At this critical time when there is so much misunderstanding about Muslims in America and throughout the world, CTK Sowers are pleased to present an educational program  designed to help us understand the Muslim world and to answer the many questions that we may have.  Please join us in the auditorium after 9:30 Mass next Sunday, October 10. 

 Ahmad Fahmy of the Islamic Resource Group will meet with us to present a program which includes both video and oral elements. — and there’ll be plenty of time for questions. The Islamic Resource Group is a nonprofit educational organization which is dedicated to ongoing interfaith dialogue and provides speakers like Mr. Fahmy to faith-based organizations like ours to foster understanding and respect through education.

Mark Your Calendar for Next Sunday, October 10th and join the CTK Sowers and other parishioners in the auditorium for a stimulating and informative program and discussion.

Prejudice and misunderstanding are not unique to the Muslim world

 Remember — It was not that long ago that Catholics were 

on the receiving end of the same kinds of prejudice and persecution

• Back in the mid-19th century Catholics were not welcome in the United States.
• Employers wouldn’t hire Catholics.
• Many groups pressed for rulings to exclude Catholics from immigrating to the U.S.

 Let us not forget!

The Minnesota Bishops Have Called Us To Pray Especially for Our Legislators as They Consider Some Difficult Decisions

At the urging of our Catholic bishops, through sponsorship of the Minnesota Catholic Conference,  April 18th  is declared a day of prayer in support of our legislators in St. Paul. We need to give thoughtful consideration to the difficult days ahead for our legislators as they make decisions that will impact the poor, the vulnerable, and all who live on the margins of society.

Here’s an easy way to pray today (and every day!).    As you go about your daily routines — preparing dinner, cleaning the basement, whatever — offer it up as a prayer: “Dear God, I offer up (whatever) as a prayer in support of our state legislators as they address the difficult challenges that face them. Help them to make the right decisions.”

Our state leaders are dealing with a projected state budget deficit of $944 million just for the current year. We are citizens and have a stake in the outcomes even though we are not legislators. We need to understand what’s at stake in the key proposed bills, and we need also to hold our elected representatives accountable for shaping public policy in ways that protect the poor and  vulnerable while building a just society.

 We’re asked also, as responsible citizens, to take some action:

• Communicate with your legislators about your thoughts and concerns.
• Check The Herald regularly for opportunities to participate in legislative discussions.
• Check out these websites for more information: www.mncc.org and www.osjspm.org.

Join with other faith communities and residents of Southwest Minneapolis in a dialog intended to strengthen personal and civic capacity to understand race, talk about it, and advance racial justice. The three sessions will cover, in order: Race, Racism, Prejudice; White Privilege; and Racial Justice. The sessions (attend all three) will be facilitated by James Trice, Grassroots Public Policy Institute, with Co-facilitator Dionne Trice.

DETAILS

 1. The sessions will be held in the CTK Social Hall on the following Sundays: April 11th, 18th, and 25th from 3:00 to 6:00pm.

2. Cost is $95 for all three sessions . Call or email Adele Della Torre for registration information and for information about a limited number of scholarships very  generously provided by CTK — 612-920-9717 or adeledds@gmail.com.

3. Register by March 31st. Participation is limited to 30. Teens are welcome.             See  detailed information at http://www.1cityfuture.wordpress.com.

Training is provided for all activities — but most of all the volunteer skills needed are a generous heart, a lively spirit, and a desire to nurture, motivate, and support these children as they develop skills for school, work and life.

• Patchwork Quilt Kid’s Club (grades 1-6) focuses on strengthening academic skills, reading, computer competency, nurturing relationships, and includes sharing a healthy snack together.  Mon-Fri 2:30 to 6:00pm, 3700 Bryant Ave. No.  Volunteers still needed Tue-Thurs for any time frame to help with reading, computers, snacks — or all of the above.
• Kwanzaa Teen Program (ages 13-19) runs Mon-Fri 4:00-8:00pm at 2100 Emerson Ave. N. Volunteers needed to provide a meal Mon, Tue, or Thurs any time between 4:00 and 7:00pm or to help in the computer lab at the 3700 Bryant location.
• Technology Outreach for teens and adults.  Computer assistance for teens and adults on Saturdays at 3700 Bryant Ave. No.

Sign up NOW to add your support to any one or more of these programs. Visit the    sign-up table outside the Social Hall after Mass on the following Sundays: October 4th, October 11th and October 18th or contact PQ Volunteer Coordinator Diane Beving at 612-270-0923 or dbeving@the patchworkquilt.org

Pledge to “Take Back the Tap

Did you know that —

· Bottled Water Hurts the Environment. After millions of barrels of oil are used to produce and ship plastic water bottles, 90% of them end up in the garbage instead of being recycled.

· Bottled Water is Expensive! At $2.00 for a 20-ounce bottle, bottled water costs thousands of times more than tap water.

· Bottled Water is NOT Safer Than Tap Water. The federal government requires far more rigorous safety testing of municipal drinking water than bottled water.

Break the bottled water habit. Pledge to reduce or eliminate your use of bottled water.

Go to http://www.takebackthetap.org and click on Pledge. You can add your name to the pledge right on that page and it will be forwarded to your representatives in Washington — or you can just take the pledge privately on your own. Here it is:

Water is one of our most vital resources. It should be safe, clean, and affordable for everyone. Tap water is a better choice than the bottled brands, for our health, our environment, and our wallets. Instead of overpriced plastic bottles, we want long-term solutions for our growing water problems. Reinvesting in America’s water systems should be a national priority.

That’s why we are asking you to join the movement to Take Back the Tap.

I pledge to lead the way by choosing tap water over the bottled brands whenever possible. I’m asking you lead the way by supporting legislation for a national public water trust fund with dedicated funding for water infrastructure.

A Town Hall Forum at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Edina on Tuesday evening, June 30th, will answer questions such as: What are the trade-offs between more state budget cuts instead of more state revenue? What does cutting health insurance for the poorest adults in Minnesota mean? Come to this Forum and learn about decisions in the state capitol that will set Minnesota’s direction for years to come. Panelists at the forum will include:

• County Commissioner Jan Callison
• Edina Mayor James Hovland
• Fairview Southdale Hospital administrator
• Religious leaders
• Edina City Councilors

District 41 Representative Keith Downey will be there to give a response.

The Forum will be held from 6:30-8:00pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Edina.

Sign up NOW and register for one of five 90-minute training sessions
from April 29th to May 9th! To register go to the following site:

www.homelessconnectminneapolis.org and click on the “please join us as a volunteer” box.