, but each can build toward meeting all citizens’ needs, based on justice.
God’s vision is broad and grand, bigger than political policies, deeper than churches’ liturgies, more pervasive than all the hydrogen in the universe. According to Alexia Salvatierra & Peter Heltzel in Faith-Rooted Organizing (2014), God’s vision is the flourishing of all creation simultaneously, in harmony.
May we nourish within our hearts the wisdom to advocate for justice with urgency, based always on a vision of connectedness, respecting and collaborating with all of God’s creatures in seeking a fully flourishing earthly community.
Mary Krolikowski
Visit us at www.catholicsforpeaceandjustice.org and the Catholics for Peace and Justice Facebook page
Visit Collars on the Corner on Facebook
Looking for more social justice resources?
Visit the Social Justice Resource Center
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EVENTS | EDUCATION
Recurring Events
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GENERAL
 Pope Francis Quote
Faith is . . . a light coming from the future and opening before us vast horizons which guide us beyond our isolated selves towards the breadth of communion. (Lumen Fidei #4)
Pope Francis, 2013
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CPJ Survey Summary
The results are in! Thank you to everyone who participated in our Catholics for Peace & Justice Engagement Survey. We asked which issues you were most concerned about and which you devoted your time to. Of the 19 possible selections, the top four responses in each category were: Racism, Domestic Poverty, Immigration, and the Environment. We’ll use this data to bring you relevant and important content in each of these areas.
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Sign- up for Daily Lent and Easter Reflection Texts
Subscribe to receive a short daily reflection text or email from CPJ taken from Pope Francis’ latest encyclical “Fratelli Tuti” – On Fraternity and Social Friendship, curated by Jim Gill. Interspersed will be quotes honoring a variety of religious traditions and their observances at this time of year. To subscribe to receive texts, text the message “@sjle21” to 81010. If you’d prefer to receive quotes as email, sign-up at www.remind.com using the same code. Register as a "parent" as this app is designed primarily for schools, and this option is the easiest for our purposes. Contact . Jim at spiritualjourneys20@gmail.org or 414-708-4626 for more information.
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Contemplative Prayer for Reconciliation and Healing of Racism
Sign up here - www.tinyurl.com/healracism - to receive a monthly prayer guide with the intention of reconciling and healing racism in our city. Monthly gatherings have been postponed due to Covid, but may resume in the fall. Brought to you by:Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Three Holy Women, Our Lady of Divine Providence, Old St. Mary's, Saints Peter and Paul Human Concerns/Social Justice Commissions, Franciscan Peacemakers. For more information, please contact: Shelly Roder, shelly.roder@franciscanpeacemakers.com
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ACTIONS AND ISSUES
Child poverty
Several years ago WISDOM introduced a campaign to eliminate child poverty in Wisconsin. The issue takes on equal or greater urgency today, as a result of the pandemic’s economic effects on family income.
Below are analyses from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, February 23, 2021:
In early 2021, the economy remains weakened from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with strong impacts on children. Particularly alarming is the sharp increase in food hardship apparent among children since before the pandemic.
At least 10 million children have a family member who is unemployed or who lacks paid work because of the pandemic.
Children’s alarming rates of food and housing hardship risk inflicting sustained harm to the well-being and potential of a generation, but a strong package of income support policies can lower this risk and help more children realize their potential.
A focus on improving family income, much like making investments in underfunded schools, holds promise for rebuilding children’s prospects of success, and will be a prudent policy even as the pandemic recedes.
The COVID-19 Relief bill currently proposed to Congress addresses some of the unmet needs of children, particularly boosting economic aid to families, addressing housing instability and re-opening schools. Congress is debating whether the aid contained in the bill is worth the price tag of $1.9 trillion. We can influence the process by communicating with our representatives and our senators about our own priorities for investment of tax dollars during this critical time.
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 The pandemic and climate change as teachers
What I have on my mind right now, what keeps me awake nights, is this question: after a year of pandemic, and after mounting disasters directly related to climate change, what have we learned? Anything lasting? Are we beginning to see more clearly who we humans are in the greater scheme of things? Are we beginning to see more clearly the challenges that lie in front of us? And are we beginning to appreciate, and to accept, what has brought us to the brink, and what it will take for us to step back from it?
Some meditation teachers have begun calling the pandemic our guru. It is just packed with learnings about our planet and ourselves, about the rising costs of our densely populated interconnected world, locked in to a global industrial economy that is undermining the Web of Life which holds all living beings together. It is a teacher, a mirror, a font of wisdom about who we are.
Read the rest of Margaret Swedish's article here.
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 Catholic Coalition for Migrants and Refugees
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EVENTS AND EDUCATION
Onward with Hope: Inspiring Courage to Create the World We Want
Tuesdays in March 2021 Virtual Lecture Series - March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 / Noon - 1:30pm. Series of 5 for $25.00, or $10.00 per individual lecture. Learn more, register online or print registration form here. Flyer.[ back to top]
Public Witness Events: Each event lasts 1 hour, starting with prayer and including 8 minutes 46 seconds of kneeling in honor of George Floyd and all those affected by police violence. These events are organized by an informal group of Catholic lay people, and we warmly welcome all who want to stand up for the sacredness of Black lives.
Thursday March 4 5:30 p.m. Green Bay & Hampton
Saturday March 13 10 a.m. 124 th St. & Capitol Drive
Follow Black Lives are Sacred on their Facebook page Black Lives are Sacred MKE
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Racism in America: A Speaker Series
You are invited to attend one or all of eight presentations on the history and societal impact of race in America. The United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay sponsors this series offered on-line each Thursday from January 28 to March 18 @ 7 pm.
The Zoom link for upcoming presentations is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89109430677
You are encouraged but not required to register for these seminars. You can also register by emailing the United Methodist Church of WFB.
- March 4 – “Fair Housing: Building Inclusive Communities for Everyone” Erika L. Sanders, Director – Program Services, Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council
- March 11 – “Race and the Criminal Justice System” Brady Henderson, Cream City Law, LLC
- March 18 – “Christianity and Race” Rev. Dr. Matt Hadley, Sr. Pastor of United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay, and Rev. Dan Dick, Assistant to the Bishop of the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church
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Gift, Gratitude, and Joy Small Group Lenten Series - Feb 18-Mar 24
Join us for Gift, Gratitude, and Joy: Finding Our Sacred Roots in God’s Creation, a six week Small Group discussion built on Franciscan spirituality and a Christian foundation for Caring for Creation. Through videos, interactive activities, discussions and scripture meditations, you will find not only a prayerful moment in these challenging times, but experience concrete ways you can impact the world. Beginning Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 from 6:30-8:00 through March 24, 2021 virtually over Zoom. This program is free. Presented by the Waukesha County Creation Network and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Register Here
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Siena Retreat Center Events, www.SienaRetreatCenter.org, 5637 Erie St., Racine, WI 53402.
- “Ukrainian Egg Decorating” – Tuesday, February 2 OR Wednesday, March 3, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, via Zoom.
- “Gulf War Illness: Advocating for Veterans” – Tuesday, March 9, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, via Zoom.
- “Well-Being Wednesday” – Wednesday, March 10, 10:45 – 11:45 AM, via Zoom.
- “Creative Wednesday” – Wednesday, March 10, 1:00 – 3:00 PM, offered in person; coronavirus protocols in place, registration is limited.
- “Women for Women” – Saturday, March 13, 9:30 AM – Noon, via Zoom.
- “Pandemic and the Call to Ecological Justice: A Virtual Day of Reflection” – Sunday, March 14, three sessions offered between 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, via Zoom.
- “Lenten Taizé Prayer” – Monday, March 15, 6:30 – 7:00 PM, viz Facebook Live.
- “Diversity and Inclusion in a Rapidly Changing World” – Tuesday, March 23, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, via Zoom.
- “Reflection with Paula D’Arcy” – Wednesday, March 24, 3:00- 4:00 PM, via Zoom.
- “SoulCollage Day” – Saturday, March 27, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, via Zoom.
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Peace Action Wisconsin
- Stand for Peace: Every Saturday, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Learn more here. Updates on Facebook.
Attention! Please wear masks and keep a social distance, due to concerns about the Corona Virus. If necessary, Stands may be cancelled due to the Covid numbers. Please keep checking our website for the current status.
- March 6: 76th/Layton
- March 13: King/Locust
- March 20: Capitol/Humboldt
- March 27: Chavez (16th)/Greenfield
Re-Light the Fire in Our Hearts - Mar 3
CCMR is planning its first meeting for all its members since the pandemic, to “Re-Light the Fire in Our Hearts” to advocate for migrants and refugees in the battle that is looming over comprehensive reform. Come to this “Zoominar” on Wed. March 3 at 1 PM to learn why NOW is the time, HOW we will make ourselves heard, and WHY we need everyone to play a role, no matter how small. Register for the meeting here.
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Racism: Learning, Dialogue, and Healing in the Context of Faith
SAVE THE DATE! Good Shepherd Catholic Church will be having a five session series on Racism during the Easter season - April 13-27, Tuesday evenings, 7-8:30 PM, on zoom. More information will be provided here as it becomes available.
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Madison Action Day - Apr 15
Join us for Madison Action Day: an opportunity for WISDOM leaders from across Wisconsin to come together around the values that drive our work and to share those values and priorities with our legislators as they work to finalize the 2021-23 state budget. Learn more and register here. Flyer.
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PRAY
For the season of Lent…
May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen
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“Faith-rooted organizing offers a new horizon and a broader set of tools to unleash a poor-led movement for justice that is irrigated by the deepest wells of our faith traditions. When we extend ourselves beyond self-interest and treat people with dignity, we are able to dream together and act toward a new world. We are not concerned with merely winning short-term political victories but seek to change the culture of our cities, states, nation and world. We pursue a new social order, the social order Jesus describes in his teaching of the kingdom of God.”
Alexia Salvatierra & Peter Heltzel, Faith-Rooted Organizing (2014), p. 32.
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