Welcome to the Fall 2005 Edition

In looking out my window, I see the beginning of fall - one of my favorite seasons. I've had the rain gutters cleaned out and replaced the wreath on my door with one covered with gold and red leaves and pumpkins.

There is a respite now before we head into the dark days of winter and the news lately has been dark as well. We have seen the terrible pictures and heard the devastating stories from those suffering in the gulf region of the United States, and now, we hear of the devastation in Latin America following Hurricane Stan with flooding and mudslides and the earthquake in Pakistan. And, yet, in spite of all the suffering there are also scenes of courage and resilience. New Orleans is slowly beginning to emerge from the flood waters. Signs of life are arising from the darkness.

In our area, as throughout the world, the response has been remarkable. In San Jose, Habitat for Humanity volunteers are joining others in the gulf region to begin the rebuilding effort. PACT, a local faith-based organizing group, has sent organizers to the area to assist other groups in insuring that the poor are not left out of the rebuilding process. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is supporting projects that are committed to helping people create permanent solutions to the problem of poverty and is working with local agencies to make sure that the poor have a voice and a role in the longer-term rebuilding effort. Catholic Charities is working tirelessly to help with the relief efforts, supported by the generous donations of Catholics across the United States.

In our diocese, the work of justice continues. There many opportunities for involvement. Habitat for Humanity has begun a new housing project in San Jose and is looking for volunteers to support the effort. The Justice for Immigrants Campaign has been launched in our diocese to work towards comprehensive immigration reform. A meeting will be held on November 3rd to learn more about the local effort and to discover ways to participate. There a number of voter education forums being offered on propositions critical to families and workers. The diocese is co-sponsoring an informative conference on domestic violence. There are many ways in which we can be informed and become involved. I invite you to look at the calendar of upcoming events and some of the articles which follow to learn more about them.

In this issue...

• Upcoming Events - Fall and Beyond
• Hurricane Katrina and Catholic Social Teaching
• Kick-Off Meeting for "Justice for Immigrants" Campaign - November 3
• CRS Responds to Natural Disasters in Latin America and South Asia
• "Break the Cycle of Poverty - Build Community" - Support CCHD
• California Uninsured Help Line Offers Referrals and Free Materials
• "The Good News of CRS" - An El Salvador Experience
• World AIDS Awareness Day - December 1, 2005
• United Farmworkers' Union Mark 40th Anniversary of Delano Grape Strike
• Immersion Trips Available for High School Students
• Young Adult Native American Experience
• "Building Houses and Changing Lives"
• Habitat for Humanity Builds Houses in San Jose
• Justice Symposium II Scheduled for June 24, 2006
• Citizenship Day/Dia de Ciudadania
• Justice Speakers' Forum to be Offered at Ascension Parish in 2006
• "Spirituality, Discipleship & Justice" - New Course at Spirit Site
• Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Domestic Violence
• Domestic Violence Resources
• "Embracing Families in Need" - Diocese Co-Sponsors Conference on Domestic Violence
• California Catholic Bishops Issue Statement in Support of Proposition 73
• California Voters Consider 8 Propositions in Special Election