Category: Catechesis

Catholic Relief Services is on the forefront of using new media to evangelize and mobilize Catholics to live out the corporal works of mercy. Each month CRS conducts a free webcast to highlight a different aspect of its mission to “alleviate suffering and provide assistance to people in need…without regard to race, religion or nationality.” This month’s webcast takes place at 2 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, April 14, and is intended to help participants understand the Church’s approach to extracting natural resources.

According to the registration page, the webcast will provide the following:

• An on-the-ground view from a CRS staff person working with people affected by the extraction of natural resources;
• An overview of CRS’ response and support for the people who live there;
• USCCB and CRS’ policy recommendations for how U.S. policymakers can make a difference on these issues based on Catholic social teaching and our experience;
• Ideas on how Catholics in the U.S., through the Catholics Confront Global Poverty initiative, can support greater transparency; in natural resources extraction in the developing world;
• An opportunity to ask the presenters questions about these issues and engage them in dialogue.

I attended the February webcast and found it so informative and interesting that I’ve already registered for this month’s presentation.  Since it takes place in the middle of the day, I plan on projecting the conference live for my eighth grade Religion class so we can observe it together and discuss it afterward.

The webcast is part of the Catholics Confront Global Poverty initiative, a joint effort of Catholic Relief Services and the USCCB.  The following video explains the effort:

It’s an important endeavor, and one that our Catholic youth need to be a part of. Attending the webcast is easy: simply register for free, then follow the directions you receive via email.  I hope to see you there.

If your faculty has a book group, or if you teach high school, you might want to check out the free Catholic study guide (4.8mb pdf) for Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond. Not On Our Watch was written to help people take action against genocide, and the 47-page study guide provides a Catholic context for the material it contains.

The study guide moves chapter by chapter through the book and contains relevant scripture passages, papal statements, prayers, reflection questions, and web resources to help readers fully understand and apply the book’s message within the framework of Catholic social teaching.

For instance, Chapter Two of the study guide includes this prayer written by Jane Deren:

Lift the confusion from my eyes, Lord of sight and insight,
And enable me to see clearly how your children are suffering,
But also to see how your grace is working in the world.
Open the path before me, so I can recognize
The dignity of your people being crushed in Darfur;
Their suffering is terrible to gaze upon.
But your servants keep watch and call out for justice.
Help me comprehend what is happening in our global community
And help me begin to see the part I can play in solidarity.
I am here, Lord, give me vision, give me hope.

The study guide is divided into nine chapters, and could be covered in nine weeks or nine months of a school year. The end of the guide features six specific action steps that can be taken:

1. Learn more about Darfur.
2. Get involved and act.
3. Teach others.
4. Tell Congress to act.
5. Support Catholic Relief Services.
6. Pray for all parties involved.

Having just finished the Rwandan memoir Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza, I want to learn more myself about how to respond to the tragedy of genocide. This looks like an excellent next step for me. Perhaps someone is interested in starting an online book club for Catholic teachers using this book as a beginning.

Tip of the hat to the CNS Blog.