HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS
Presented by the Illinois State Police
Monday, November 13
Day Chapel – St Jude Church
241 W Second Ave., New Lenox
7-8pm
The U.S. Catholic Church has been actively engaged in combating human trafficking, recognizing it as a grave violation of human dignity and a modern-day form of slavery. AWARENESS IS THE KEY!
A registration link can be found at the St. Jude parish website @ stjudes.org/register-for-events or call 708-743-8141.
St. Jude Peace and Social Justice: Restless Hearts, Videos - Part 1, 2, and 3
Read More2022 Intermediate General Chapter - We Augustinians commit ourselves to work for a world of justice that seeks peace for all. We follow our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace and realize the need for conversion in ourselves and the world to build the society that by His grace we are capable of achieving.
Read MoreThis day is a campaign to spotlight religious persecution worldwide. All people of all faiths should be able to practice their beliefs without fear. We call for the end of persecution!
Read MorePara alentar la participación de los agustinos en proyectos relacionados con la justicia y la paz, especialmente en las parroquias y escuelas agustinas, el Capítulo provincial ordinario del 2018 incluyó una disposición para el apoyo financiero de tales proyectos en el Programa Provincial (n.º 135). Un total de $7,500 serán asignados en apoyo de tales proyectos.
Lea los detalles de la subvención
Proyectos anteriores financiados por subvenciones provinciales:
2020
Centro Agustiniano Canadiense: $1,500 CAD
Parroquia de St. Jude: Cuidando de toda la creación: $825 USD
Parroquia Santa Rita: Abriendo puertas a la ciudadanía: $1,800 USD
2019
Programa de educación igualitaria para niñas y niños (Pacaipampa, Perú): $2,000 USD
Solicitudes del centro agustiniano canadiense para la justicia social: $1,125 USD
2018
La Universidad Católica de Trujillo, “Combatiendo los pecados sociales. Desarrollando estrategias”: $1,693 USD
Parroquia de Asunción, Pacaipampa, “Resolución pacífica de conflictos”: $1,741 USD
Diócesis de Chulucanas, “Educación electoral para el ejercicio responsable de nuestra ciudadanía”: $2,900 USD
To encourage Augustinian involvement in projects concerned with justice and peace, especially in Augustinian parishes and schools, the Ordinary Province Chapter of 2018 included a provision for financial support of such projects in Province Program (No.135). A total of $7,500 can be allocated in support of such projects.
2020
Canadian Augustinian Centre: $1,500 CAD
St. Jude Parish: Caring for All of Creation: $825 USD
St. Rita Parish: Opening Doors for Citizenship: $1,800 USD
2019
Equal education for girls and boys program (Pacaipampa, Peru): $2,000 USD
Canadian Augustinian Center for Social Justice requests: $1,125 USD
2018
Catholic University of Trujillo, “Combating Social Sins. Developing Strategies”: $1,693 USD
Assumption Parish, Pacaipampa, “Peaceful Conflict Resolution”: $1,741 USD
Diocese of Chulucanas, “Electoral Education for Responsible Exercise of Our Citizenship”: $2,900 USD
Canadian Augustinian Centre for Social Justice, “Social Justice Issues- Collaboration”: $1,166 USD
2017
School for the Family (Most Holy Cross School, Chulucanas): $1,500 USD
Families Reconciled, The World Renewed (San Isidro Parish, Morropón): $2,000 USD
Social Justice Day (St. Jude Parish, New Lenox): $625 USD
Social Justice Issues-Collaboration (Canadian Augustinian Centre for Social Justice): $1500 USD
2016
Canadian Augustinian Centre for Social Justice’s “Migrants - their Challenge, Our Response of Mercy”: $1500 CAD
Fr. Tony Pizzo Names Midwest Province Team Members of OSA Commission for the Synod 2021-2023
Read MoreSummary Report on “Opening Doors to Citizenship” Project at St. Rita of Cascia Parish, Chicago
“Opening Doors to Citizenship,” one of St. Rita of Cascia Parish’s ministries for immigrants, received from the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel a Program 135 grant of $1800 for fiscal year 2020-2021.
These funds provided stipends to the volunteer teachers who helped eligible immigrants prepare for their comprehensive Citizenship Exams. The Exams test the candidates’ proficiency in speaking, reading and writing English, and their knowledge of U. S. history and government.
Classes met for two hours twice a week throughout the year. The COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary to switch from in-person to on-line classes. Thirty-five participants have passed the Citizenship Exam, and another 12 are scheduled to take the Exam in the near future. Assuming that they will pass, “Opening Doors to
Citizenship” will have resulted in 47 people becoming proud naturalized citizens of the United States of America during the 2020-2021 year.
Laudato Si’ in action: St. Jude’s Catholic Community in New Lenox recently put in a community garden. All of the food grown there will be shared with local food pantries.
Head of St. Jude’s Peace and Social Justice Ministry, Lorrie Tracy, says, “Thanks to funding from the Midwest Augustinian Justice and Peace Commission, we will be able to serve the underserved in our area by distributing fresh produce to local food pantries, and combat climate change by rebuilding the soil to capture carbon. The best part will be getting parishioners involved as the harvest comes in. The radishes are peeking out of the ground and God has sent the rain! Looking forward to a plentiful garden this summer.”
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – January 18, 2021
A Message to our Augustinian Family and Friends,
Today we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his civil rights legacy. Fifty-five years ago, on Chicago’s Southside in Marquette Park not far from St. Rita Parish and High School, King marched with a small crowd of people addressing unjust housing conditions. Approximately five years ago, about 100 parishioners from St. Rita Parish marched with over 1000 people representing the racial and religious demographics of the City of Chicago. That event emulated that historic March back in 1966. On the spot where King was struck in the head with a rock by a white counter-protester now stands the MLK Living Memorial. That violent act against King that took place in Marquette Park is a revolting reminder of how racially fractured we were back then. On January 6th, the riotous storm against the Capitol reveals that our Nation is STILL in need of healing our ruptured social relationships.
It is discouraging to see violence connected with peaceful protests that speak of the desire for change, inclusion, truth, and unity. We are facing a major change in government this week. A new administration will be sworn in with the hope of healing division in all its forms, especially racial disharmony, that has been characterized by the tensions caused by public discourse and action.
We grieve over the racial discord that has been fed by nationalist ideologies that fail to recognize the dignity of each person as well as to treat each person as our neighbor. Dr. King envisioned a society that would accommodate every person, regardless of his or her race, gender, religious affiliation, orientation or any difference that contributes to the person’s uniqueness. We continue to strive toward that society that he called the “Beloved Community.”
The mission of the Gospel, as Jesus demonstrates, is to heal broken hearts and lives, to be inviting and welcoming. I invite all members of our Augustinian Family and all those associated with us to pray for a peaceful and respectful future together. Do not allow complacency to dictate your choices and decisions but rather allow the Spirit of Christ to move you beyond your limitations so that you may see the Face of God in one another.
The Midwest Augustinians are a part of the Catholic Order of St. Augustine, known as the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel. Our community life shapes our service in schools, parishes and missions. Our ministries span from the Midwestern United States to parts of Canada and northern Peru.
Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel of the Augustinian Order.
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