Turning on the faucet, and having clean water come out, is a luxury that is easy to take for granted. The crisis in Flint, Michigan has helped us realize that safe, clean, water is a precious resource, even in the United States.  Over the last few month, Connecticut has also been talking about water, but not because it is toxic. Bloomfield’s water has been so well cared for that it is attractive to massive water bottling companies.  Niagara Bottling has been working with the Metropolitan District Commission to create a water bottling plant in Bloomfield.  This California- based corporation would bottle an enormous number of bottles a day- 1.8 million gallons, so much that concerned citizens are calling this a “water raid.”
 
Bottling this much water a day will have an effect on all of Connecticut, not just Bloomfield.  Recently, Senate Bill 422 was approved in the committee and needs to go to the floor for a vote.  According to the concerned citizens and environmental advocates: SB422 would
“Prioritize state residents in a drought and prohibit the export of water out of state in any Drought Emergency. Residents will be cutting water use while water bottling companies will be shipping it out-of-state. The DPH will step in only when our reservoirs are down to 10% capacity. Revise our state drought plan to protect residents. The only way to protect Connecticut's water while its state water plan is being developed is to pass SB422. (Clean Water Action, http://tinyurl.com/water322)
 
“ Without legislation, it will continue to be "open season" for corporate raids on our water. Who gets to decide the future of our water?  SB22 would put a moratorium on large water sales and level the playing field for water rates and special sewer charges for ALL customers. Help protect Connecticut's water. Urge your state representative and state senator to support SB422.”(Bloomfield Citizens,  http://tinyurl.com/water4716)
 
As Catholics, we believe that water is a fundamental right. Caring for creation is one of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching.  The next month will be a critical time to learn about the Niagara deal and help Connecticut form just policies around water usage to protect this sacred resource for both the present and the future.  

​There will be Department of Energy and Environmental Protection public hearings, legislative visits, and an email campaign that will be happening as part of the Bloomfield Citizens actions.  If you would like to stay up to date on this issue or be a part of advocating for a just water plan for Connecticut, please contact Sarah.Hillier@aohct.org
 

Today, March 22, is World Water Day!  Catholics believe that everyone has a right to water: It is a right to life issue. "The right to food, like the right to water, has an important place within the pursuit of other rights, beginning with the fundamental right to life. It is therefore necessary to cultivate a public conscience that considers food and access to water as universal rights of all human beings, without distinction or discrimination.” (Caritas in Veritate, §. 27)  
 
Throughout today, consider learning about issues related to water, praying for those who are experiences problems with their local water, and taking action.

Across the globe, we hear stories of water...
Read Drop by Drop. It is an engaging story that helps children understand important lessons of how to work for justice and peace and to help those in need. The story is about a girl named Sylvie and how her village needed water.  After reading Drop by Drop, see how you and your parish can donate to Catholic Relief Services.

Across the United States, we hear stories of water...
Nestle Waters—the largest bottler of water in the world—is drawing millions of gallons of water a year from the San Bernardino National Forest. Nestle’s permit to remove this precious resource expired in 1988, at which point the Forest Service should have turned off the spigot.  Watch a four-minute documentary explaining the impact Nestle’s operation is having on the forest and demand that the company and our government ensure this shared public resource is protected for future generations.    —  Visit storyofstuff.org/movies/nestle/  for more information.
 
Across the state and in our backyard, we hear stories of water...
Niagara Bottling, a large California-based corporation, wants to  purchase 1.8 million gallons of water per day from greater Hartford's public supply so they can bottle it and sell it. Their plan is to manufacture 2.6 million single-use plastic bottles of water per day at a new Bloomfield plant. Connecticut residents are mobilizing to address the gaps in local review of water management decisions, not just in Bloomfield but in all the communities served by the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) . Learn more about this issue and write to you local representatives through Clean Water Action’s website:  http://tinyurl.com/water322.

For more information on this topic visit.

​'Gather Together' CT Human Trafficking Awareness
Saturday, January 9, from 9-12pm,
First Assembly of God in Waterbury,
Sponsored by The Underground CT,
an interdenominational organization working to engage our churches
in prayer and action against Human Trafficking in CT

This event features several expert speakers with a focus on our in-state response to human trafficking.
 For information: theundergroundct@gmail.com and below flyer. 

To live mercy, we must rediscover both the spiritual works of mercy and the corporal works of mercy. The OCSJM offers “Living Mercy in the Year of Mercy” handouts on the Corporal Works of Mercy using the “Pray, Learn, Act” format to help you incorporate the Year of Mercy into your ministry. They can be used as discussion starters or for parish bulletins. Download it here or view below. 

​A reflection by Mary O'Brien, OCSJM/ CRS Fair Trade Ambassador
 
This past September, I had the privilege of joining a CRS (Catholic Relief Services) delegation of 7 persons from around the country to Malawi, Africa for ten days. Upon returning, the first question I would hear from family, friends and acquaintances went something like, “So how was Africa?” Miriam Hidalgo from our Diocesan Office of Religious Education and Evangelization was also a member of the delegation, and I think we both agree that this is a difficult question to answer. The experience was profound and transformative, yes, but I guess what struck me the most about the trip was the work that CRS is doing, and the commitment that CRS has made to all aspects of integral human development, in countries around the world such as Malawi.

Due to flight delays, we missed the first day of our scheduled activities, because by the time we landed in Ethiopia, we had missed the daily connecting flight to Malawi. We didn’t mind spending the night in Addas Ababa however, because it was New Year’s Eve in Ethiopia, and there was lots of celebrating going on! (The Ethiopian calendar is not the same as ours....a difference of 8 years). The next day we travelled to Malawi, where we were greeted by the CRS Country Representative, and the regional Director of the countries of South Africa, and they spent the entire trip with us, as were travelled through the cities and villages of the country where CRS has projects that are having very positive impacts on struggling communities. The next day, we began our community visits, and before entering the various villages, we would be with CADECOM staff (Catholic Development Commission in Malawi) which works in partnership with CRS throughout the country.

At each village, where we met with community leaders and their chiefs (who were almost always women) we were welcomed by women in colorful wraps who would sing and dance for us as we arrived. In every community, villagers would be chosen to address our delegation, explain the projects that CRS is funding, and ask that we return home, and express their sincere gratitude to those who contribute to CRS, and make these projects possible. Thanks to CRS, and you, whose donations make these projects possible, we saw: shallow wells in different stages of construction, that will be used in the dry season for agricultural production; a school with 1085 students and 11 teachers where CRS is supervising the construction of outdoor latrines and hand washing stations for the students, and the same program in the nearby village to benefit their families; a clinic for newborns and nursing mothers, coordinated by the Sacramentine Sisters, and a nutrition program, using plants and products grown right in the village, also by the Sacramentine Sisters; (“meatballs,” made from pumpkin seeds, figs and tomatoes were absolutely delicious, and pumpkin leaves sautéed over a fire with a little oil - yummy!); a shelter project where we viewed “improved” home construction using local materials; a village where the women have, for the last five years, successfully implemented a micro-finance and lending project.

I was very touched by an invitation I received in a village where we visited an early childhood development center. Here, in two classrooms, each the size of my bedroom at home, there were 40 pre-school age and 45 kindergartners learning words and phrases in English for our benefit. In that village, because I was the oldest member of our delegation and a woman, I was invited to sit at a place of honor next to the chief, also a woman and elder, during a presentation by the community.

The experience was about the “giftedness” of the host communities that we visited, and the “neediness” of the members of the delegation. We went to “listen,” and not to “work,” and realized that our “work” began as soon as we arrived back home. It was about the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Solidarity, the mutual participation and transformation, as we experienced the universality of the Catholic Church. It was relationship based; and we asked questions about the experiences/injustices and our part in these injustices. CRS delegations don’t go into a country to “DO.” We work with the community that” DOES.” CRS employs members of the various local areas to work on the projects, rather than bringing in folks from countries such as ours. We learn how important our funding is, because funders are the ones who make all of these projects possible.

We have partnered with the Global Catholic Climate Movement to raise awareness about the climate change crisis in the Catholic community. We urge world leaders to commit to ambitious climate action and solve this urgent moral crisis (for more information, see climate change facts and Catholic teachings on climate change). Pope Francis said:“On climate change, there is a clear, definitive and ineluctable ethical imperative to act.” If you agree, click “Yes” below:”

This summer, a group of young adults from the archdiocese learned about Catholics Confront Global Poverty and decided to take action! In  late August, Claire, Adrian and Miriam visited Senator Murphy's office to advocate for current Catholics Confront Global Poverty issues of human trafficking, immigration reform, and climate change.      
Our Holy Father has called on us all to take urgent action in the face of increasing changes to our global climate in his recent encyclical "Laudato Si [Praised Be]: On the Care of Our Common Home". As Catholics, we cannot sit idly by when we see in the world around us the effects of changing weather patterns on poor and vulnerable people. Farmers in the dry Sahel region of Africa have shared with Catholic Relief Services that they are experiencing a much shorter rainy season, making it more difficult to grow the food they need.
In the near-term, the U.S. Congress must provide $500 million in this year's appropriations as a down payment to the $3 billion pledge our nation has made to the Green Climate Fund over the next 4 years. The Green Climate Fund is an international effort to help developing nations adapt to climate changes and mitigate their effects. Take Action Now: Send a message to your members of Congress and urge them to fully fund President Obama's $500 million request for the Green Climate Fund in this year's appropriation
CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION NOW!
"The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all." Pope Francis (23)