January 17, 2023, Class Update: Social Justice and Living Faith

Greetings everyone!

In our most recent class, we started by reflecting on the life and legacy of Pastor Martin Luther King, Jr.

And we also reflected on what it means to be a disciple, a follower, of Jesus Christ.

Then, we had a very special guest star join us, my uncle, Bernie Rupe.  He is the executive director of Chicago Voyagers, a not-for-profit organization that helps inner-city youth from troubled homes and neighborhoods by taking them on nature outings.

My Uncle Bernie shared about what CV does in meeting the needs of the youth they serve.  He also discussed what social justice is.

The big takeaway from class is that Christ has brought light into our world and into our lives.  We're called to share that Light with others.

For this week, there is nothing to submit for the activity.  Instead, everyone got to take home two items:

The first is a slip of paper with the traditional Epiphany household blessing:

20 + C + M + B + 23

Please tape it up somewhere to remember the blessing God desire to impart upon you and your family in this new year.

Everyone also got a small tea candle.  Please light it at some point between now and February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, when it's customary to have candles blessed at Church.  You can put it on a holder and light it when your family has dinner.

Father Bob blessed these candles.  So it is very important to treat it with respect.  That means to not put in the garbage until the wick is burned down.

Looking ahead, in our next class, we'll continue to explore what it means to live out the gift of faith and the Light God has given us.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with questions, etc.

May God bless your week with opportunities to let your faith shine.

We remain connected as One Church, in God's Light:

All my relations,

Paul

We are called to open ourselves to God's Light and share it with others.
I got this photo of the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean from the balcony of my resort unit in Daytona Beach, FL, 6 years ago this week.

P.S. For our opening prayer, we listened to the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing", an African-American spiritual, and also considered the Black National Anthem.

Pastor King was born in this house in Atlanta, GA, on January 15, 1929.

Our closing prayer was the first reading at Mass this past weekend, from Isaiah 49.

My Uncle Bernie showed this video about the impact of Chicago Voyagers.

He also showed this Catholic Central video on social justice.