April 2020
The Justice office reports for the month of April that the:
Justice Office and the CSJ Justice Commission were pleased to support St. Kate’s Feast of St. Joseph Service and Advocacy Activities at St. Catherine University on March 10th. We, together with our community partners, engaged students, staff, faculty, and community members in a range of great hands-on service projects and advocacy efforts.
Anti-Human Trafficking advocacy efforts: Throughout the Lenten Season, the Congregational Leadership and the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking are collaborating with a postcard campaign to the Sysco Corporation urge them to ensure that their supply chain is free of forced labor and human trafficking. Tragically, tens of thousands of people are exploited in the seafood harvesting and production chain. For more information, go to www.usccb.org/stopslavery or stop by the CSJ Justice Office to sign a postcard today.
Confronting Whiteness and Racism (formerly the Dismantling Racism) Working Group members have been attending the Becoming Human: Lenten Series at the Basilica on Tuesday evenings throughout Lent. The group continues to work with the LAP Working Group on advocating with our Minnesota State elected officials to end slavery by amending our state constitution to plainly and only read “There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the state.”
Criminal Justice Working Group members have also been advocating with the LAP Working Group with efforts to Restore the Vote in Minnesota for people formerly incarcerated and to End the Debt Trap by allowing MN judges the ability to determine if fines and fees for traffic violations should be waived in situations of extreme financial difficulties. The group was also extremely enthusiastic with the CSJ and broader community support for restorative justice efforts and support of our community partners at the Sr. Helen Prejean events at the end of February. Our thanks to everyone that participated in these events and signed an advocacy postcard.
Earth Partners Working Group are hosting a week full of Earth Day Activities in collaboration with St. Catherine University the week of April 20-25th. Look for calendars of all the activities going on throughout Earth Week along with a special prayer and service day activities on Saturday morning April 25th from 9 AM to noon at Celeste Dream’s Community Garden.
Immigration Working Group members invite members of the CSJ community members to join us for the second Tuesday of November (12th) prayer vigils at 7:30 AM at the Whipple Federal Building.
Legislative Advocacy Partners Working Group reminds us all that there are many ways to get involved in supporting advocacy for justice and systemic change this legislative session. Check out the CSJ Justice Website for advocacy action items. Also consider joining members of the
Justice Commission for the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC)’s April 1 Advocacy Day on the Hill at the Minnesota State Capitol.
LGBTQ Connections Task Group members attended a special RECLAIM fundraising breakfast on Feb. 29th. The CSJ Community was noted in the RECLAIM event materials as one of their long- standing supporters since their founding 10 years ago.
Native American Awareness Working Group invites everyone to a special collaborative event on April 18th at 7 PM with the Church of Gichitwaa Kateri, the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning, and the University of St. Thomas for a presentation by Black Elk scholar Damian Costello, Ph.D. The event will be hosted at the Carondelet Center. More information at https://www.stthomas.edu/jpc/programs/publicevents/dcostello.html
Ritual Task Group reminds the community that the April Peace Prayer will celebrate Earth Day. The prayer service has been MOVED from April 11th (Holy Saturday/Easter Triduum) to Saturday morning of April 25th at the CSJ Celeste Dream Garden. Watch for signs with more information about our April Peace Prayer in conjunction with CSJ Earth Day festivities.