We wish all of you a blessed Christmas. At this year’s end we give thanks for the just judgment of the New York State Supreme Court that annulled the Inwood rezoning. We give thanks for the power that you have built faithfully, according to the Gospel, which has successfully challenged unjust power. You show us in your words and deeds how to “prepare the way of the Lord.”
Please stay with us in 2020 to build our JPIC ministry and advance the kin-dom of God in our city.
We hope you join us for our prayer service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., a modern Christian prophet. Join our faith formation 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.
Later this year, we will 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, Jan. 6, our monthly meeting.
Saturday, Jan. 11, our homeless outreach.
Sunday, Jan. 19, our prayer service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Here are brief updates on activities and projects. For full updates, join the working groups.
Care for Creation
The working group meets on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. in the rectory. Newcomers welcome. Our interfaith forum on the Green New Deal and best practices for care for creation is taking shape. So is our next annual ecology fair, the Go Green Fair. Take action on the climate crisis! Contact: Janet Kraus, janetkraus2@gmail.com.
Homelessness
The working group meets on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. in the rectory conference room. Join us for our street outreachon Saturday, Jan. 11. We will give out sandwiches, winter clothes, and hygiene items on our January outreach. Be a volunteer! Come to the working group meeting and help us make plans! For more information, 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
The rezoning is annulled. It’s time to organize tenants! Join our working group. 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.