We are involved in the Evanston Parish Community. We facilitate and attend quad parish meetings every quarter. These meetings are an opportunity for gathering ideas and information for joint action. For example, we met to gather signatures to a petition against the moral issue of torture. We have also established a perminant reminder of peace with the peace pole in the parish center. In the future, we hope to have lectures, movies and group meetings regarding ways we can increase awareness of the social injustice.

We publish weekly articles in the Sunday Bulletins and we meet the First Sundays of every month after the 9:30 am Mass. New members are always welcome.

For more information, please contact Teresa Forman, Chairman of St. Mary's Peace and Justice Committee at 847-869-0891 or thomasforman1@comcast.net

 

Dedication of the Peace Pole in 2008

A Prayer for Justice and Peace

God, Spirit of Peace,
you challenge us to new ways of looking at the world
and to new ways of relating to our brothers and sisters.
You ask us to live as signs for justice and peace,
signs of love in our troubled world. This is not a simple challenge.
The old ways of the world are strong and deep.

So, be with us.
Help us to know that it is only through You
that we can make a difference in our lives and the lives of others.
Be with our families as we struggle together for justice.
Be with us as we strive to be not only symbols,
but the heart and hands of Jesus in our neighborhoods and cities.
Spirit of Peace, guide us, guide our nation and the world
to a true and everlasting peace. Amen.

Reprinted with permission from Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

For the first half of this article, please see the June 13 Article below.

Migrant myths (Part 2 of 2)

JustFaith Ministries developed these myths about migrants in partnership with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Service of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Myth #5: Immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy
The immigrant community is not a drain on the U.S. economy, but in fact, proves to be a net benefit. Research reported by the CATO Institute and the President's Council of Economic Advisors reveals that the average immigrant pays a net $80,000 more in taxes than they collect in government services. Furthermore, The American Farm Bureau asserts that without guest workers, the U.S. economy would lose as much as $9 billion a year in agricultural production and 20 percent of current production would go overseas.

Myth #6: Immigrants are a burden on the healthcare system
Federal, state and local governments spend approximately $1.1 billion annually on healthcare costs for undocumented immigrants, aged 18-64, or approximately $11 in taxes for each U.S. household. This compares to $88 billion spent on all health care for non-elderly adults in the U.S. in 2000. Foreign-born individuals tend to use fewer health care services because they are relatively healthier than their native born counterparts. For example, in Los Angeles County, total medical spending on undocumented immigrants was $887 million in 2000 – six percent of all costs, although undocumented immigrants comprise 12 percent of the region's residents.

Did you know?
According to John Allen, Senior Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and author of The Future Church, estimates that, by 2030, 41 percent of the Catholic population in United States will be Hispanic.

Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill my heart, my world, my universe.

- Universal Peace Prayer

Ending Torture: Our nation’s unfinished business

June 26th is United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Several years ago, religious and human rights organizations in the United States declared the month of June to be Torture Awareness Month as a way to provide greater visibility to this issue and provide an opportunity for coordinated actions across the country.

Migrant Myths (Part 1 of 2)

JustFaith Ministries developed these in partnership with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Service of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Myth #1: Immigrants don't want to learn English
The development of English proficiency among non- English speaking immigrants today mirrors that of nineteenth and early twentieth century immigration, when masses of Italian, German, and Eastern European immigrants came to America. While the first generation of non-English speaking immigrants predictably have lower rate of English proficiency than native speakers, 91% of second generation immigrants are fluent or near fluent English speakers and by the third generation, 97% speak English fluently or near fluently.

Myth #2: Immigrants don't pay taxes
Undocumented workers do pay taxes. Between one half and three quarters of undocumented immigrants pay state and federal taxes. They also contribute to Medicare and provide as much as $7 billion a year to the Social Security Fund. Further still, undocumented workers pay sales taxes where applicable and property taxes - directly if they own and indirectly if they rent.

Myth #3: Immigrants increase the crime rate
Recent research has shown that immigrant communities do not increase the crime rate and that immigrants commit fewer crimes that native born Americans. While the undocumented immigration population doubled from 1994 to 2005, violent crime dropped by 34% and property crimes decreased by 32%. Furthermore, Harvard sociologist Robert Samson has found that first generation immigrants are 45% less likely to commit violent crimes in America than "Americanized" third generation immigrants.

Myth #4: Immigrants take jobs away from Americans
A recent study produced by the Hispanic Pew Center reveals that "Rapid increases in the foreign-born population at the state level are not associated with negative effects on the employment of native born workers." In fact, given that the number of native-born low wage earners is falling nationally, immigrants are playing an important role in offsetting that decline. The Urban Institute reports that between 2000 and 2005 the total number of low-wage workers declined by approximately 1.8 million while the number of unskilled immigrant workers increased by 620,000 thus offsetting the total decline by about a third.

For the conclusion of this article, please see the June 27 edition of the parish bulletin.

Feel free to call with questions or concerns!
Parish Office
847-864-0333
fax: 847-864-0354
stmary1012@stmaryparish-evanston.org