Opportunities for Action

Below are some ways parishes can encourage their members to act in response to global poverty.

• Weave a focus on our concern for those who are poor into parish liturgies and preaching as well as all educational programs using the parish resources available at the websites below.
• Distribute a bulletin insert on poverty al all weekend Masses during one week of Advent.
• Through the bulletin, encourage parishioners to learn about how the issues of trade, aid and debt affect poor people around the world. Parishioners can choose one issue and write an e-mail message to an elected official.
• Find out if your parish and school brews coffee this certification means that the producers are part of a poverty alleviation program that guarantees producers a fair wage. Organize a sale of fair trade coffee and chocolate at your parish or school and encourage these groups to use fair trade coffee regularly. Go to the Catholic Relief Services web site www.catholicrelief.org to find our more about fair trade coffee and chocolate.
• Survey your community for stores and Christmas bazaars that feature “fair trade certified” products, such a coffee, chocolate, tea and craft items. Make a flyer listing where to buy these products locally and encourage parishioners to include fair trade items in Christmas giving and year round.
• Through the bulletin, encourage parishioners to visit the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty web site (www.usccb.org/globalpoverty) and look up Advent resources on poverty for individuals and families.
• Sponsor an Advent Advocacy training for parishioners who wish to track and advocate for legislation that addresses poverty at home and abroad. Provide summaries of the key issues, discuss how to write and call elected officials and include a prayer service. Start a legislative network of people committed to calling their officials when contacted.

For more information contact Adrienne Curry, CRS Director 312/751-8367 or email acurry@archchicago.org.