Upcoming Events - May and June 2005

Thursday, May 12

SIREN (Services, Immigrant Rights, & Education Network), 2nd Annual Fundraiser - To Help Support Immigrant & Human Rights in the South Bay, 5:30 - 8 pm, at Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA), 510 S. First Street, San Jose. Suggested donation $50. Father Bill Leininger will be one of the recipients of the Advocate Award. Includes dinner, special guests, music and dancing. RSVP Diana Jauregui (408) 286-5680 x101 or diana@siren-bayarea.org.

Saturday May 14 - Saturday, May 21

Affordable Housing Week in Santa Clara County. For a calendar of events including free homeownership seminars, tours of low-income housing, exhibits, a homeless services fair, and groundbreaking ceremony for new Habitat for Humanity Projects visit the website www.affordablehousingweek.org or contact Vanessa Cooper at (408) 282-1133, email vcooper@charitieshousing.org.

Saturday, May 14

Community Rally & Forum for Extremely Low Income Housing, 3 - 6 pm, La Trinidad United Methodist Church, 370 S. King Road, San Jose. Bring your family, testimony, and ideas to a community hearing on ELI housing. Part of Affordable Housing Week. Sponsored by La Trinidad United Methodist PACT, Comite Cesar Chavez, SIREN, Mayfair Improvement Initiative, Community Homeless Alliance Ministry (CHAM), Affordable Housing Network. For questions, call (408) 295-4463.

Saturday, May 14

Pax Christi of San Jose Meeting, 3:30 - 5:30 pm, St. Julie Billiart Parish, 366 St. Julie Drive, San Jose. Group meets every second Saturday of the month. All are invited. For more information, contact Tim Gray at timnmaryann@yahoo.com.

Sunday, May 15

Deanery 7 Meeting for Campaign against Racism, 2:30 pm, St. Julie's Parish, 366 St. Julie Drive, San Jose. Meeting of Spanish-speaking community of St. Julie's to begin campaign in response to anti-immigrant concerns. English translators will be available. Other deanery representatives are welcome.

Monday, May 16, 23, & June 6

"The Road to Solidarity: The Living Witness of Archbishop Romero," Preparation & Educational Meetings for Participants in El Salvador Immersion Program, 7-8:30 pm, Diocese of San Jose, 900 Lafayette Street, Santa Clara, 3rd Floor, St. Joseph Conference Room.

Saturday, May 21

San Jose ACORN Forum on Neighborhood Schools, 10 am - 12pm, 1010 Ruff Drive, San Jose. ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is the nation's largest community organization of low to moderate income families working for social justice and community change. For additional information, contact Alejandra Arostegui at (408) 293-1520 or caacornsjro@acorn.org.

Monday, May 23

Immigrant Day in Sacramento. The California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative (CIWC) and the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (ICIR) invite immigrants and their advocates to attend the Ninth Annual Immigrant Day. The day includes an opportunity to meet with elected officials and will focus on immigrant contributions to California's economy and culture. For more information, contact Larisa Casillas at (408) 286-5680 x102.

Thursday, May 26

"Whatever Happened to Joy?": A Day of Prayer and Reflection, 9:30 am - 3 pm, Presentation Center, 19480 Bear Creek Road, Los Gatos. Registration at 9 am. All catechetical, liturgical, youth and young adult, and justice leaders are invited. Facilitated by Timothy Mullner, contributing author of "Continuing the Journey: Celebrating 40 Years of Vatican II." $32. To register, contact Semi Gurbiel at gurbiel@dsj.org by May 5.

Saturday, June 4

Just Faith Spring Gathering & Day of Reflection, 10 am - 3 pm, 10251 Kenny Lane, San Jose. A potluck gathering of Just Faith participants sponsored by the Just Faith Alumni Committee. For additional information, contact Diedre Sorvino at west@mklm.org.

Monday, June 6

Town Hall Meeting: "Let's Make Our Valley More Welcoming Towards Immigrants," 7-8:30 pm, St. Patrick's Proto-Cathedral, 389 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose. Invitees: Santa Clara County Supervisors James Beall and Pete McHugh, Mayor Ron Gonzales, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman Mike Honda. Organized by the St. Patrick PACT Local Organizing Committee. For more information, contact Daniela Santos at (408) 998-8001 x15.

Tuesday, June 7

Parish Social Justice Liaison Breakfast Meeting, 7:30 - 9 am, Diocese of San Jose, St. Joseph Conference Room, 3rd Floor, 900 Lafayette St., Santa Clara. Note change in location.

Saturday, June 11- Sunday, June 19

"The Road to Solidarity: The Living Witness of Archbishop Romero" - Catholic Relief Services is sponsoring a delegation from the Diocese of San Jose to travel to El Salvador. This immersion program includes four educational pre-trip sessions and follow-up on return. Contact Joe Hastings for more information at jhastings@catholicrelief.org.

Save the Date!

Sunday, July 17- Friday, July 22

Social Action Summer Institute, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. A social justice symposium with presentations on spirtuality and social justice, effective diocesan and parish social action ministries and a variety of issues and skills workshops at both advanced and introductory levels. Jointly sponsored by the Roundtable, USCCB Dept. of Social Development and World Peace, Catholic Charities USA, CCHD, and CRS. Registration available at http://www.nplc.org/roundtable/events.htm.

Note: For additional listings, see Socorro's List. To subscribe, email luquehere@speakeasy.com.