Lenten Outreach 2008 - Working Boys Center, Quito Ecuador

Our goal this Lent is to raise $20,000 to provide food, medicine and care for 100 children for 100 days.  The Center helps working children and their families to become agents of their own prosperity, and to lift themselves out of poverty through education, hard work, financial planning, good health and nutrition.  This Lent we are focusing on the youngest members of the Center; the children ages 6 months to five years who are cared for in the Center's nursery.  Find out more....

Activities and Lenten Resources for Families:

Word Search
Recipes from Ecuador
March Lenten Calendar

Human Concerns is the outreach, service and justice arm of St. Dominic Parish, and the “umbrella” organization under which all of our outreach efforts fall.  All Human Concerns activities and groups, with the assistance of our Pastoral Associate for Human Concerns, works to meet the needs of the economically disadvantaged, the disabled, the marginalized, the elderly, the sick, the homebound, the grieving and all others experiencing stress or difficulties in their lives.  We coordinate many programs and activities, and encourage parishioners of all ages to get involved.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or if we can be of help in any way, please contact Susan McNeil, our Pastoral Associate for Human Concerns at 262-781-3480

Please click here for information on the following areas:

• Outreach Opportunities

• Parish Services Offered

• Community Resources

• Safeguarding All God’s Family

• Social Justice and Education

• Links

Gays Mills Mission Trip - You may remember the extensive flooding and damage a few months ago in Gays, Mills, WI. Recently, parishioner Mike Dominski joined 12 other adults from the Archdiocese in a mission trip to the Gays Mills, WI area. We were able to help seven families. With the help of 12 volunteers from seven Catholic parishes and two Methodist parishes, we ran electrical wiring, installed insulation, drywall, flooring, vinyl siding, winterized two homes and helped erect a yert (a tent-like living structure covered with canvas). Most of our time went to helping a family with two young children who were living in a pop-up camper. When we arrived, the Amish home that we worked on had one electrical outlet and the walls were gutted. When we left, they had electrical wiring in the entire home, the downstairs was insulated, dry walled and the base flooring was in. They moved in this past weekend. There was much more work to be done that we did not have time to finish, but the families were so grateful for our help. Thanks for your support and prayers

Outreach Opportunities

• Adult Outreach Mission Trip for the Working Boys' Center - a family mission in Quito, Ecuador.  This nine day volunteer mission trip to assist in the building of a house for an impoverished family, with additional travel adventures in and around Ecuador's capital city including the Galapagos Islands.  Participants will stay at the WBC's volunteer dorm, where meals are provided.  The cost of the trip is $1,400, including airfare, hotel, meals and escorted side trips).  Contact Pat Parks at 262-797-8988. We’re taking another spiritual journey –a truly unforgettable group trip to the from February 13-19.  You’ll see first hand the beauty of the Andes mountains, the colorful small town markets, the bustling capital city of Quito and learn more about the well established family mission begun over 40 years ago by Fr. John Halligan, SJ.   A Minga trip is also planned for April 2008. 

• Lenten Outreach 2007 - Bay St. Louis, MS - As a parish community, we raised, $39,185 as of May 2007 to help our brothers and sisters in five families make it out of their FEMA trailers and back into their homes.  In fall 2007, a second trip was made to Bay St. Louis.

• Agape Community Center - One of our newest partners in ministry, Agape Community Center, sits on the northeast side of Milwaukee, and is a wonderful center that provides support, meals, tutoring and assistance to financially disadvantaged families. Many volunteer opportunities exist, including assisting with a summer lunch program, tutoring, and mentoring youth.  To serve at this center go to:  www.agapecommunitycenter.org or call 414-4440.

• Bread Ministry - Volunteers pick up donated bread from local businesses, and distribute it to organizations that work with people in need.  Please contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480 with questions or to help out.

• Clothing Distribution -  We collect used clothing and household goods on an ongoing basis, and take them to various organizations in need (St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, etc) who in turn get them to people who need them.  Please contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480 to be a part of this on-going service.

• Food Pantry - We have a food pantry that provides food to those in need. We are always looking for the donations of canned goods and for parishioners interested in packing and delivering food once a month.  To help contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480.

• Funeral Ministry - Parish members assist with the funeral liturgies as servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, as well as assist with set-up and clean-up. We need an additional 1 to 2 adults who would be willing to serve as acolytes at funerals. We also provide funeral luncheons on occasion, when requested by families, and would welcome a few more members to participate in that ministry, contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480 to help.

• Giving Tree - Each year, St. Dominic’s provides Christmas gifts for those in need, those in nursing homes and for elderly religious sisters. Volunteers set up the tree and tags, sort gifts and distribute them.  Contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480 if you would like to be involved in this project.

• Hebron House/Siena House/Jeremy House - Hebron House, and its sister homes, Jeremy House and Siena House, provide shelter to those in crisis, and housing, counseling and assistance to homeless families. St. Dominic’s provides meals several times a month, and also volunteers to assist at the facility.

• Helping Hands - This ministry provides meals for parish families when needed due to an illness, emergency or new baby in the family. Volunteers are paired with a partner to help provide a complete meal. Volunteers are called 2-3 times per year to provide a meal to others.  Contact Barb Schenauer or Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480.

• Interfaith Caregiving Network - St. Dominic’s is an active member of Interfaith Caregiving Network, which seeks to help senior citizens stay in their own homes. They provide transportation, respite care, friendly visits and assistance with snow removal and lawn care.  For more information or to sign-up contact:  www.interfaithwaukesha.org or call 262-549-3348.

• Loaves and Fishes Meal Program - Feeding the hungry at the Loaves and Fishes meal at St. Joseph Parish in Waukesha several times per year. We need people who are interested in cooking, baking and serving.  Please contact Susan McNeil  262-781-3480 if you can help.

• Prison Ministry - This ministry brings Christ to the inmates of Waukesha County Jail by providing Communion services and visits with individual inmates.  For more information, please contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480.

• Respect Life Activities - Our Respect Life group organizes activities to promote the sanctity of all life from birth to older age. We participate in a number of activities throughout the year, and also help to support the Pregnancy Help Center in Milwaukee.  Contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480 for more information.

• St. Ben’s Meal Program - We feed the hungry every other month at St. Ben’s, and need people interested in cooking, baking, or going down to St. Ben’s to serve.  Contact Barb Schenauer if you would like to serve at 262-781-3480

• St. Dominic Saint Vincent de Paul Society - The St. Dominic Saint Vincent De Paul Society reaches out to the lonely and alienated. We visit people in hospitals, give advice, money, food, and clothes to those in need. Our members visit the homebound and hospitalized, and assist those who are in need with financial assistance, food and clothing. There are a variety of opportunities to serve others, with varying time commitments. The Society meets twice monthly on Monday evenings. Would you be interested in finding out more? Contact Steve Cigich, SVDP President, at 262-781-3480, extension 228.

• Sandwich Ministry - Twice a month on Tuesday mornings, parishioners meet in the Marcy Center to make sandwiches which are then delivered to the Guest House in Milwaukee for lunches for the needy and homeless.  If interested in becoming involved, contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480.

• Summer Service - New this summer will be family-friendly service opportunities for families with children.  All of these opportunities are "one-time" events - sign up for as many or as few activities as your schedule permits. Click on the Summer Service Catalogue for more information on how to register.

• Visiting the Sick, Hospitalized, Homebound or those in Nursing Homes - We try to visit hospitalized parishioners several times each week and are looking for parishioners to participate in this ministry. We are also always in need of parishioners to visit those who reside in nursing homes and long-term care centers, as well as the homebound. This ministry is very rewarding! For more information, please contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480.
  
   

• Needs List

  • Donations needed for Adult Day Centers - Catholic Charities' Adult Day Centers have continued to keep the cost of our day services affordable, especially for low-income clients.  We have one of the lowest daily rates in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties; all because of helpful donations from our parish friends!  Please drop off any of these items at our Adult Care Centers at 1919 N. 60th St. or at 13700 W. National Ave. New Berlin, Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m..  For more information contact Susan Yee at (262) 782-0740.  Thank you and God bless you for your generosity. Ongoing contribution needs at our two Centers include:

    • 100% Fruit Juice

    • Crystal Light

    • Decaf Coffee

    • Graham Crackers

    • Sugar

    • Diabetic Cookies

    • Peanut Butter

    • Miniature Candy Bars

    • 8 oz. Paper Cups

    • Paper Towels

    • Paper Napkins

    • Laundry Detergent

    • Spray Deodorant

  • Bundle Sunday is Here Again!!! Found some good stuff while spring or fall cleaning but are concerned it no longer has a place in your home? Worry no more! Several weekends each year, after each of the Masses, St. Dominic St. Vincent de Paul and the parish Boy Scouts will collect gently used clothing and household items (no furniture). Collection bins will be available at each of the church entrances or look for the SVDP truck in the south parking lot to drop off donations.  Questions? Call 262-781-3480; ext. 228 and leave a message

  • Furniture or household items are needed to help St. Vincent de Paul Society.  Bi-monthly pick-ups are scheduled the second Friday during the odd months of the year.  If you have items to donate that are in usable condition, please leave a message for Steve Cigich at (262) 781-3480 Ext 228.

  • Donate a Used Car! - Help our new foreign priests - donate your used car! There are five foreign priests preparing for service in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  When they finish their English as a Foreign Language (ESL) studies in May they will be assigned to parishes in the archdiocese.  They come from their home dioceses with few material resources. One thing they will need to minister well is a car. If you are planning to sell your good used car or trade it in for a new one, please think of a tax exempt donation of your used car to the Church for their ministry. Please call or e-mail: Fr. Bob Stiefvater, Vicar for Hispanic Ministry.

Parish Services Offered

• Support Groups

  • Moms with Multiple Sclerosis Group - A new group, just for moms living with MS.  We will be meeting the first Wednesday of every month at St. Dominic’s. If you have any questions or want more information, please contact Susan McNeil.

  • Grief and Loss Support Group - St. Dominic’s participates in several grief support groups. 

    • Bi-weekly Grief Support Group - held at St. Joseph Parish, Wauwatosa.  The support group is an opportunity for grieving people to come together and talk about their feelings and thoughts with others who are struggling through losses.  It is a safe place to find solace and support.  Lead by qualified and experienced leaders, you can gain the emotional and spiritual support you need.  This group meets at St. Joseph's Church, 12130 W. Center Ave. in Wauwatosa every other Wednesday morning from 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.  For more information or to join, please call Ruth Hospice Chaplain Julie Novotny at (414) 607-4714.

    • The Hope Series, a 4-week grief support series - held within the Quad parishes twice a year, in October and May. For more information, please contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480.

    • "The Common Ground of Grief" Monthly Program - The Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Catholic Cemeteries sponsors “The Common Ground of Grief” monthly at St. Therese Parish in Milwaukee. Led by Patrick V. Dean, M.Ed, Director of Grief Education for Catholic Cemeteries. For more information, contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480, or visit www.cemeteries.org, and click on link for “The Common Ground of Grief” on the left-hand side of the page.

    • Individual bereavement support - St. Dominic’s also provides individualized bereavement support for any parishioner in need. Please contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480

  • Alzheimer's Association - Family/Caregiver Support Group for Men -Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease?  Does someone you love have Alzheimer's disease or another dementia?  We invite you to attend one of our support groups for caregivers; a safe place, where people listen and understand.  Let's take the journey together....3rd Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at Gethsemane United Methodist Church, 742 Main St. In Pewaukee, in the Parlor Room.  For more information regarding this support group or for a complete list of support groups, please call the Alzheimer's Association Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter 24-hours, toll-free: 1(800) 272-3900.

  • Single Again Support Group - Those recently divorced are invited to our gatherings.  All sessions are held at St. John Vianney (Parish Center, Second Floor), 1755 N. Calhoun Rd., 7:00-8:30 P.M. There is no need to register and no charge to attend. For specific information, call Mary Kaminski at 262-796-3944, ext. 120.

  • Cancer Survivors – Cancer can be a lonely experience. It can help enormously to talk with others who’ve been there. Please consider joining us for our Cancer Survivors! Group, which will meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (except in June and July) in the Parish Office Living Room. You might think that the group might be grim and humorless, but nothing could be farther from the truth! Join us for laughter and friendship in sharing a tough, but winnable experience!

  • Al-Anon – A companion support group to Alcoholics Anonymous for family members, Al-Anon meets at St. Dominic’s on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. This group is a “fragrance free” group for men. For additional Al-Anon meetings, please visit the Al-Anon/Ala-Teen website, where you’ll find links to meetings in your area. www.al-anon.alateen.org

  • Alcoholics Anonymous – A weekly support group that meets weekly on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. in the Marcy Center. To find additional AA meetings, please visit the Alcoholics Anonymous website, where you’ll find links to meetings in your area. www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

  • Harry Hawthorne 40 Plus – A weekly support group for older job-seekers, particularly those over age 40, that meets every Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m. in the Marcy Center. This group provides job seekers with the resources to find a needed job or change careers. For other meetings as well as other 40 Plus activities, please visit the 40 Plus of Southeastern Wisconsin website at www.40pluswi.org.

  • It’s Time/Faith in Recovery – It’s Time is an ongoing parish session about mental illness awareness. Faith in Recovery is a support group for those struggling with depression and/or other mental illnesses, as well as for their families. This meets once a month in the Quad.  Check the parish calendar for upcoming sessions.

• Parish Ministries Offered

  • Counseling or Referrals for Counseling - Pastoral counseling is available through either of our priests, or Susan McNeil. We are available for emotional and spiritual support, or for support and assistance during times of crisis. Susan McNeil is also able to provide referrals for individual, marriage or family counseling, financial assistance or for community resources (i.e. for an elderly parent). For more information, contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480.

  • Direct Assistance -  In collaboration with our St. Vincent de Paul Society, our parish provides direct assistance to parishioners in need when the occasion arises and as we are able. For financial assistance, please contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480. Together with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, they will work to help you with your financial situation.

  • Elizabeth Ministry - This mom-to-mom ministry seeks to support moms of young children and women of childbearing age through pregnancy, parenting, infertility and other challenges. In Church, you will find a bouquet of rosebuds at the back of Church. If you or a loved one are in need of prayers because of a pregnancy, adoption, child loss, infertility or other challenge, please feel free to fill out a prayer card attached to the appropriate rose, and place it in the vase. Our Elizabeth Ministry prayer team, as well as the whole parish, will pray for your need. This ministry is still growing at St. Dominic’s, and we hope to expand it in many different areas of pregnancy and child-raising.  For more information, please contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480.

  • Funeral Planning and Wishes - Susan McNeil is available to assist any parishioners in funeral planning, if they wish. Click here to access our Funeral Planning Guide and Funeral Wishes Sheet. We are happy to keep funeral wishes and desires on file at St. Dominic’s. Contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480, and she will send you information and work with you to ensure your desires are honored.

  • Helping Hands - This ministry provides meals for parish families when needed due to an illness, emergency or new baby in the family. To request a meal, please contact Barb Schenauer or Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480.

  • Homebound Ministry - If you or a loved one is homebound due to age, disability or illness, we would like to visit or provide support in whatever way hospital. Please contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480.

  • Hospital Visits and Nursing Home Visits - If you or a loved one is hospitalized, we would like to know so that we can pray for healing for the sick person, and visit at the hospitals if you wish. Federal Privacy Regulation HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act) prohibits all hospitals from informing churches of a patient’s presence unless the patient gives permission for the hospital to do so. If you (or another parishioner you know) are admitted to a hospital and would like remembrance in prayer or a pastoral visit, please contact Susan McNeil at 262-781-3480.

  • Parish Hospitality -  Doughnuts, beverages and hospitality are provided once a month after the 9:00 a.m. Mass for all parishioners.  If you would like to help host this on-going event, please contact Susan McNeil 262-781-3480.

  • Prayer Network - This ministry takes request for prayers and distributes them through the prayer network. This ministry provides support and help to those in need of prayer. To request prayer for an intention, please call our Prayer Network Coordinator, Emily Przybylski at 262-781-8555.St. Vincent de Paul Society -  St. Dominic’s SVDP works with the poor, disadvantaged, ill and elderly in Brookfield and Waukesha County. We have an active Vincentian group who can work to help with visitation, food and clothing distribution, referrals for financial needs, as well as financial assistance. To contact the St. Vincent de Paul Society, please call 262-781-3480, x228

  • Seniors Group - A social group for senior citizens at St. Dominic’s. Meets once a month on the second Tuesday for a Communion service and lunch.   Check the parish calendar for upcoming events.

Community Resources

• Alzheimer’s Association Carefinder – Find out information about the Southeastern Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Association at www.alzheimers-sewi.org. A great website for assistance in finding care for those suffering from Alzheimer's and Dementia can be found through the National Alzheimers Association at www.alz.org/carefinder/index.asp.

• Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee – www.ccmke.org. Catholic Charities and caring go hand in hand. As a human service agency dedicated to meeting specific needs of the family of God, we help the archdiocese lovingly respond to the Gospel imperative to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger and visit the sick. Their services are directed to children, teens, adults, older adults, couples, parishes and the broader community. Services include such ministries as adult day care, ministry on aging, adoption, child welfare services, counseling, legal services to immigrants, parenting support programs, refugee resettlement, the Companion Families program, among others. Services are open to people in need in the 10-county Milwaukee archdiocese without regard to religious, ethnic, racial or economic background.

• Cooperating Congregations of Waukesha County – www.ccwccares.org. Cooperating Congregations of Waukesha County seeks and teams with volunteers from congregations of many faiths. CCWC offers a wide range of services to address the needs of food, clothing, housing, childcare and job training.

• Elmbrook Senior Taxi – Senior taxi that services the city and town of Brookfield, Butler, Elm Grove, Mayfair Mall and St. Joseph’s Outpatient Center on N. Mayfair Road. Operates Monday through Friday from 9-4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9-12:30. To make reservations and for information on costs, please call Elmbrook Senior Taxi at 262-785-1200.

• Hebron House – www.hebronhouse.org. Hebron House provides emergency housing and related services to people in transition with the basic needs of shelter, food and personal support.

• Interfaith Caregiving Network - www.interfaithwaukesha.org. St. Dominic’s is an active member of Interfaith Caregiving Network, which seeks to help senior citizens stay in their own homes. They provide transportation, respite care, friendly visits and assistance with snow removal and lawn care. They are a wonderful source of volunteer assistance for elderly and disabled parishioners. You can contact them at 262-549-3348.

• NAMI – www.namiwaukesha.com. NAMI Waukesha is a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide help to those affected with mental illness and their families and friends. Since 1979, NAMI Waukesha has worked to improve the understanding of mental illness by providing information and referrals, offering court support during commitment proceedings, facilitating support groups throughout the community, sponsoring educational meetings, and advocating on behalf of those with mental illness.

• Parents Place – www.ppacinc.org/parent.php. Parents Place, located on the eastern side of Waukesha, provides supportive programs for parents, support groups, parent education, and classes for children and playgroups.

• Waukesha County Department for Health and Human Services –  www.waukeshacounty.gov/page.aspx?SetupMetaId=176&id=86  The Department of Health and Human Services is a County agency providing a wide range of confidential services designed to enhance the physical and emotional functioning of individuals and families in Waukesha County. The Department's varied and diverse services share a philosophical commitment to the dignity of the individual and a belief that individuals and families can with proper assistance, positively respond to the challenges that life's problems and crises present. Services are available to all County residents, regardless of race, creed, color, handicap or economic situation.

• Waukesha County Department of Senior Services –  www.waukeshacounty.gov/page.aspx?SetupMetaId=336&id=94 The Waukesha County Department of Senior Services provides opportunities and supportive services to Waukesha County residents who are age 60 and above, and to their caregivers. They are a terrific resource for anyone who is helping an older adult. Click to download their Senior Services Guide, an essential guide to helping older adults that contains information on meals-on-wheels, care options, transportation, etc. Stop in at the Waukesha County Administration Center, Room 130, 1320 Pewaukee Road in Waukesha, or call us at (262) 548-7848. Normal business hours are Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

• Waukesha County Food Pantry –www.waukeshafoodpantry.com. The Waukesha Food Pantry is a great resource for anyone who is struggling financially, and in need of food.

• Waukesha County St. Vincent de Paul Society – There are two SVDP stores in Waukesha County: 305 E. Main St. Waukesha, WI 53186, phone number (262) 547-3281; and W369 N5848 Brown St. Oconomowoc, WI 53066, phone number (262) 569-0761.

• The Women’s Center – www.twcwaukesha.org. The Women's Center is an independent, non-profit human service agency founded in 1977. Its mission is to provide safety and support to women and their families and to facilitate their development. The Women's Center provides free and comprehensive services designed to address the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse.

Safeguarding All God's Family

Social Justice and Education

• Immigration Reform
  As we hope many of you are already aware, the Archdiocese is a participant in the Justice for Immigrants campaign(www.justiceforimmigrants.org), which is a coalition of many national Catholic groups including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  The Catholic bishops in the U.S. have been calling for comprehensive immigration reform for a long time, at least since their pastoral letter entitled “Welcoming the Stranger Among Us.”  In 2003, they issued a joint pastoral letter with the bishops of Mexico entitled “Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope”, which set out five principles that guide the Church’s view on migration issues.

  • Persons have the right to find opportunities in their homeland.

  • Persons have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families.

  • Sovereign nations have the right to control their borders.

  • Refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded protection.

  • The human dignity and human rights of undocumented migrants should be respected.

  The U.S. Senate is once again taking up the issue of immigration reform.  You are encouraged to contact Wisconsin
  Senators Feingold and Kohl in support of comprehensive immigration reform. It is extremely important as we debate how to reform our immigration system that we ask God for guidance, insight, knowledge, and courage.  Our hope and prayer is, as Archbishop Dolan has stated, that we may reform our immigration system to better protect workers and families so that it reflects the great ideals of our country and who we are, what we believe, and how we act as we encounter Christ in our neighbor.

Links

• Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Office for Catholic Social Action – www.archmil.org/aboutus/dept.asp?ID=472 . The Catholic Social Action Office is part of the Department for Community and Apostolic Services. This office strives to build the capacity of the diocesan Church to act effectively in defense of human dignity, human rights, and the pursuit of justice and pace. Staff members interact with the community at large in efforts such as homeless shelters, food pantries, meal programs, welfare reform, violence prevention, healthcare and advocacy.

• Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s Office for World Mission - www.archmil.org/aboutus/dept.asp?ID=66 The Office for World Mission promotes the Church’s universal mission locally through global awareness, partnerships and outreach. This office is responsible for providing and coordinating opportunities for the people of our Archdiocese to deepen our missionary spirit through participation in a variety of activities that include the Pontifical Mission Societies; Partners in World Mission; Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Parish in the Dominican Republic; parish international relationships; immersion experiences for adults and youth; education for mission; advocacy for global justice; missionary support; and a resource library and center.

• Catholic Charities USA – www.catholiccharitiesusa.org. Catholic Charities USA is the membership association of one of the nation's largest social service networks. Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide provide vital social services to people in need, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds. Catholic Charities USA supports and enhances the work of its membership by providing networking opportunities, national advocacy and media efforts, program development, training and technical assistance, and financial support.

• Catholic Relief Services – www.crs.org. Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States. Their mission is to assist the poor and disadvantaged, leveraging the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to alleviate human suffering, promote development of all people, and to foster charity and justice throughout the world. Working through local offices and an extensive network of partners, CRS operates on five continents and in 98 countries. We aid the poor by first providing direct assistance where needed, then encouraging people to help with their own development. Together, these approaches foster secure, productive, just communities that enable people to realize their potential. As the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, CRS is also committed to educating the people of the United States to fulfill their moral responsibilities toward our global brothers and sisters by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice.

• Center of Concern – www.coc.org. The Center of Concern, a social justice “think-tank” in Washington, D.C., grapples with issues such as hunger, poverty, environmental decline and injustice in the United States and around the world. They have many good social justice education materials on a variety of social issues.

• Greater Milwaukee Interfaith Council – www.interfaithconference.org. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee participates in the Greater Milwaukee Interfaith Council, an interfaith agency established by the religious community in southeastern Wisconsin to address social issues affecting the quality of life in the Greater Milwaukee area. The Conference enables individuals, congregations, and the religious leadership to participate as an interfaith presence in the dialogue and action that impact on the dignity of every human person and the solidarity of the human community.

• Our Lady of the Gulf Recovery – www.olgv.org. A website for volunteer for Our Lady of the Gulf Parish in Bay St. Louis, MS. This website chronicles the work of Harold and Cindy Lederer, Gulf Volunteer Coordinators for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, as well as the many volunteer groups who have traveled to Mississippi to participate in the rebuilding effort. Check out the pictures of St. Dominic Parishioners from April 2007!

• Rebuilding Lives/Restoring Hope Campaign - www.archmil.org/aboutus/ShowResource.asp?ID=1828 Recognizing the massive destruction of Hurricane Katrina last fall, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee has developed a diocesan-wide response to provide assistance to the parish communities in the Gulf Coast region. The archdiocesan response, “Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Hope,” is a comprehensive effort created through the work of a task force to develop and maintain a relationship with the four parishes in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, part of the Diocese of Biloxi. The four parish communities include: Our Lady of the Gulf parish, St. Rose de Lima, St. Clare – Waveland, and St. Ann parish in Clermont Harbor.

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – www.usccb.org. The USCCB is an assembly of the Catholic Church hierarchy who work together to unify, coordinate, promote, and carry on Catholic activities in the United States; to organize and conduct religious, charitable, and social welfare work at home and abroad; to aid in education; and to care for immigrants. The bishops themselves constitute the membership of the Conference and are served by a staff of over 350 lay people, priests, deacons, and religious.

• Wisconsin Catholic Conference - www.wisconsin.nasccd.org. The Wisconsin Catholic Conference was founded in 1969 by the Catholic Bishops of Wisconsin, and is the social justice and education arm of the Catholic Metropolitan (all of the dioceses) of Wisconsin. The WCC seeks to fulfill the vision of the Second Vatican Council, which called upon the Church to be more involved in the world. Rooted in the teachings of the Gospel and the social teachings of the Church, the WCC offers a specifically Catholic contribution to state and federal public policy debates. The WCC advocates on matters related to the interests and values of the Church, provides decision makers with studied positions on social and moral issues, offers a form for diocesan personnel to exchange information and recommend policies and actions, and formulates and publishes opinions on legislation and public policy.