About Me

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I am a woman who is trying to continue to learn how to be a better person. The purpose of this blog is to help me to articulate my personal response to the world. This blog will allow for reflection, insight, and authentic understanding.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Winding down...but not out!

My postings this week will most likely not be as long. I am traveling to Minnesota from mid-week to Sunday. I am going to be participating in a great retreat!
In anticipation of the week not all at work- I met with the workers today at noon to let them know what I have spend the summer doing. I laid out the original plan that is now altered and will produce an end result (hopefully) with the director of planning and building for the diocese. Next, I told the guys about the delegations that I have gone on with Joseph to all the different churches, the meetings that we have had with the different men and women. Bulletin announcements were next on the agenda. It took some explaining, but the guys got the gist and were glad. Another step was a letter to the president of a construction company here in Phoenix who has refused to meet with workers and other community organizers. I drafted the letter, had it approved by my supervisors, sent to legal and signed by the IWJ-Arizona affiliate Director. We will be conducting a “pray-in” because we do not anticipate that he will want to meet with us. This seems to be my seminal project for my CPE.
Of all the projects that I explained to the workers over the hour-long meeting, this got the most reaction. The workers have been escorted off the building premises several times because this man refuses to meet and have a conversation with the workers.
Have a great week, if you are also traveling, be safe and enjoy!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Prayer

I composed this prayer for the workers at the request of my supervisor.

God of Humanity,
You make us ever mindful of the need for creative expression in our work and our lives. Continue to form our understanding of creative labor. Transform the minds and hearts of those who guide our trainings for safe labor practices. Enable those who we encounter on a daily basis to be open to hearing of the challenges we your children are facing. Remind us of our own responsibility to speak against the injustices done to your people-the Body of Christ here on earth. Help us, as we continue to struggle for the dignity and worth of all your children.
We ask this in your name, through the redemption of Jesus Christ your son, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Time Out!



So, my summer is about 2/3 over. I have been working lots, but there has also been some great play time. I have been to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and one of the local lakes (note the photo-after that picture I immediately turned into a lobster!-oh but also check out the mountains behind me!!!) I have developed some great relationships with people down here. It has been a fun, challenging and provoking time.

I have done quite a bit of thinking over the summer, and trying to figure out what exactly this all means for me. I have had several conversations in the last couple of weeks with different people asking me what my plans are after graduation. Since I really have no idea, I really have nothing to say. I just resort to my old standby. Move to Rome, get a realtor’s license and put the Vatican up for sale and feed Africa for eternity.

So as I declare a time out, and try to pause for some reflection, I am no closer to solving this puzzle of my life right now. I spoke with John Mark last night (one of my best friends and greatest men I will have the opportunity to meet) and he was so affirming, and was certainly not surprised when I articulated that I wanted to think more seriously about religious organizing. (I need to do something that obviously allows for religious and faithful expression.)

I see that there is a potential for great movement and ability to allow for transformation within the lives of people. I have been participating in weekly meetings about how to organize. Since this is still new for me, I feel that there is so much for me to learn. One of the points established early on was that we speak for ourselves, and not for others. I have thought about this rule a lot in the last couple of weeks. What does it mean when I “advocate” or “speak” for others? There is a desire for redemption- is that why I feel such strong pangs to be involved in these issues of immigration, worker’s rights, environmental concerns and peace prospects. Is it enough for desire? Does there have to be more? What else is needed?

Friday, July 18, 2008

Economic Justice for All...


There are two quotes that I wish to share with you today. There are from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Economic Justice for All written in 1986. As some of you may know, I have fallen into a tumultuous and passionate relationship with the writings of my Catholic Tradition. I was always able to dismiss these writings as having no bearing on me personally. They were written by men, who wear dresses, etc.-that might be a slight exaggeration, but certainly not far from the mark. Well, since coming to the SOT, I have not been able to dismiss so easily these writings. I am grateful for this transformation. I see God much more in the ambiguity that I encounter in this Church, the people, and the Traditions.

“Whenever our economic arrangements fail to conform to the demands of human dignity lived in community, they must be questioned and transformed.” §28.

and

“Every human person is created as an image of God, and the denial of dignity to a person is a blot on this image.” §40.

Economic Arrangements: The struggle that I continue to encounter is how to live, live when I am comfortable, others are not, and not be torn apart with guilt. Guilt is a funny animal. It serves as a reminder that there are inconsistencies. As some fellow classmates and I joked about in our Social Teachings class, we are learning about the poor, and taking notes on our brand new laptops. Is that a disconnect? Maybe, and maybe not. The computer can be seen as a tool of our trade. It makes sense to have a reliable system and method to ensure the best possible learning. Is it necessary? Well, most likely that is up to the person. It certainly added to the ease of my semester to have a laptop at my disposal.

The other part of the teaching that has been a struggle is the idea of not giving out of my excess, but rather, to give out of my means- what I have NOW! I can’t help but to think that Suze Orman would differ, (I can’t say for sure since I have not called into her show to know for sure…but…) It seems that I have been able to become commonplace about my own abilities to give, and can downplay my responsibility to give. After all, I am only a student! And yet…

One of the letters that I initially composed for the campaign I was working on, deals specifically with the quote from §40. The idea that we are able to continue to blot out our brothers and sisters, their needs and their hardships is a denial of God- again! It is to easy to think of sin and only put sin a context and frame of personal infractions, “I did this to God, I did this to someone who I know,…” How many times do I call into attention how I typically deny those I don’t know? Is this what solidarity means? Is this what it means to be in community with one another? Is it to be so aware of what others tragedies and hardships are that I am able to call into account how I contribute to this ongoing problem?

Obviously, I will not be able to answer these questions, not would I answer them in a blog-too personal, but I have been thinking about these types of questions more and more. On Monday, I will be attending the 2nd meeting of how to Organize within a small community. I am really excited about this!

Please continue to pray for transformation in each other!
(the photo was taken on the 5th anniversary of the workers strike at the Congress Hotel in Chicago- the signt says, "All religions believe in justice.")

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Productive Discomfort Zones and Me


I was reading my friend Laura's blog( see the link)-and she was writing about stepping out of her comfort zone. I was a bit amazed- because that is a phrase I heard last night. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I was attending part 1 of a 7 week “class” on how to do community organizing. The people that were gathered had a specific target in mind- the elections in November and specifically how to ensure that the sheriff of Maricopa County, Joe Arpio is not re-elected. The speaker, a local community organizer used the term “productive discomfort zone”. I readily identified with this term.

Since I have been here in Arizona I have found myself getting more and more agitated about the circumstances that I hear about here in Maricopa County. I wonder about my ability to live in this kind of environment, and really struggle even with the selfishness of this questioning. I am not the target, I am just someone who has a voice-which I recognizes bears responsibility to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

I was listening to a program on NPR, and was intrigued by the woman who was speaking out a couple of years ago against a Worker’s Rights Center being built in their West Virginia neighborhood. This woman was insistent that before the Center be built, the people who would frequent such a building should learn proper English (speech and writing), proper use of electrical appliances (huh?) and proper hygene practices. [*Sidenote: I think I sucked the air out of the office after hearing this woman.]
Needless to say, I think that I have been living in my productive discomfort zone. I anticipate that I will continue to live in this ambiguous state as I continue to live here in Phoenix. It on a whole is a great community, and is awesome to see so many people who gather to learn how to educate themselves, and demand the change in the systems.

I will be visiting the Grand Canyon this weekend, so there will be some great pics and I am sure some musings next week.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Liturgical Beauty...




It has been a summer of working, doing service. I haven't really made that much of an effort to participate in liturgical services since I have been here. Liturgical services (Mass) have been generally been an important part of my life and expression of faith. My fear is that I have become a bit of a liturgy snob since going to school at the Liturgical school of the world!

I went to mass today with Joseph. The music was a strong reminder that I am not in Collegeville. There was a “wejus” prayer over the visiting Maryknoll priest at the end that was impromptu, and for a moment I thought I was in a different church.
That being said- the bad music aside- everyone was singing! Instead of exiting with crying babies from the church, mothers stood with babies in their arms and rocked them quietly while remaining in the pew. The greeting at the beginning of Mass- before the opening prayer was genuine and friendly- people who were a “stretch” for me to reach were not content with a friendly wave hello-they made the move to shake my hand and say hello. The entire community responded to questions with words and gestures. It was a “physical” liturgical celebration, down to the procession that every one took to put their contributions in the basket by the altar.
Needless to say, this was a very moving liturgy for me to participate in with this fantastic community. Thanks St. Matthews Catholic Parish in Phoenix, Arizona.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

God is...


“Let nothing bother you
Let noting dismay you
Everything passes
Patience gains all
God alone is enough”
~St. Teresa of Avila
I found this quote again in the book that I am reading for my ILP. (The book is delightful and prompts great examinations.)
I found the prayer of St. Teresa profound for my week. My week consisted of no delegations (so far), very little interaction with the strikers, and mostly meetings with area priests and pastoral workers. All of the meetings have been fruitful in their own right- some we will be visiting again simply because there is more there that we are going to be able to do. Others, we will not visit again-because they are already set.
Let nothing bother you…there are times when I really have to wonder how the situation got to the point where I am called to this part of the world. How could things have disintegrated so far that it is even necessary to have people employed to speak and advocate for the needs of others.
Let nothing dismay you…I continue to seek God in the daily living here in Phoenix. It seems easier sometimes than others. I was driving with Joseph, my supervisor from a meeting with a member of the staff at the ASU Newman Center and a police officer was sitting in his pickup truck with the air conditioner on, full blast watching a group of Hispanic men cross the street away from him. I am trying to find God more and more often. Most often I encounter God when I am speaking to the strikers.
Everything passes…my time here in Phoenix is slipping away. I would love to see this plan and project through to the end, yet I know that this is not possible. It seems to go against my nature to begin something and then not see it through. I can think of 3 times in my life where this has happened. This project will make 4. Interesting.
Patience gains all…I am NOT a patient person. Enough said.
God alone is enough…in our reflection time today, I spoke about the word abide. We are told that if we abide in Jesus, Jesus will abide in us. I found this to be comforting. It served to remind me that this is not all dependent upon me, my supervisors, or even the strikers. Whatever the motivation we come to this journey with, I find comfort in remembering that this is not about me- and that I am able to be in solidarity with my brothers and sisters.

So, to answer my statement- God is everywhere. God is here in the imperfections of the people. God is in the tears, the laughter and the hearts of people.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Time moves on...



So the excitement of my time here has subsided- I have settled into a bit of a routine. I still find the work invigorating, and just what I want. I have been pulled off delegations again-but I imagine it is just for a little while. I am in the middle of composing some letters that will be submitted to different parishes for the consideration of the pastor and the parish community. Next, I am going to be putting together some binders for the submission process-more on that later.
I have not been able to get together for theological reflection—so I find myself trying to figure out how God is present in these situations. I have written a bit about the racism that I have seen in my time down here. What I have not spent to much time thinking about or writing about is what I see as the churches response to these issues. The bishop of the diocese of Phoenix-Bishop Olmstead published a document on immigration in the diocesan paper- The Catholic Sun. So it seems that there is education (somewhat from the authority of the church) that is going on within the faith tradition that I am a part of. Yet, I still have a sense of outrage on behalf of those here. I wonder about harnessing the outrage. I think that outrage is an unsung tool. There is so much to be outraged about.
• Living Wages
• Affordable Health Care
• Safe Working Conditions
• Sick Days and Vacation Days
• Adequate safety and Vocational Training
• A voice on the job and the ability to participate in workplace decisions
What happens when we as a society refuse or struggle to take care of one another when we are working? I understand the need for a company to make profits- and the risk that is a natural bi-product of those profits. My issue stems from when those profits risk the health and well being of those who are bringing about the profits, literally by the sweat of their brow. I think that God is here, God is present I in the faces of the men and women that I am working with.