Blog Archives

St. Louis Parish Awards ESL Certificates

6/25/2015

For the last fourteen years, the parish social ministry at St. Louis Parish in West Haven has been working systematically on a program that helps immigrant families learn the English language.

The program, created by PSM Coordinator Leonor Cortez, includes both children and their parents, with weekly sessions designed to empower parents to teach and guide their children with homework, writing and reading skills.

At a parish meal and celebration on May 20th, Leonor and her team of teachers presented certificates of graduation to seven mothers from the West Haven community. Four children also received achievement diplomas for writing and speaking skills.

This program has been funded by a Cooperative Parish Sharing grant from the Archdiocese of Hartford, Office for Catholic Justice Ministry.

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NEW Website Helps Catholics be "Salt and Light"

6/25/2015

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WeAreSaltAndLight.org, a new website of the U.S. Bishops' Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, helps Catholics respond to Jesus' call to be "salt of the earth" and "light of the world" (Mt. 5:13-16).

The website includes:

More than 50 inspiring stories of real Catholic communities being Salt & Light (including several from our own Archdiocese!)
Over 100 resources on praying, reaching out, learning and acting together
Assessment tools to find ways to grow as faith-filled disciples at home and abroad
A 1-minute introductory video
Responsive design, for usability on handheld devices

WeAreSaltAndLight.org equips Catholics to live out Pope Francis' call to "go forth" on mission. It also seeks to help Catholic communities-especially parishes, dioceses, schools, universities, seminaries, religious communities, and ecclesial movements-to carry out the vision of the U.S. bishops' landmark document, Communities of Salt & Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish.

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Respecting the Dignity of Domestic Workers

6/25/2015

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Lynn Campbell and Maria Lima from the Brazilian Immigrant Center, at the Public Hearing in Hartford.

Legislation that would give certain basic labor protections to Connecticut domestic workers, including home care workers, has passed the state legislature and is awaiting a signature from Gov. Dannel Malloy.

Currently, Connecticut law excludes people who work "in the domestic service of any person" from a host of labor protections, including:

coverage under the state's minimum wage,
eligibility for paid sick days and time-and-a-half overtime pay, and
the ability to bring sexual harassment or discrimination complaints against their employer.

Unfortunately the bill that passed was watered down and, if signed, will only address the latter exemption: allowing domestic workers to file sexual harassment and discrimination complaints with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

We feel this is a big step in a positive direction, however, and look forward to continued work with the Brazilian Worker Center, the Naugatuck Valley Project, the CT Catholic Conference, and other allies working together to address the issue of workers' rights.

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St. Louis Parish Awards ESL Certificates

NEW Website Helps Catholics be "Salt and Light"

Respecting the Dignity of Domestic Workers

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