St. Thomas Aquinas Human Concerns Committee Meeting Minutes, February 24, 2009

Attendance:
Paul Chestnut, Laura Chiu, Ruth Chippendale, Terry Atkinson, Patricia Markee, Walt Lundin, Terry McCaffrey

A new member was introduced: Yi Wang.

1. Faith-Sharing/Question of the Week - Patricia
Patricia posed the question, "How do I image God when I pray?" We shared our faith about images of God.

2. The January minutes were approved.

OLD BUSINESS

3. Death penalty forum - Terry
Terry will meet with Bishop McGraw on Thursday. He will meet with the District Attorney of Santa Clara County to discuss the petition that is being circulated to avoid seeking the death penalty. We discussed having a Death Penalty Forum on April 1, after the SOUP meeting at OLR. The video "The Empty Chair" will be shown, and afterwards, there will be a discussion featuring four people who lost a family member. A flyer will be created and placed in the bulletin. 500 signatures have been collected on the petition calling on our County officials to work with the District Attorney to not seek the death penalty in capital cases.

4. Undie Sunday report - Nancy
570 pieces of underwear were contributed. This is less than last year when 700 pieces were contributed. $1281 was contributed, which is $700 less than last year.

5. Day Worker Center - Patricia
A building on Escuela Avenue has been purchased, and plans are being developed to move in. A permit from the city of Mountain View to move in was obtained.

6. Saint Vincent de Paul food programs
Simon Chiu has upgraded the software program for creating the food distribution list. It is now more user-friendly. More volunteers are needed

NEW BUSINESS

7. Fair Trade Gift Sale for Easter - Laura
Laura has purchased many fair trade food items: coffee, tea, chocolate. The sale is scheduled for March 21 and 22. Volunteers are being lined up to preside in the vestibules after all Masses. Flyers and pulpit announcements are prepared.

8. Bread for the World - Offering of Letters - Paul
The Offering of Letters is planned for May 17. The theme is to call on our representatives in Congress to rework foreign assistance to make it more effective in reducing poverty. Paul read excerpts from the Bread for the World publications describing the campaign.

9. What's On Your Mind?

Ruth: Hotel de Zink will be held the first two weeks of April at the Church of Christ on Middlefield Road.

Walt: The U.S. bishops recently provided the list of priorities for their work. These include: helping the poor through economic stimulus, freedom of worship in Iraq, a just settlement in the Holy Land, protecting the poor in underdeveloped nations that cannot cope with climate change, comprehensive immigration reform, marriage (one man one woman), promotion of education vouchers, opposition to abortion. Walt indicated that he would like volunteers to wrok with him in a program of social justice. Yi Wang, our newest member, volunteered.

Walt: The deanery is planning a "Mass for Justice" on April 29. The theme is immigration reform. The Mass will be held at OLR, Fr. Aranha presiding. Nora Lundin is doing the planning for the event.

10. Volunteer for Faith-sharing/Question of the Week
Walt volunteered.

Next meeting - March 24