Social Ministry - Outreach

Office Hours Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (206) 242-4575, ext 29
Frances Davis | email:

From the desk of Frances Davis:


Quote of the Week: Who said it? Answer next week:
“”Thanks to Christ’s action, we may enter into the “greatest” justice, which is that of love, the justice that recognizes itself in every case more a debtor than a creditor, because it has received more than could ever have been expected. Strengthened by this very experience, the Christian is moved to contribute to creating just societies, where all receive what is necessary to live according to the
dignity proper to the human person and where justice is enlivened by love.”


Last Week’s Answer: “I had crossed the line. I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land.” Harriet Tubman - The Moses of her people. 1820–1913
Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who led many other slaves to freedom as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Although not a traditional railroad, the Underground Railroad was a critical system of transporting slaves through a secret network of safe houses. Between 1850-1858, Tubman helped more than 300 slaves reach freedom. Harriet Tubman was also an abolitionist, Civil War soldier, and women’s rights advocate. During the Civil War she was a spy for the Federal forces in South Carolina as well as a cook and a nurse.


Third Week of Lent – The Burning Bush and the Call of Moses: Today we hear the call of Moses to lead his people from oppression to freedom. God promises to be with them as they journey to a new life. Our participation in Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl unites us in prayer, fasting, and giving in solidarity with the millions of people throughout the world who are oppressed by poverty, injustice, war, disease, lack of education and other opportunities.


Operation Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services’ Lenten program. You are invited to take a Rice
Bowl kit with home calendar guide from the back of the church, and practice this simple yet powerful Lenten observance. Another way to incorporate Rice Bowl into your family life is by attending the Lenten Soup Suppers each Friday in Unity Place at 5:30, through March 26. BRING YOUR OWN BOWL AND SPOON TO THE SOUP SUPPERS. This saves the clean-up crew from having to wash dishes. The Soup Suppers are followed by Stations of the Cross in the church. Rice Bowl Donations are due by
April 4.


Ministry Opportunity for young adults: Bread for the World is looking for the best and brightest 20-30-yearold advocates to join our next class of Hunger Justice Leaders. Selected participants will attend an advocacy training workshop—all expenses paid—in Washington, DC, June 12-15, 2010. The leaders will then coordinate hunger advocacy efforts in their communities for the next 12 to 18 months. Deadline for application is March 12. Go to www.bread.org for information and a registration form.


Dr. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, daughter of Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, will speak on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Baker Community Club, 2811 Mt. Rainier Dr. South in Seattle, 6:00 p,m, Social Hour and 7:00 p.m. Dinner. You can find more information and buy tickets to “What Will Their Stories Be?” at www.menteefoundation.org or call (425) 242- 0890


Catholic Relief Services has committed $25 million to the emergency response and rebuilding of Haiti. Visit www.crs.org for prayers, resources and the latest information about the Haiti Earthquake. To give call 877-435-7277 or mail donations to Attn: Haiti Earthquake, 710 9th Ave.,
Seattle, WA 98104.


Rice Bowl The theme this year is “Solidarity Will Save the World.” What does Solidarity mean? We are invited to Pray together for our brothers and sisters throughout the world. During Lent we are invited to Fast with those who are hungry by serving simple meals and Give the money saved to Rice bowl. We are invited to Learn about the challenges and joys of our brothers and sisters around the world. You are invited to incorporate Rice Bowl into your family life by attending the Lenten Soup Suppers each Friday in Unity Place at 5:30 lasting through March 26. The Soup Suppers are followed by Stations of the Cross in the church. You are invited to take home a Rice Bowl kit from the back of the church, and practice this simple yet powerful Lenten observance.


Lenten Friday Meals at 5:30 followed by Stations of the Cross
Donations at these meals go to Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl so please give generously:
March 5 – Soup Supper hosted by Sister Parish committee
March 12 – Soup Supper hosted by the Pastoral Council & Funeral Ministry
March 19 – Soup Supper hosted by the 8:00 a.m. Choir
March 26 – Soup Supper hosted by the 50+Plus Friends


Save the date: Sat., March 6, 2010 for HH annual Spring Fundraising event. Inspirational author/ speaker.


Pregnant? Need someone to lean on? There are options other than abortion. Unsure what your
plan is? Planning on making an adoption plan? Planning on parenting? Call Catholic Community Services Pregnancy Support Services, (206) 328-5922. We can help. Free. Confidential. Non-judgmental. Available to both parents of the baby, family members and others affected by the
pregnancy.


Building Families through Adoption is a service of Catholic Community Services . If you are considering adoption or if you know of a family who is, there are brochures on the table just outside the Parish Office. For additional information on our Adoption Programs or other services, please call or write Catholic Community Services, 100 – 23rd Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98144-2302.
Phone (206) 328-5921. We welcome the opportunity to cooperate with physicians, clergy, attorneys and agencies for adoption planning.


Hospitality House, the Burien shelter for homeless women, has a need for the following.
• TOILET PAPER
• HAND SANITIZER (preferably the large economy size bottle that can be used to refill the smaller bottles)
• PAPER TOWELS
• DEODORANT
• DISPOSABLE CLEANING GLOVES (one-time use gloves)

(Please do not bring donations to the parish office)
Donations should be taken directly to Hospitality House Women’s Shelter (located in the basement
of Lake Burien Presbyterian Church), 15003 14th Ave SW, Burien, WA 98166 (206) 242-1860.

Note: On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the shelter is closed during the day but opens at 6:30. Suggestion: Mail a cash donation or SCRIP that can be purchased at the school.


If you’d like to work for justice on housing and homelessness issues, here is the site for Catholic Community Services - http://www.ccsww.org/site/ PageServer?pagename=faithadvocacy




ECONOMIC SUPPORT BULLETIN BOARD: If you have items to give away, crops to share,
handyman jobs needed, or are looking for employment, please see the bulletin board at the
bottom of the interior Unity Place Staircase. Also, please refer to the bi-monthly “yellow pages” in the Parish bulletin.


There are brochures for Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center Youth & Family Services in the outer lobby of the parish office. Services include Counseling, Drug/Alcohol Counseling for Teens, Diversion Services for youth referred by juvenile court, Parent Child Interaction Therapy. Groups: Aggression Replacement Training; Dialectical Behavioral Therapy; Seven Challenges Group for youth 13-18; Parent Survival Drop-in Group.
Location: 137 SW 154th St., Burien; web site: www.rdcc.org; phone: 206-243- 5544, ext. 311.


Buy Free Trade Coffee from St. Francis School. Order forms can be found here.


Choose Life. To give birth to a child is to save the world. You never know what that child
will contribute to the peace and healing of the world.


National Council of Catholic Women individual memberships are available, $25.00 per year includes 6 issues of “Catholic Women” magazine. www.NCCW.org


Mass cards to send sympathy, congratulations or prayer to your friends and support our parish are available in the parish office.


PLEASE CONSIDER THIS URGENT NEED
Catholic Community Services is seeking married couples and single adults willing to open their hearts and homes to foster children. Our children range in age from 0-17 and come from varying ethnicities. We need homes where a child can remain as long as needed, whether for two weeks,
two years, or perhaps even longer. There simply are not enough homes to meet the needs of the children coming into care. We need your help. Choose today to make a difference. Contact Jesse Mattina at Catholic Community Services at 206-328-5914 or JesseM@ccsww.org.


Widowed Information and Consultation Services is a nonsectarian program, not affiliated with any other organization, that offers support to men and women who are coping with the death of their spouse/partner. When a widowed person telephones or visits a WICS office, he or she can be sure to find other widowed people who will listen and understand. WICS publishes a great newsletter and they have support group meetings in our area, as well as weekly Sunday breakfasts and Wednesday get-togethers. Call WICS for more information (206) 241-5650.

Spiritual Healing After Aboriton
Project Rachel is a program of the Catholic Church which offers healing to anyone suffering
emotional and spiritual pain resulting from a past abortion.
For more information or to register call Valerie at1 800 822 HOPE (4673)
Project Rachel is a program of Catholic Community Services. You need not be Catholic to
participate.

A New Free Prescription Drug Discount Card is now available to any Washington resident regardless of age or income. This free card allows you to save up to 60% on generic drugs and 20% on brand name drugs at hundreds of participating pharmacies around the state. You can enroll on-line at www.rx.wa.gov or by calling 1-800-913-4146.

State Resources for medical care services: If you’re having a difficult time affording health coverage for you and your family, you might qualify for help. Contact the Department of Social and Health Services for information on medical services available. Visit http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/basicneeds/#med or call 1-800-737-0617.

Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s SHIBA helpline: Whether you need help finding an affordable insurance plan or prescription drug medicines, have questions about your current provider or want information about preventing insurance fraud and abuse, you can contact the SHIBA Helpline. Visit www.insurance.wa.gov/consumers/SHIBA_HelpLine or call 1-800-562-5900.

Those 65 and older who make less than $35,000 a year can receive a reduction of property taxes by contacting the King County Department of Assessments, 206-296-5202. They will mail you the forms. You can go back three years. This could also result in a significant refund as well as a reduction in future taxes.

Caregiver Support
Family Caregiver Support Groups provide a consistent and caring place for caregivers to learn, share, and gain emotional support from others who are also on a unique journey of providing care to a person with dementia.
Meetings are free and open to all care partners, family members and friends of individuals with dementia.
The groups are led by trained volunteers who receive ongoing technical support and training from the Chapter office. We meet the third Thursday of each month from Noon to 1:30PM at the Boulevard Park Presbyterian Church, 1822 S. 128th St., Boulevard Park. make the first call, contact Lois E., 206-244-1338.


The JustFaith program going on now in our parish is as much about spirituality as it is about social mission. The life of faith is a matter of how we see the world that God has made, how we see ourselves in this world and how we respond.

What is JustFaith? The name is derived from Justice and Faith. It is a journey with a small group for 30 weeks. But what is the JustFaith experience? Suppose you are at work or at home mowing the lawn or doing the laundry and Jesus walks up to you and says, “Put down what you are doing and come and follow me.” JustFaith may be as close to that experience as you will find. JustFaith is an experience, not a class. JustFaith is compassion, revelation, the witness of the Gospel in the lives of others, and taking a look at the world as God sees it. JustFaith examines systems that perpetuate
injustice, just as systems at the time of Jesus’ birth upset a system of justice that had been working for the children of Israel.


Building Families through Adoption is a service of Catholic Community Services. If you are
considering adoption or if you know of a family who is, there are brochures on the table just outside the Parish Office.