Oscar Romero Inclusive Catholic Church
Bulletin for Sunday, September 4, 2011
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friends,
Each week when we go out west of the city to celebrate Mass with a group of migrant farmworkers, we start the Mass at about 8 pm. I had thought that as the days grew shorter we would start earlier, but I learned that their workday stays the same even though its dark earlier. Folks get home at 6:30 and everyone needs to eat and shower before Mass – fifteen people livingin a house with only one shower. I keep starting Mass at 8. These days, we open the door of the house to have light to see by. Its okay,we still have a lovely Mass! There are several men who are there every week, and several other men and women who are there now and then. One of the men who is always there is Santiago, a man of about 60. One week I was surprised when he wasn't there, and asked why. The others explained that he was working late, plantingonions. About 9 pm he came in, just as the Mass was ending, covered with dirt and sweat and not having had his supper. When we sing that hymn with the line, “all who labor without rest. I think of Santiago. This coming Monday we will celebrate Labor Day.
Some of us will march with the farmworkers contingent in the parade, wearing red bandanas to show solidarity with the farm workers. Meet at the corner of Sibley Place and East Ave by 10:15 on Monday morning, September 5, if you would like to join us. Last week I went with a group from the Presbytery to visit some farms. One of the questions people asked was, “Why do you hire people from other countries to do this work? The farmers explained that they can't find people from here that are willing to do the work and when they do, they usually last about three hours. (A man named Tom Rivers wrote a great little book called Farm Hands about his experience trying to do the work the migrants do. He stuck with it, lost 40 lbs, and by the end of the summer was almost as fast as the slowest of the migrant farm workers. It is hard work!) One of the farmers offered her opinion that besides being difficult, farm work does not have much status. Without farm workers, there would be no food on our tables. Someone needs to plant it, weed it, harvest it, package it.
Let us recognize the dignity and worth of that work. Let us work to change the laws, so that peopledon't get punished for coming here to do it! T
hank you, farm workers, for all that you do. And thank you to all workers. Where would we be without the work you do?
The work that everyone one of us does, paid and unpaid.
Work is love made manifest as that positive energy that creates and maintains the things weneed for life. Thank you for the work you do.
Blessings and love to all, Chava
Two of our workers from St Joeâ's,
Rachael Morlock and Joe Lavoie, are in Washington DC to protest the oil pipeline that is proposed to take oil fromthe tar sands in Canada all the way to Texas. Blessings on your journey,
Rachael and Joe. May it bring a bit more light to the world. Peace activist Kathy Kelly is coming to town, again.
She and David Smith-Ferri will give a talk entitled "The Cost of War, the Price ofPeace" at Downtown United Presbyterian Church, 121 N Fitzhugh St, on Tuesday, Sept.13, 2011 at 7:00 pm. St Romeros is almost one year old!
Our first Mass was held on September19 of last year.
Shall we celebrate? Come and join us for Mass on Sunday, September 18 at 11, and bring a dish to pass if you like for lunchafterwards. Maybe we could have a cake in the shape of a 1!
Many thanks to Mike Reimringer who is sending out the bulletin this week, while Rachael is in Washington protesting the pipeline. Come and join us, any Sunday you like! Oscar Romero Church An Inclusive Church in the Catholic Tradition Mass: Sundays, 11 am St Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave, RochesterNY 14620
For more information:
chava@localnet.com
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