A Prayer for Global Solidarity
O Creator, Our world is large, and yet the global community is so fragile. We glimpse the needs of our sisters and brothers, and those needs are great. We want to turn away, but you call us back. We want simple solutions, but you want us to help solve the complex problems. Through your Church, you call us to listen, to learn, to reflect and to act. Give us a deep sense of our place in this web of Creation. Give us the wisdom of mind and generosity of heart to seek your will in the world today. Inspire us to respond to the call to live in solidarity with impoverished countries of the world, so that all children of God might live in dignity and peace.
Amen

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We are motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ to cherish, preserve and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life, foster charity and justice, and embody Catholic social and moral teaching as we act to:        
 
PROMOTE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT           
by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies; and,  
 
SERVE CATHOLICS IN THE UNITED STATES as they live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world.    
 
As part of the universal mission of the Catholic Church, we work with local, national and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organizations, to assist people on the basis of need, not creed, race or nationality.
Approved by the Catholic Relief Services Board of Directors on September 11, 2008.
We put our faith into action to help the world’s poorest create lasting change.    
 
Faith: Faith is our foundation. We have faith in the people we serve and our shared ability to build a more just and peaceful world.
Action: The desire to serve is not enough. We must act collaboratively to bring about real improvements in peoples’ quality of life and genuine engagement in building peace and justice.
Results: Demonstrated through measureable outcomes, our actions must be effective in alleviating human suffering, removing root causes and empowering people to achieve their full potential.   
 

Ensuring Conditions for Vulnerable Children to Survive and Thrive is Critical to Our World’s Future. Toward that end, Congress has introduced The Global Child Thrive Act (H.R. 4864 and S. 2715), with bipartisan support. A 2016 article in The Lancet entitled “Early childhood development: the foundation of sustainable development”, estimates 250,000,000 children in low- and middle-income countries suffer suboptimal development due to poverty and stunting alone; and children who do not meet developmental milestones are expected to lose about 25% of their average yearly income as adults. The Global Child Thrive Act, if passed by Congress and signed into law, would integrate Early Childhood Development into development and emergency humanitarian programs serving vulnerable children and their families, helping them recover from the COVID-19 virus and building their resilience to future emergencies and trauma. The bill does not call for additional funding, just a small modification of current foreign aid programs that serve young children to ensure greatest impact. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3iIoLOS.
Learn more at: https://www.crs.org/get-involved/lead-way/hunger.

Care for the Immigrant & Refugee – Wonder what you can do to show concern for immigrants and refugees? Our St. Benedict’s Immigrant Refugee Focus Group (IRFG) is also concerned about immigrants and refugees in our country and throughout the world. We study and discuss the Church’s positions on immigration. And, we pray about this important and timely issue, too. Please, join our prayer and our conversation!
Most recently, three of our parishioners met with Congressman Larry Bucshon to discuss the immigration crisis in our country. Our IRFG meets next Monday, September 16 at 1:30 pm in the parish center. Please, join us! No time for meetings? Not free during the daytime? No worries! We still need you and your input! Contact Rita to find out how you can get involved. Contact Rita, rita@stbenedictth.org or call the parish office, 812.232.8421, ext. 112.