Good News from the Missions Office - Summer 2011

Included in this issue: “An Appeal for Peace” prayer; sample listing of current resources and upcoming events; “Mission Breakthroughs - new insight or a better understanding of Jesus’ mission; a “good-bye” from one of us in the office; Rice Bowl grants update; an anniversary moment of papal quotes on Catholic social doctrine; resources on the expected July official declaration of independence of southern Sudan; a new volunteer program through Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Request: if you are part of a staff or team planning to offer a JustFaith Ministries program in the coming year (or you might want to consider it but have some questions!), please contact us so that we can plan and budget accordingly (and offer assistance from this office and from the local JustFaith leadership team!).

We work to include updated and other items of interest on our website. E.g. this just-arrived item from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
“First Fridays for Food Security”:

On Friday, July 1 (the first Friday in July) Catholics are invited to “fast” by limiting meal spending to the amount allotted for a family of their size in the USDA Modified Thrifty Food Plan, which is used as the basis for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly called food stamps). Participants can visit the Facebook event page to leave comments about their experiences and access information and reflections on food insecurity in the U.S. A handout for use on July 1 can be found at http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/july-1-sac...t-of-jesus.pdf. “First Fridays for Food Security” will continue on every first Friday through April 6, 2012. (We think that each month the USCCB will place a new handout at the bottom of this web page: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/forparishes.shtml.)
Let us know if you have any requests or suggestions!