Spotlight on Social Outreach
School Supply Drive | That Time Already? | Donate up to August 3
Say it ain’t so… school supplies already? Yes, it’s that time again. We will again be hosting a school supply drive this July so that ALL children will have the tools they need for learning. We will be supporting Annunciation Catholic School, NW Denver Community Hub and Catholic Charities. Flyers in the back of church list all the specific NEW items being requested by these communities or use this link: https://tinyurl.com/SchoolSupplyList25.
Too hot to shop? Try our Amazon gift list and have items mailed directly to Holy Family. https://tinyurl.com/AmazonSchoolSupplies25
Pads 4 Dignity Outreach is Back! | Let’s Support Women in Need
We will continue to collect feminine hygiene pads in the back of church for the next month. If you have the time, it is helpful to package pads, 18 in a zip-lock bag as this is the way they are distributed and the amount most women need in a month. If you have questions or want to volunteer to help package pads in July16 @ 10am in the Parish Hall, please contact Ann Zimmer in the office. Thank you for your continued generosity.
We are Called as Catholics to Stand in Solidarity for the Poor and Most Vulnerable
Today there are many who are most vulnerable in our world. At the forefront are our immigrant brothers and sisters. We are called to support and respect the dignity of all life, including these neighbors. “What is happening in our world right now is overwhelming, but Catholics need to stay informed about the legal challenges. Understanding the problems and the laws will help provide hope for relief for the most vulnerable. We are all protagonists in this story, and each of us is called to active love of immigrants.” Dr Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu
Being informed is important. If you’d like a copy of the ten truths that we’ve covered, feel free to reach out to Ann Zimmer.
2 Truths About Immigration:
The present administration is targeting all undocumented immigrants for deportation.11 Previous Administrations prioritized deporting individuals deemed high priority: threats to national security or public safety or recent illegal entrants. This Administration is targeting all undocumented individuals, including those established in our communities for decades or longer without criminal offenses.
Immigrants are law-abiding members of our communities.12 Both documented and undocumented immigrants are less likely than native-born US citizens to be incarcerated in prisons, convicted of crimes, or arrested. (Source: Alex Nowrasteh of the Cato Institute) A Northwestern University study analyzing 150 years of US Census data shows that immigrants have never been incarcerated at a higher rate than U.S.-born individuals. The gap has widened since 1960, and immigrants today are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born citizens. 88% of drug trafficking is conducted by US citizens. Out of those arrested by the Border Patrol for illegal crossings, only 0.02% were found with any fentanyl.13
11 https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/biden-deportation-record
12 https://www.cato.org/blog/why-do-illegal-immigrants-have-low-crime-rate-twelve-possible-explanations
13 https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2024/03/immigrants-are-significantly-less-likely-to-commit-crimes-than-the-us-born/
A second informative resource is the article “Pope Francis’ Wisdom for Our Current Migrant Crisis” written by Dr. Cecilia González-Andrieu from Loyola Marymount University. There are copies in the back of church or you can access it here: https://tinyurl.com/PopeFrancisWisdom
Pope Leo XIV continues the work of Leo XIII | Catholic Social Teaching
By taking the name Leo, our new Pope seems to want to continue the tradition of developing Catholic social teaching in a way that breaks new ground on important global matters.
So, what is Catholic Social Teaching? We are continuing to focus on Catholic Social Teaching themes. These are central to our faith and are based on — and inseparable from — our understanding of human life and dignity. These teachings are derived from: the Gospels and the words of Christ; papal statements and encyclicals; and Catholic bishops’ statements and pastoral letters. Catholic social teaching calls us all to work for the common good, help build a just society, uphold the dignity of human life and lift up our poor and vulnerable brothers and sisters.
This week’s theme is: Solidarity
We are one human family. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Our love for all of our brothers and sisters calls us to seek a peaceful and just society where goods are distributed fairly, opportunity is promoted equally and the dignity of all is respected. Source: Minnesota Catholic Conference. This information has been adapted from: “Catholic Teaching and Principles,” U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
For Your Reflection:
- Does the way I spend my time reflect a genuine concern for others?
- Is solidarity incorporated into my prayer and spirituality? Do I lift up vulnerable people throughout the world in my prayer, or is it reserved for only my personal concerns?
Am I attentive only to my local neighbors or also those across the globe? - Do I see all members of the human family as my brothers and sisters? S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 2010
