The Catholic Relief Services Youth Team expresses its deepest sympathy to the students, faculty, administration, family and friends of Virginia Tech University. We hold in prayer all those affected by this act of violence, that in this season of resurrection, God's grace may sustain us, bring healing, and restore hope for a world free from violence.
During times like this, young people ask many questions in their attempt to make sense of such catastrophes. The following resources may serve to help you pray and talk with the young people you serve during the weeks ahead.
- Conflict: How do we deal with it?
- Education for Justice
- Talking With Children About War and Violence In the World
- Responding to the Virginia Tech tragedy
- Preventing Future School Shootings
- A Reflection on the Violence Done to Youth
- Resources for Hope During School Tragedies
- Resources on Youth Violence
- Earth Day - April 22
- Celebrate Earth Day by utilizing the resources located in the Stewardship/Care of Creation webpage and the Earth Day Network . Take advantage of this day to lay the foundation for stewardship in young people by creatively fostering awareness of and inspiring action for environmental justice.
- Global Days for Darfur - April 23-30, 2007
- The Save Darfur Coalition is sponsoring a week-long awareness campaign, Global Days for Darfur . Use this week to sponsor an event to raise awareness, connect with other events in your area, and inspire action among the young people you serve. Resources are available through the Global Days for Darfur website. Additional information on Sudan can be obtained on the Education Resources page and CRS Sudan web page .
- World Fair Trade Day - May 12, 2007
- "Kids Need Fair Trade" is the theme of this year's World Fair Trade Day , celebrated on May 12, 2007. World Fair Trade Day is an international celebration of Fair Trade internationally. In dozens of countries Fair Traders host events including Fair Trade breakfasts, talks, music concerts, fashion shows and much more, to promote Fair Trade and campaign for justice in trade. Fair Trade products from marginalized communities in the majority world, including coffee and tea, clothes, jewelry and beautiful handicrafts will be showcased on this day. CRS Fair Trade is a sponsor of the U.S. commemoration of World Fair Trade Day. For free resources, including posters and tips for organizing events, visit the Fair trade Resource Network or contact Jackie DeCarlo for more information.
- Justice Walking
- Planning for the 2007-2008 academic year? Seeking to energize the young people served through your parish youth ministry or school campus ministry? You might consider doing so by inviting them to participate in JusticeWalking . Created by JustFaith Ministries, JusticeWalking is a "prophet-raising" process designed to help older teenagers encounter the spiritual and social implications of the Gospel message. It is a process that attempts to respond to the realities and expectations of young people and their mentors in parish, diocesan, and high school ministry settings as they explore together our faith call to justice. Over the course of a nine-month school year a small community of young people and adult mentors enter into prayerful dialogue, experiential investigation of the prophetic call to live justly, and the building of relationships with people at the margins. For more information, contact JustFaith Ministries .
- Take Your Next Class to Palestine through Cyber Bridges!
- Make Social Justice real for your classes through an innovative program which is all about Global Solidarity. Offer your students opportunities to become responsible global citizens by connecting them to teen-agers in Palestine, Cambodia, India and Viet Nam. Cyber Bridges, a project sponsored by CRS, matches Catholic high school classrooms to youth overseas through the use of a secure website managed by CRS staff. Teachers are provided with an easy-to-follow curriculum which is designed to take no more than 1-2 hours per week. CRS staff offer support from Baltimore and six regional offices. Students work in small groups to engage in cross-cultural communication and work together on peacebuilding projects with their peers. Students learn from their partners about celebrations, traditions, family, education, and community, and more importantly, the issues, challenges and realities of teens around the world. For more information, visit the Cyber Bridges website, or contract Gloria Peterson.
The Catholic Relief Services Youth Team expresses its deepest sympathy to the students, faculty, administration, family and friends of Virginia Tech University. We hold in prayer all those affected by this act of violence, that in this season of resurrection, God's grace may sustain us, bring healing, and restore hope for a world free from violence.
During times like this, young people ask many questions in their attempt to make sense of such catastrophes. The following resources may serve to help you pray and talk with the young people you serve during the weeks ahead.
- Conflict: How do we deal with it?
- Education for Justice
- Talking With Children About War and Violence In the World
- Responding to the Virginia Tech tragedy
- Preventing Future School Shootings
- A Reflection on the Violence Done to Youth
- Resources for Hope During School Tragedies
- Resources on Youth Violence
National Catholic Education Association Annual Convention
Make a Note to Go Global With Youth at the NCEA Baltimore Convention!
We would like to invite you to special events and workshops that will be sponsored by Catholic Relief Services at the National Catholic Education Association Convention in Baltimore on April 10-13, 2007. Some events will be held at our World Headquarters, just a few blocks from the Baltimore Convention Center.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Fair Trade Coffee Tasting
4:30 PM
Baltimore Convention Center
Sample some of the world's great coffees and find out how Fair Trade is helping to improve the lives of the farmers who grow them. By the time you are finished you will be talking coffee like the pros -- learn the difference between aroma and fragrance and impress your friends by being able to distinguish between coffees from Ethiopia, Indonesia and Guatemala.
Fair Trade Chocolate at First Night
in Baltimore
6:00-9:00 PM
Baltimore Inner Harbor
Visit the CRS table at the Taste of Baltimore tent during the First Night events in Baltimore. Dip Fair Trade bananas in a Fair Trade chocolate fountain as you drink Fair Trade coffee!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Going Global With Youth: CRS Exhibits
at the NCEA Convention Exposition
Baltimore Convention Center
Visit the Catholic Relief Services Booths # 815/914, #1610 and #1937 to find out ways that you can go global with youth. Get your global passports, have them stamped in all 3 booths and be eligible to win fair trade items in the daily raffle. Limited edition prizes will also be given away each day.
Global Solidarity, Catholic Relief
Services and Catholic Education
3:00-4:15 PM
Baltimore Convention Center
The principles of Catholic Social Teaching will be applied to the development work of CRS to counter a negative view of the world. The result, with the assistance of Frontiers of Justice alumni, will be a renewed sense of global solidarity.
Frontiers of Justice Reception
4:30 to 6:30 PM
CRS World Headquarters, 209 W. Fayette near the Sheraton City Center Hotel
Secondary school teachers and administrators are invited to join Frontiers of Justice alumni and CRS staff to learn about the CRS/NCEA Frontiers of Justice program, an internationalexperience in global solidarity for high school teachers.
RSVP by April 6, 2007 to educationprograms@crs.org or call 1-866-608-5978.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Catholic Relief Services Operation
Rice Bowl Breakfast
7:30-8:45 AM
CRS World Headquarters
Join Operation Rice Bowl Coordinators and Catholic Relief Services staff for the Operation Rice Bowl Breakfast. We will come together for prayer and to share a simple meal to thank ORB school coordinators and to exchange best practices.
RSVP by April 6, 2007 to educationprograms@crs.org or call 1-866-608-5978.
"Divine" Democracy:
Teaching About Fair Trade Chocolate and Ghana
9:00-10:30 AM
CRS World Headquarters
Based on new CRS modules on Fair Trade chocolate and Catholic Social Teaching, this session will provide an introduction to Fair Trade and help participants experience an economic justice lesson.
RSVP by April 6, 2007 to educationprograms@crs.org or call 1-866-608-5978.
Teen to Teen World Connections
1:00-2:15 PM
CRS World Headquarters
Connect your students to teen-agers in Palestine, Cambodia, India and Viet Nam. Learn how CRS' Cyber Bridges program matches Catholic high school classrooms to youth overseas through a secure website. Bring your lunch. Refreshments and dessert will be on us.
RSVP by April 6, 2007 to educationprograms@crs.org or call 1-866-608-5978.
Raise Money Right / Online Fair Trade Quiz Contest!
Since Halloween, CRS has encouraged students, teachers and youth ministries to explore Fair Trade through chocolate and Catholic Social Teaching. Now is the time to test your knowledge! From March 1, 2007 to March 31, 2007 CRS will conduct an on-line quiz. If you answer all of the questions correctly, you will be entered into a random drawing for a $100 gift certificate to A Greater Gift. There will be one winner from each of the six CRS regions in the United States. No purchase or payment is required to participate.
Additional information is available on the Raise Money Right program, CRS Fair Trade and Fair Trade educational resources.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: January 18-25, 2007
Invite the young people you serve to join in the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Designated to invite Christians to join together in prayer for unity and in collective response to human suffering, this can be a time to learn about other Christian denominations and invite young people to pray in solidarity for those who suffer throughout the world. Particular focus this year is given to those living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Review the resource from the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and World Council of Churches for developing opportunities for prayer and discussion. Visit the CRS Education Prayer and Retreats page for additional ideas for praying with our brothers and sisters of any faith throughout the world.
Migration in Light of Catholic Social Teaching
The forthcoming observances of National Migration Week and the 93rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees provide teachable moments for young people. A comprehensive listing of resources from CRS, its partners and the Catholic church around the world is now available on our Educational Resources page. These are suitable for use throughout the year.