With the end of the liturgical year and the beginning of Advent nearly upon us, I give thanks for Jesus Christ, king of the universe. And I give thanks for you because you strive in faith to follow in Jesus’ steps to do justice and love your neighbor kindly.
 
To that end, we plan to have a study group that will meet weekly to discuss race and the Catholic Church. We will look at the ways racism has deformed Christian attitudes, behaviors, and institutions and keeps us from being faithful to God and Christ who shows us how to love our neighbor.
 
We will also have a retreat to renew and strengthen our social justice ministry, to make it as diverse and strong as our parish and community.
 
Please save the dates of 
 
Monday, Dec. 2, our monthly meeting.
 
Saturday, Jan. 11, our homeless outreach.
 
Here are brief updates on activities and projects. For full updates, join the working groups.
 
Care for Creation
 
The working group meets on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory. Newcomers welcome. As we look to 2020, we aim to organize an interfaith forum to share best practices for care for creation by our local congregations. We will also prepare for our next annual ecology fair, the Go Green Fair. Learn how to take action on the climate crisis! Contact: Janet Kraus, janetkraus2@gmail.com.
 
Homelessness
 
The working group meets on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. in the rectory conference room. Join us for our street outreach on Saturday, Jan. 11. We will give out sandwiches, winter clothes, and hygiene items on our January outreach. We will also have a Christmas potluck with the guests of our parish women’s shelter on Friday, Dec. 20. Come to the meeting and help us make plans! For more information about this meeting, contact Patricia Paredes, pat_paredes@yahoo.com.
 
Immigration
 
We are looking for volunteers to organize this group. From accompaniment to ICE or immigration court, to visiting the sanctuary churches, to supporting family reunification, to helping refugees, there is much work to do. Please contact Brother Anthony if you feel called to be a driver of parish action.
 
Tenants
 
Come to our working group meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. The work of reaching out to our tenant neighbors has only begun. Help us build our working group, share information about renters’ rights, give mutual aid, and get tenant associations organized in our neighborhood. Contact Graham Ciraulo, gciraulo86@gmail.com, to get involved.
 
Finally, I invite everyone to our ecumenical Taizé prayer services on Dec. 6 and Dec. 20. As we wait for the coming of the Prince of Peace, let us pray and work together for the peace and justice of God in our world.
 
During this week of Thanksgiving, let us remember one another with grateful hearts and renew our commitment to building up the body of Christ in our church and our city.