Flooding in the Philippines

Currently, the death toll from typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in the Philippines stands at 240. Click here for a YouTube video (not in English, but the pictures speak for themselves). Let's continue to pray f0r all those affected by this tragedy.

Second Special Assembly for Africa

You may already be aware that that Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops will take place in Rome from October 4 to 25, 2009. The Catholic Task Force on Africa, a Washington, DC-based group of advocates maintains a website, "Yes, Africa Matters," that will fill you in on the synod. Click here to access the Instrumentum Laboris for the synod. Because of our close contact with students from African nations, Africa has more of a personal meaning for us. We can put a face with Africa more than ever before. Let us keep the synod in our prayers. Let us also try to inform as many others as we can.

Catholic Charities USA Releases Annual Survey Results

Last week, Catholic Charities USA released its 2008 Annual Survey--an extensive compilation of front-line data that comes on the heels of the U.S. Census Bureau numbers and painfully though not surprisingly further documents increasing levels of poverty.

The number of clients served by Catholic Charities in 2008 jumped by 10.2 percent, moving from approximately 8 million to 8.5 million, substantially reversing the reduction in poverty trends and levels that the Annual Survey positively revealed in the middle of the decade. Additionally, Catholic Charities' agencies reported providing:

Employment services to 67,597 persons in 2008, an increase of about 35 percent from the 50,080 reported in 2007; Financial Literacy programs to 58,589 clients, an increase of almost 47,000 in just one year; Earned Income Tax Credit assistance to 53,858 clients; and
Disaster Services to 331,727 clients, a 21 percent decrease from 2007 but a 60 percent increase over 2004/2005 levels.

Overall, trend lines for services most in demand in 2008 tracked with the eroding economy. In a webinar on September 15th, Rev. Larry Snyder, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, presented the results of the survey to the Catholic Charities USA network. To view the webinar, please click here. A summary of the 2008 Annual Survey and the full report are available by visiting the following link.

Bishop Murphy Addresses Health Care Reform

Bishop William Murphy, chairman of Domestic Justice and Human Development for the U.S. bishops, addresses the urgent need for health care reform that is available to everyone and protects the life and dignity of every person. Click here to go to the USCCB website and view Bishop Murphy's video.

The Baucus Proposal

Rocco Palmo ("Whispers in the Loggia") has provided some information about Archbishop Raymond Burke's comments on the Baucus health care plan. He also includes links to comments made by Cardinal Renato Martino. Click here to go to Rocco's blog.

JFI Convening in Philadelphia

This comes as a reminder that the Justice for Immigrants campaign of the USCCB will hold a regional convening on immigration reform October 7-9, 2009 at the Malvern Retreat House outside Philadelphia. For information, agenda, and registration please see www.justiceforimmigrants.org .

International Day of Peace

The United Nations' International Day of Peace is marked every year on September 21. An Evening Prayer was e-mailed to SCCs. Assumption College for Sisters in Mendham is having its traditional prayer service at 11:45 on that day. Leave us comments on the blog to indicate how you will celebrate the International Day of Peace. (That is, if you are an e-mail subscriber and want to comment, you have to go to the blog first -- link at bottom of page.)

Additionally, the Culture of Peace Initiative will host its first-ever 24-hour Global Broadcast on Peace Day!