Love Has No Borders | Valentines for those held in detention | Due Feb 8

For over a decade Colorado has crafted Valentines for people held in the for-profit immigrant detention center, GEO.  This year, with your help, we will once again gather handmade valentines and deliver them to people who could use extra love right now. 
We think of card making as a meditation and a tangible expression of our values. Make something beautiful for someone separated from loved ones, separated by borders and distance or by walls and bars.  We assert that our Love knows No borders, No walls. This year there are about 1,500 people held at GEO so we are called to take the time to put care into each and every Valentine.

Possible messages: You are not forgotten| No estas olvidado, We are thinking of you |Siempre pensamos en ti, Love know no borders | El amor no reconoce fronteras,  Love knows no walls |El amor no reconoce muros,We are praying for you | Oramos por ti, Happy Valentine’s Day | Feliz Día de San Valentín, Remember that you are loved |Recuerda que eres amado.   There are flyers in the back of church with more information.

Valentines can be dropped off in the back of church by Sunday, Feb 8.

Vigil at the For-Profit GEO Detention Center | Love Knows No Borders 

Wednesday, Feb 11

Join us Wednesday, February 11th at 6:00 pm at 3130 Oakland in Aurora for an in-person vigil with the theme- Love Knows No Borders, No Walls!

Detention and deportation, tear families apart and harm all of our communities. Join the immigrant-led efforts to advocate for fair and humane immigration policies that welcome and respect the dignity of all people.

For the 17th year in a row, AFSC will deliver handmade valentines to detention center detainees. We assert that our Love knows No Borders, No Walls.
This event is brought to you by the Center for Service Learning at Regis University and the American Friends Service Committee.Bring a friend!

Carpool is available from Holy Family that evening, contact Ann if interested.

A Celebration of Cultures | Epiphany Dinner Gratitude

I want to thank you for participating in and parting in the wonderful feast of cultures that we experienced on Saturday evening. What an amazing assortment of delicious dishes…. Runzas, Rosca de Reyes, Hamburger Soup, Polish deli meats and sausages, Enchiladas, Chicken and pork adobo…. So many wonderful tastes, so little room for them all. What a crowd as we numbered well over 90 participants.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made this gathering possible; set up, dishwashers, clean up, intake helpers….. it took a village and the village showed up. I was especially impressed with the clean up, as folks just pitched in and made light work of it all. A special thanks to Alanna Kimmel who served as co-chair on this outreach.

The most amazing part of the evening was the connections that were made and new friendships that were built. Hopefully you’ll reconnect with these folks at Mass and don’t be afraid of asking, “what was your name again?”. It’s all good.

Grateful to this community, let’s keep journeying together!

Wonderful Gathering at “Making Life Unbearable “ Panel Discussion

Thank you to all who attended our viewing of the panel discussion from Georgetown University on the impact of detention and deportation on our Latino community.  If you would like to view this discussion, contact Ann for the link.

Here to Serve | Tuesday, Feb. 3 | Regis University Food Pantry

Today, there are more neighbors in need than ever, of our support. Looking for a way to serve? Volunteer to help at the Regis University Mobile Food Pantry. This is a wonderful experience to connect to those in need, and get to know other Holy Family parishioners as we have an active volunteer team who serves monthly. The next opportunity to help will be Tuesday, Feb 3 from 8-11am. Contact Ann if you’d like to carpool. We’ll be outside so dress for the weather. To sign up and obtain more information: https://tinyurl.com/RegisFoodPantry

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Every year since 2010, January has been dedicated to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime. Human trafficking violates the sanctity, dignity, and fundamental rights of the human person which is which is in stark contrast to our Catholic Social Teaching.

Training and education are key in stopping human trafficking. Since 2005, the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT) has been a leader in the movement to end human trafficking in Colorado.

Your involvement can drive progress in anti-trafficking training, community-based research, strengthening Colorado’s 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline, and developing future human rights leaders. Check out the LCHT website and learn how you can be more informed and active in stopping human trafficking. https://combathumantrafficking.org/

Here are a few facts to get you started:

Who experiences it?

Human trafficking is a crime against a person, not a border. It can impact individuals from a range of diverse backgrounds and identities, including:

• Those at risk of or experiencing homelessness
• Individuals struggling with substance dependency
• LGBTQIA+ community members
• Sex Workers
• Minors not residing with legal guardians
• Undocumented individuals
• Asylees and refugees

Where does it happen?

Human trafficking occurs across Colorado, in both urban and rural areas. It can take place in a variety of settings and sectors, including:

• Food service and hospitality
• Construction
• Farming and agriculture
• The commercial sex industry
• Temporary foreign worker visa programs
• Debt bondage scenarios with recruiters or smugglers
• Involuntary servitude or forced marriage arrangements
• Exploitative labor operations involving children

24/7 Hotline:   Call 866.455.5075   Text 720.999.9724