Social Ministry - Outreach

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

From the desk of Frances Davis:

Down on the farm. Recent trips to areas just north and south, east and west of us brought to mind how close we live in proximity to rural areas. Some of us at St. Francis live in rural or semi-rural areas. What goes on in rural life needs to concern us all, because that is where our food source begins, as well as the care of the land that sustains us. As summer ends and the cooler days of the harvest season draw near, many parishes and dioceses celebrate rural life. For more information about our Stewardship of Creation visit the website of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference www.ncrlc.com “The earth is the Lord’s and all that it holds.” Psalm 24:1 On this website you can learn more about Catholic Rural Ethic, the Ethics of Eating and Spiritual resources.

Thinking about Creating a Rural Life Group? Visit the NCRLC website to get this notion rolling. You will be interested in their section about becoming a Green Ribbon church. You will find information about becoming a faith-based activist regarding the politics of food and ways to contact your representatives, both state and federal, about critical issues.

Do you usually “pass” when you hear about a walk-a-thon or settle for making pledge for someone else who is participating? I just heard about a walk-a-thon with something for everyone; individuals, families, youth, seniors and parish groups. I’m so intrigued, I’m going to bring my walker and do my very first walk-a-thon The St. Vincent de Paul “Friends of the Poor Walk” will take place at the
Kennedy High School track on Saturday, September 25 from 9am - noon. Hey folks, all you have to do is walk (or mosey) around the track as many or as few times as you like. You can bring strollers, walkers, and wheel chairs, or don your running/walking shoes and enjoy fun, music and friends. The oldest person signed up so far, Mr. Kobiashi. is in his 90’s. WE CAN DO THIS! You can walk a mile or more - or a mile or less (in my case, much, much less) - while raising money for St. Vincent de Paul to help prevent evictions, hunger, utility shut-offs and more. You can be a donor or a walker, or a donor and a walker or a donor with a walker. As an added bonus, sportscaster Tony Ventrella will be joining us in making a difference. Registration forms are in the parish office and were in the 8/29 bulletin.

I enjoy interfaith dialogue with a close Muslim friend. Ramadan, the Islamic period of fasting and the most sacred season of the year for the Islamic religion, began August 11th and will end September 10th or 11th with great celebration. Like our Easter, Ramadan does not occur at the same time every year. Ramadan occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar year. The beginning and end is somewhat unpredictable. It depends on the sighting of the moon, and can vary from area to area. It is likely this year that the end of Ramadan will be celebrated in some areas on September 11th. Muslim celebrations of the end of Ramadan on September 11th is bound to be mis-understood by many around the world and especially in the United States. Be well informed and realize that the significance of the celebration has nothing to do with the tragedy of 9/11.

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

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.

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.