Faith In Action

Faith In Action May 2011 www.ccwestmi.org Catholic Charities West Michigan 360 Division Ave S - Ste 3A Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Phone: 616.551.4747 Our Mission

In the spirit of our Catholic tradition, we lead our diverse communities with hope and compassion by offering innovative, collaborative programs. Through our team of highly trained employees, dedicated volunteers and generous community, we deliver the highest quality social service. Our Vision

Following in the footsteps of Christ, we are the leaders in empowering people to achieve their God given potential by providing help and creating hope.

Inside this issue: Southern Sudan becomes the World’s Newest Country U.S. Bishops Join with Other Christian Leaders Around Programs for Poor Responding to Tornadoes and Spring Storms Take Action Resources & Upcoming Events

Catholic Charities West Michigan Parish Social Ministry Connection “Best Practices” June Event You are invited to join us for the Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM) June Parish Social Ministry “Best Practices” presentation and luncheon. Sandy Hines, Pastoral Associate for Pastoral Care at St. Pius X Parish, will provide a “Best Practices” presentation based on the

outreach program at St. Pius X. Following Sandy’s presentation, we will have a Q & A session and also include an opportunity for those participants who would like to share information about the social ministry initiatives in their parishes. The luncheon presentation will be held Tuesday, June 28, 2011 from 12:00 noon until 2:00

p.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost. To make your reservation for this educational and networking opportunity or for more information, please contact Jean Katt, CCWM Parish Relations & Social Ministry Coordinator at (616).551.5663 or [email protected].

Wait No More: Finding Families for Waiting Kids CCWM is partnering with Focus on the Family to promote the adoption of the more than 4,600 children and youth who are currently in the Michigan foster care system.

ment officials, adoption agencies, and church leaders to highlight the urgent need for adoptive parents. This campaign is a historically unprecedented approach to growing adoption awareness.

The campaign in Michigan will culminate with an informational event for potential adoptive parents at Resurrection Life Church in Focus on the Family is conducting Grandville on Saturday, May 21, a national campaign, Wait No More: 2011, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Lunch Finding Families for Waiting Kids, is provided at no cost. and is collaborating with govern-

Participants will hear about children who are waiting, the process of adoption from foster care and ways to support adoptive families. In addition, agency and county representatives will be on site to answer questions and help get the process started. Please contact Jean Katt, CCWM Parish Relations & Social Ministry Coordinator at (616) 551.5663 or [email protected] to make reservations or learn more about this opportunity.

Scaled-Back Earned Income Tax Credit Included in Tax Bill Rewrite On April 29, 2011, MCC Lansing Update reported that the Michigan House of Representatives passed legislation that essentially rewrites the tax code for the State of Michigan and, in doing so, heavily scales back but preserves the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Under the legislation, House Bill 4361, the current state EITC allows a filer to claim a state credit equal to twenty percent of their federal EITC will now allow those

with children who qualify for the federal EITC to claim a $25 per child state tax credit. Amendments were offered to the legislation in the House Tax Policy Committee this week that would have fully restored the state EITC or 10 percent of the federal credit. Both amendments were defeated on a party line vote.

with children will come at an expense to the state of approximately $25 million. Coupled with an increased Homestead Tax Credit for those earning less than $30,000 per year, House Bill 4361 includes approximately $105 million in tax breaks for the poor, which the Conference has deemed a “step in the right direction.”

Michigan Catholic Conference has made preserving the state EITC its top legislative priority due to its ability to move low-income workers and their children out of poverty. The scaled-back EITC that can now only be claimed by those

Michigan Catholic Conference will continue to advocate for the preservation and increase of the state Earned Income Tax Credit as the legislation now moves over to the State Senate.

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Southern Sudan to Become the World‟s Newest Country Thanks to prayer, advocacy and peace building efforts and a people’s determination, southern Sudan will become the world’s newest nation after a referendum that, against many predictions was orderly, peaceful and uncontested.

provision of a 2005 internationally recognized Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which ended more than 40 years of civil war that cost more than two million lives and produced the world’s largest population of displaced peoples.

state – particularly the religious and ethnic communities historically marginalized in the north.

CRS and USCCB call upon the United States to take an active role in ensuring that the ongoing development of these two nations receives the resources that There is still a lot of work to be done to sustainable peace requires. The United ensure the transition process remains States government must actively pressure Out of nearly 4 million votes cast peaceful. The creation of a new and the north and south to resolve postworldwide, 98.8 percent voted for independent state in early July leaves little referendum disputes, consult with and secession. There were no reports of time to resolve the issues of border respect the will of the people in violence associated with the demarcation and citizenship, of providing transitional areas, and stop the ongoing announcement, and no appeals were filed. adequate opportunity and resources for conflict in Darfur and neighboring The results of the referendum are those wishing to migrate between north countries. scheduled to become official on July 9, and south, and of ensuring the protection 2011. The referendum was a key and rights of minorities remaining in each Click here for more information.

U.S. Bishops Join with Other Christian Leaders to Call for „Circle of Protection‟ Around Programs for Poor People A diverse coalition of Christian leaders, including Catholic bishops, the National Association of Evangelicals, Bread for the World, Salvation Army, Christian Churches Together in the USA, National Council of Churches and other Evangelical and mainline Protestants, has called for a priority for the poor in the current budget process through a common statement, “A Circle of

Protection”. “As Christian leaders, we are committed to fiscal responsibility and shared sacrifice,” said the statement. “We are also committed to resist budget cuts that undermine the lives, dignity, and rights of poor and vulnerable people. Therefore, we join with others to form a Circle of Protection around programs that meet the essential needs of hungry and poor people at home and abroad.”

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, New York, and Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, signed the statement, as did Ken Hackett, president of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA. Bishop Hubbard and Bishop Blaire chair the U.S. bishops’ committees on International Justice and Peace and Domestic Justice and Human Development, respectively. Click here for more information.

Diocese of Grand Rapids and Catholic Charities West Michigan assist Catholic Charities USA in Responding to Tornadoes and Severe Storms In the aftermath of the tornadoes and Spring storms that have hit numerous parts of the U.S. over the past two weeks, the Diocese of Grand Rapids and CCWM are assisting Catholic Charities USA, USCCB and other Catholic Charities agencies in providing immediate relief to individuals and families devastated by the natural disasters. "Quite tragically, the severity of this

Spring tornado and storm season has taken lives and created destruction in unheard of proportions," said Rev. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA. "Our prayers go out to all of the families and individuals impacted. In the aftermath we need your help and support." Funds from the Tornado Recovery Collection will be used to support the efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities USA, the national office for

local Catholic Charities agencies and affiliates nationwide, as they respond to immediate emergency needs for such necessities as water, food, shelter and medical care. The collection will also help with the long term need to rebuild after widespread destruction, and to the pastoral and reconstruction needs of the Church in the areas affected by the tornados. For more information about this relief effort, please click here ..

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Take Action USCCB and Interfaith Worker Justice Collaborating to Minister to the Unemployed Media reports of the recent decline in the unemployment rate mask the reality faced by millions of Americans and their families.

for work. In sum, 16% of the country is unemployed or underemployed.

ops of the United States believe that we have an obligation to minister to the spiritual and social needs of the unemployed as well as support them in their search for economic security.

For every five unemployed people, there is one job opening. A disproportionate number of the jobs created have been in lowand middle-wage jobs. The average length of For more information on the Campaign, to unemployment is nine months. The longer a join, and to download the toolkit, visit: Faith person is out of work, the less likely he or Advocates for Jobs. she is to be hired eventually. In addition to the 13.7 Visit the Michigan Catholic Confermillion unemployed workers, 8.3 million are Unemployment, and the insecurity that ence underemployed (involuntarily working part- comes with it, has devastating effects on web site for 2011 time) and 2.7 million have given up looking emotional and physical health, marriages, -12 Legislative families, and whole communities. The bishSession Advocacy Priorities

Resources & Upcoming Events CCWM Parish Liaisons Needed CCWM is looking for a parishioner who would be interested in being the “connector” between CCWM and their parish. The Parish Liaison would share information between CCWM and the parish, ensuring the appropriate persons are notified of events and activities to promote support of one another.

available for purchase after June 1, are just $5.00 each and children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at CCWM offices in Muskegon (1095 Third Street) or Grand Rapids (40 Jefferson SE). Tickets will also be available at Fifth Third Ballpark prior to the game.

Group Workcamp, please contact Scott Lillie, CCWM Outreach Director, at [email protected] or (616) 551-5661

New Programming for Casa de la Paz In January 2011, CCWM’s Foster Care program began facilitating child/parent visitations and foster parent education Gates open at 5:45 p.m., opening sessions at Casa Family Support Center. ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. and the To find out more about the rewards and First Pitch is thrown at 7:00pm. For event The center is a residential home owned responsibilities of this volunteer position, information and updates, visit by CCWM and located in a northeast please contact Jean Katt, CCWM Parish Grand Rapids neighborhood,. The home www.ccwestmi.org. Relations & Social Ministry Coordinator, formerly served as a CCWM transitional at (616).551.5663 or [email protected]. CCWM Hosts Group Workcamp housing shelter. Staff and parents are very excited and pleased with the transition to CCWM is Catholic Charities USA PSM a more home-like atmosphere for family partnering Webinar visits which are a critical part of the family with Group Please click here to register for the June 9 Workcamp, strengthening process. at 3:00 p.m. webinar hosted by Cami an ecumenical service program, and Foster Parents honored on Mother’s Mann, St. Stephens Parish High School & Group Workcamp’s Foundation to host Grand Rapids’ Group Workcamp 2011 to Day Young Adult Ministries Coordinator, CCWM supported the benefit low income, elderly, and disabled who will lead the It’s Time: Do you know Grand Rapids Rotary Club homeowners in the Greater Grand where your kids are? webinar. We in honoring foster care Rapids area. appreciate Cami offering her expertise! mothers and their families at a special Mother’s Day Group Workcamp and CCWM will put Let’s Go to Bat for Kids! Dinner on Sunday, May 8, CCWM will be at Fifth Third Ballpark on faith into action right here in the Grand Rapids community July 10-16, 2011, when 2011. The event was hosted by Temple Thursday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m. as area Emanuel and Siegel Jewelers. This priests, our very own "Padres", battle the over 450 high school student volunteers opportunity offered CCWM one more will arrive ready to serve those most in "Giants" (local media personalities) in a way of recognizing and saying thank you need in our community. Students will lighthearted softball game to all of the foster care parents who provide light home repairs to an benefitting CCWM's child abuse provide a safe, loving and nurturing home anticipated 80 homes, which were prevention and recovery programs. for children in foster care . selected through an application and Free children's games and activities will be volunteer review process. available on the concourse. Tickets, For more information about CCWM’s