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Take a Stand for Peace in Sudan!

What would YOU do if you could help prevent violence in Sudan?
On January 9, 2011, 5 years of relative peace could quickly dissolve into chaos in Sudan. That is the date when southern Sudanese will vote whether to remain united with the north, or to become independent. The date for the referendum was agreed upon as part of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which brought the last civil war in Sudan to a close.

• YOU can pray with our brothers and sisters in Sudan for peace
  Prayer for Peace in Sudan:
  Lord Jesus, you said to us;
  "I leave you peace. My peace I give to you."
  Look upon us your sisters and brothers in Sudan
  as we face this moment of referendum.
  Send us your Spirit to guide us.
  Give us the wisdom we need to choose our future where we will know your true peace.
  You call us out of slavery, oppression, and persecution
  So that we may have life in abundance.
  Grant us peace with one another. Give peace among ethnic groups.
  Help us to work together for the good of all.
  We ask this in your name, Jesus our Lord.
  Amen.
  Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.
  

*Official campaign prayer approved by the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference on July 22, 2010

• Order this prayer as a Prayer Card that can be shared with friends, family and your faith community. Minimum order is one pack, which is equivalent to 50 cards. Also available is a DVD on Sudan: What Would You Do? All resources are free and can be ordered online or by calling CRS Fulfillment at 1-800-222-0025.
  
• Wear your support for peace in Sudan! Order your fair trade t-shirt now.
  
• Speak Up for Peace and for the People of Sudan! Thank President Obama for his support of a peaceful and stable Sudan. Urge him to continue to press for peace.
  

Advent and Christmas

Direct your hearts and minds to the anniversary of the Lord's birth on Christmas with resources from USCCB and CRS:

• Prepare for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace (IS. 9:6), and call to mind the places in our world where peace is not yet a reality with this Catholics Confront Global Poverty resource.
• Visit the USCCB Advent and Christmas website for lessons, carols, prayers and other resources.
• Give a gift that gives twice through the CRS Fair Trade Work of Human Hands catalog. Shop online today or call 1-800-685-7572 to place an individual order. Don't forget that any time of year is the right time to buy fair trade products—Valentine's Day, Easter, First Communion, Mother's Day, and Graduation. Consider having a 2011 consignment sale to help members of your community prepare for special seasons through economic justice! By purchasing a fair trade product, you give a beautiful, unique or tasty gift to someone you love, while supporting small-scale farmers and artisans all over the world. Check out your options at http://crsfairtrade.org.

Approaching Advent

What is your deepest hope this coming Advent? (Keeping in mind George Iles' description: "" Hope is faith holding its hand out in the dark.")

Will You Have a Green Christmas?

From the latest US Catholic...

World Day of Prayer for Peace Resource

From USCCB

New Labor celebrates 10th Anniversary

Join Us At New Labor’s 10th Anniversary Gala

Published: 7 November 2010Posted in: Community, FeaturedTags:

We cordially invite you to New Labor’s Anniversary Gala Fundraiser as we celebrate 10 years of fighting for immigrant rights and social justice in New Jersey. Come share our anniversary with a special night of traditional food, drink and dance.
Saturday, December 11, 6:00 PM
Rutgers University Labor Education Center
50 Labor Center Way, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
We will be honoring:
Ray Pocino (Vice President and Regional Manager, LIUNA Eastern Region)
The Cunninghams (Family of founder Rich Cunningham)
Father Joseph Kerrigan (Sacred Heart Church New Brunswick)
Ellen Whitt (Middlesex County Coalition for Immigrant Rights)
Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations
Tickets, Journal Advertisements, and Sponsorship:
There are various ways you can help New Labor have a successful Anniversary Gala. Sponsorship packets are available at various levels.  Tickets can be purchased individually or in blocks of 10 for a table.
Gala Ticket Price: $75 per person  ($100 per person includes sponsorship of a New Labor member)
Journal Advertisement:
$800  inside cover, back cover, or centerfold
$300   Full page
$150   Half page
$100   Quarter page
$50 Business Card
Sponsorship levels:
$2,500 Chavez
$1,000 Govea
$500 Cunningham
$100-500 Poder Supporter
For purchases and more information please call or send an e-mail to Louis Kimmel at lkimmel@newlabor.org, (732) 762-7687.
To download the official invitation click here.
Les invitamos cordialmente a la celebración del aniversario de New Labor, cuando celebraremos 10 años en la lucha por los derechos de inmigrantes y la justicia social en New Jersey. Compartan con nosotros una noche especial de comida tradicional, bebidas, y baile.
Sábado, 11 de Diciembre, 6:00pm
Rutgers University Labor Education Center
50 Labor Center Way, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Honoremos a:
Ray Pocino (Vice Presidente de la Región Este de LIUNA)
Los Cunninghams (La Familia de Fondador Rich Cunningham)
Padre Joseph Kerrigan (Iglesia Sagrado Corazón, New Brunswick)
Ellen Whitt (Coalición de Derechos Humanos de Inmigrantes, Condado de Middlesex)
Rutgers Escuela de Administración y Relaciones Laborales
Boletos y Patrocinio:
Boletos cuesta $75 cada uno ($100 si quiere patrocinar a un miembro de New Labor)
Niveles de Patrocinio:
$2,500 Chavez
$1,000 Govea
$500   Cunningham
$100-500 Poder Solidario
También se puede comprar anuncios en la programa del evento.
Para Boletos, Patrocinio, y Anuncios, por favor contactar a Luis Kimmel — lkimmel@newlabor.org, (732) 762-7687

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New York Times -- Immigration Hardball

Nov 15 lead editorial

More on DREAM Act and JFI

Dear JFI Friends and Supporters,

As we look to December and contemplate the birth of Jesus, we remind ourselves that migration is a key theme in the gospel and that baby Jesus himself was a refugee who fled with the Holy Family from Herod into Egypt. People on the move including immigrants and refugees are special in the eyes of God, while our children are often the most vulnerable among us.

Meanwhile, thousands of students and youth that were brought to the U.S. as children (and even infants) can now be detained in federal immigrant detention centers and deported to a country they have never known; simply because they have no legal means to adjust their status in the U.S.

The good news is that a movement is growing for a vote on the DREAM Act. Passage of the DREAM Act would give students that have grown up and graduated high school in the US an opportunity to serve our country and earn a pathway to citizenship through higher education or military service.

In keeping with our Catholic Social Teachings, we are encouraging our dioceses to lift up the theme of immigration and support the DREAM Act for our youth who are ready to serve our country and give back to this great nation. Time is of the essence because the vote would take place during the so-called lame duck session, between now and the second week of December, and we expect a vote on DREAM as early as the week of November 29th.

There are 4 ways we are hoping you can help us promote the DREAM Act in the next 3 weeks:


1.      Encourage parishes to include a 1 page insert regarding the DREAM Act in their bulletins and encourage pastors to make pulpit announcements in support of DREAM (we will be sending 1 page bulletin inserts and pulpit announcements out very soon).

2.      Go to www.justiceforimmigrants.org and send out the electronic letter in support of the DREAM Act to your members of Congress. Please do this often and encourage friends, family and neighbors to do the same.

 3.     Set up lobby visits in support of the DREAM Act with your members of Congress during the Thanksgiving recess between November 22 - 26th.


4.     Organize a candlelight vigil, press event or public meeting in support of the DREAM Act the week of December 1st, 2010. (We will be sending out sample fliers, media advisories, and agendas very soon as well)


Please contact Jaci Braga at jbraga@usccb.org or Tony Cube at tcube@usccb.org if you are interested in taking part in one or all of the above suggestions and if you would like support in planning & organizing events and activities.