Looking at Social Justice

As of 10/13/21, Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares the latest news from the Vatican about Pope Francis. In this first update in a series, he will review briefly The Season of Creation, the Season of Prayer and Reflection, the Meeting with Interfaith Leaders to discuss Climate Change, COP 26 in Glasgow, the Laudato Si Action Platform and The Synod on Synodality.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno interviews Mayor Jerry Dyer about his initiative to improve the city's "curb appeal" through the coordinated delivery of existing City resources to eliminate trash, graffiti and blight, by creating community based cleanup and beautification projects. The goal is to create a cleaner, greener more beautiful place to live, work and play. Besides this project, as time allows we will discuss the Mayor's commitment to One Fresno and his position on the LGBTQ Community, Covid-19 protocols (masks and vaccinations), the union construction jobs deal, the wildfires' effect on Fresno, his opposition to the PG&E rate hike proposal and his support for the eviction moritorium for Fresno renters.The program opens with the Pope Video from June 2016 and its call for true solidarity in our cities.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno interviews Marcel Woodruff, a community organizer with Faith in the Valley, a PICO affiliate. With 120 congregations of various faith backgrounds representing over 100,00 people in Fresno, Kern Merced Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties, FIV comes together with community partners to create a better future for Valley families and communities. Faith in the Valley is to collaborating with everyone for a future with good jobs, clean air and water, alternatives to incarceration, quality healthcare and safe neighborhoods- for all segments of the community. In this program, Marcel will describe Advance Peace, its main program to reduce gun violence in the city of Fresno.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Maciel Godburn, volunteer coordinator for Crime Survivors Ministry in the Diocese of Fresno.  She will discuss Crime Site Healing Prayer Services- Bakersfield and Porterville.  This episode concludes with a Wall of Remembrance for the victims of crime. Maciel Godburn is coordinating with Bishop Joseph Brennan's blessing. 

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Maciel Godburn, volunteer coordinator for Crime Survivors Ministry in the Diocese of Fresno.  She will discuss and illustrate with photos the June 26, 2021 Crime Survivors Healing Retreat held at St. Anthony's Retreat Center in Three Rivers. Bishop Joseph V. Brennan participated and celebrated Mass for the crime survivors. This episode concludes with a Save the Date announcement: June 25, 2022 for the Second Annual Crime Survivors Ministry Healing Retreat. Maciel Godburn is coordinating with Bishop Joseph Brennan's blessing.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Maciel Godburn, volunteer coordinator for Crime Survivors Ministry in the Diocese of Fresno. She will introduce viewers and listeners to the origins of this commitment which go back to her husband John before he passed. She'll describe the Crime Survivors Ministry logo which she designed and present all the events the ministry had for this year 2021. Maciel Godburn is coordinating with Bishop Joseph Brennan's blessing.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Chris De Leon, Community Gardens Manager, Fresno Metro Ministry. They'll discuss a range of issues including Metro Ministry's leadership and several of its programs. Better Blackstone, Food to Share, CalFresh Outreach, Cooking Matters. As Manager, Chris will describe the amazing Fresno Metro Community Gardens, which will be illustrated by visuals and a video.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno interviews Fr. Byron Macias, a Claretian Missionary serving as sacramental priest at the St. Paul Catholic Newman Center. Fr. Byron will introduce us to himself and his religious community and his speciafic ministry at the St. Paul Catholkic Newman Center. He and Jim will then share with viewers and listeners the efforts they are co-chairing to  develop Creation  Care Teams at the parish in the spirit of Pope Francis and with leadership and resources from Catholic Climate Covenant.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno interviews Dr. Malik Simba, Professor Emeritus, Fresno State University where he taught several courses in the Africana Studies Program and History, wrote a number of important books, and inspired countless students. In his first appearance on Looking at Social Justice, he will share his experience of teaching American history via Critical Race Theory for 40-plus years to White, Black and all others. He'll define CRT, offer examples of it, and why it is important that we use it as a way to best appreciate the complex and difficult mirror of our nation's history. Our country was built on racism, and it's high time to address systemic racism that sustains so many of our institutions to this very day.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno interviews Kyla Mitchell, who will share about there Women's' International League for Peace and Freedom (hereto listed as WILPF) and the film Hibakusha, which they will be presenting at the Big Red Church on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 7:00. Inspired by Jane Addams, WILPF has been working globally for world peace and justice for more than a 100 years. Hibakusha (Japanese for Survivor)It is a powerful film about Survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and is part of the Human Rights Coalition Commemoration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, August 6th and 9th.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno interviews Destiny Rodriguez, Regional Community Relations for the Climate Center. She will introduce viewers and listeners to the Climate Center, Community Choice Energy, benefits that deserve to be explored, where this is already a reality, what kit would do for the central valley an d how to learn more and become involved.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will briefly describe the Human Rights Coalition of Centyral California's Second Annual Commemoration of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and then Dr. Daniel O'Connell will invite viewers/listeners to join him in a "fast" from August 6 through August 9 in solidarity with those suffereing injustices around the world even today.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will introduce viewers and listeners to Heath Cox Richardson, distinguished professor of History at Boston College, his alma mater. He'll invite the public to subscribe to her daily newsletter Letters From an American which hundreds of thousands read each day, and share a bit more on Then and Now, the podcast she and Joanne Freeman (History Professor at Yale) started posting weekly since June 1, 2021. These are tremendously important resources which contextualize the current American political landscape by connecting it to other moments  and movements in U.S. History, sometimes as far back as the colonial times.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will discuss with Judge Dale Ikeda, retired Judge on the Superior Court of Fesno County the Human Rights Coalition of the Central Valley's Second Annual Commemoration of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This year's event includes an opening ceremony on August 6th (Peace Harden @ FSU), a film on August 7th (Big Red Church), and a closing ritual on August 9th (Shinzen Garden). It includes land acknowlegments, speeches,readings, and an invitation to Fast (Dr. Daniel O'Connell). Judge Ikeda inttroduces us to VORP, Restorative Justice, Japanese American Citizens League, Fresno-Kochi Sister City Program, Japanese Internment, Japanese-American bravery in Wortld War II, Peace Garden at FSU, Seedlings from Hiroshima, and Nuclear Disarmament

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Rev. B.T. Lewis, Pastor of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church. In response to the dismissal of Yvonne Spence as Fresno City Clerk, their discussion will begin with the call of Black leaders for the City of Fresno to develop an anti-racism taskforce to create action plans and roundtables to address employment and career opportunities, economic development, and greater justice and equity for everyone in Fresno. Racism in Fresno, the Fresno City Council, the Fresno Black Leadership Collective, the African American Clergy Caucus will be mentioned in this part 2 of 2 programs with Pastor B.T. Lewis.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Rev. B.T. Lewis, Pastor of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church about faith leadership and politics and the importance of addressing inequities and the woven roots of racism and implicit bias in society, institutions, and systems. Pastor will share how his experience of growing up in Greenville Texas definitely influenced him as a young man, and how all forms of racial bias, attitudes and  injustice need to be addressed by all institutions, including churches. This is part 1 of 2 programs with Pastor B.T. Lewis

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will introduce viewers and listeners to four podcasts that he is personally enjoying in his retirement: The Commonweal Podcast, Inside the Vatican, The Gloria Purvis Podcast, and Now and Then.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Rabbi Dr. Laura Novak Winer, Director of Clinical Education at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education, Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles, CA. Among other things hey will talk about Rabbi's rabbinic and doctoral studies, Tzedek, Shalom, Tikkun Olam, Jewish Education, creating cultures of learning, Faith in Fresno, working on the Eviction Prevention Program for Fresno, empowering tenants to advocate for their rights, the legal defense fund, systemic racism, the Interfaith Scholar Weekend, witnessing, and reparations.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will discuss the importance of Juneteenth , the 13th and newest Federal Holiday 

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will discuss Eboo Patel and his Interfaith Youth Core. The podcast will be based on a reading of  Patel's column in USA Today, June 9, 2021, "Bridges of Unity Don't Just Fall From the Sky".

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview his brother, Rob Grant, who is a pastoral musician serving in ghe Archdiocese of San Francisco and gthe Diocese of Oakland.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Hajj Reza Nekumanmesh, Executive Director of the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno regarding how people of faith in the Central Valley are following the example of Pope Francis and Ayatollah Ali Sayed al-Sistani in reaching out to those of diverse faiths in the effort to deal with issues of social, racial, environmental, and economic injustices right here where we live.

Jim Grant, retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno will interview Hajj Reza Nekumanmesh, Executive Director of the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno regarding the global significance of Pope Francis' recent Pilgrimage of Peace, Reconciliation and Healing to Iraq (March 5-8, 2021). We will discuss especially the significnce of Pope Francis' vist to Najaf, center of Shi'a Islam, and his monumental meeting with thwe Ayatollah Ali Sayed al Sistani, spiritual leader of 200,000,00 Shi'a Muslims. The Holy Father met with the Sunni Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb back in February 2019.

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares some more personal reflections on the recent election of Joseph R. Biden as the 46th President of the United States. In response to certain Catholics who have challenged Biden's "Catholic faith", Jim will share some articles from America magazine, attesting to his life-long commitment to the Catholic Church and his personal Catholic faith. He'll read from the October 28, 2020 article in America entitled "What might a Biden presidency look like? Pope John XXIII could give us some clues."  Jim will share his own reflection on Pope John XXIII and his dream of a  Second Vatican Council- a world wide meeting of bishops which only he saw as long overdue and necessary. Both were elected at 77, and both knew it would be the closing chapter of their lives. Both had big dreams to share, and plenty of opposition to them. Let's pray that the President has half the success of the beloved Pontiff. and that he brings a sense of unity to our country, just as Vatican II was called to bring a sense of unity to the Church. The program opens with a brief introduction of he Interfaith Alliance of Central California and their upcoming Thanksgiving Celebration.

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares some personal reflections on the recent election of Joseph R. Biden as the 46th President of the United States. On October 13, 2020 Bishop Robert McElroy, Bishop of San Diego and President of the California Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote an opinion piece "U.S. Catholics, Politically Homeless, Face Hard Choices". With some personal comment, Jim reads excerpts from the conclusion of Bishop McElroy's articles, which is basically drawn from 3 virtues central to Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis' Encyclical on Fraternity and Social Friendship, (October 4, 2020). 1. The Virtue of Compassion 2. The Virtue of Solidarity 3. The Virtue of Dialogue All three are essential to our country, and blatantly missing, or sorely challenged at this critical time in our history. 

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares some personal reflections on the recent election of Joseph R. Biden as the 46th President of the United States. To show that the Catholic Church (whose members in the U.S. voted in equal  numbers for Trump and Biden) understands that Biden is the President-Elect, Jim shared words from Pope Francis and Archbishop Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles and current President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Biden looks forward to working with the Vatican "on issues such as caring for the marginalized and the poor, addressing the crisis of climate change, and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities". The Archbishop congratulated Biden and Harris, and reminded everyone that "democracy requires that all of us conduct ourselves as people of virtue and self-discipline...and that we treat each other with charity and civility...In closing, he asked the Blessed Virgin Mary to help us become "one nation under God, where the sanctity of every human life is defended and freedom of conscience and religion are guaranteed." (We are politically homeless, as Bishop McElroy reminded us recently as well)

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares some personal reflections on the current upsurge in the COVID-19 Pandemic nationally, and two resources to help us deal with it globally as Church, and locally as citizens looking for ways to respond personally and as a community. Viewers/listeners will be introduced to the Harvard Catholic Forum's upcoming webinar on COVID-19 and the Worldwide Church and the Human Rights Coalition of the Central Valley's zoom program entitled "Health Care is a Human Right". Jim is hoping that viewers/listeners will share with him (jimgrantbc@gmail.com) their own thoughts and resources about this topic and any of the others which he has addressed in any of the Looking at Social Justice programs. 

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares some personal reflections on the upcoming national election. Recorded on October 28, they reveal some ideas and thoughts that will hopefully still be worth listening to no matter who is elected on November 3. Topics Jim covered included the Faithful Citizenship videos produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the zoom session that Fr. Paul Keller would be offering on that resource. Admitting he identifies with the 66% of the U.S. population feeling stress and frustration throughout this exhausting election cycle, he sees the problem best illustrated in the failure to work toward consensus because of the "battleground" mindset established by the uniquely American concept of the electoral college, and not the popular vote across the country, determining who will be our president. 

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno offers a third look at Pope Francis' newest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship. Having offered two brief overviews, in this program he focuses on Chapter 2: A Stranger on the Road. In this section the Pope takes a deep dive into Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, which the Holy Father sees as offering us three alternatives: Are we the traveler, are we the bandits/thieves/robbers, or are we the Samaritan who gives the victim on the side of the road the attention, the care, and the compassion he/she needs, beginning with the gift of our time (F.T. #63)

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno offers a second look at Pope Francis' newest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship. In broad strokes he mentions the main points of the 8 chapters: 1-Global problems needing global solutions 2-Love Building Bridges, based on the Good Samaritan  3-Rights Having no Borders and 4-Global governance for long-term planning RE: Migrants 5-Politics as a Valuable Form of Charity,6- The Miracle of Kindness 7-The Art of Peace and the Importance of Forgiveness (Death Penalty and "Just War" both inadmissible) and 8- The positive role of all Religions, and the importance of Religious Freedom.

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno wraps up his review of the 4 part the Commonweal Magazine's series on "Re-Imagining U.S. Catholicism". In this particular program, which he found the most practical, most challenging and most valuable of all, he focuses on the final segment in the series, The Future of Community and Sacramental Life (#4 of 4). Currently, that webinar along with the first three (Prophetic Inclusion: Catholic Women in Church Leadership; Modern and Just Catholic Education and Formation; and Reckoning of Catholic Institutions) are now easily found at commonwealmagazine.org). 

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares more of what he learned from recent webinars in Commonweal Magazine's series on "Re-Imagining U.S. Catholicism". He mentions the first two (previously discussed in Looking at Social Justice # 135) and in this program focuses on issues raised in A Reckoning of Catholic Institutions # 3 of 4). He shares Massimo Faggioli's insistence in the webinar that no matter what happens on November 3, we as Church have our work cut out for us.

In this program, Jim Grant, Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares some TV programming that he and his wife Peggy find a pleasant alternative to "American police procedurals". Acorn TV is a platform (like Netflix) that offers many mystery-thriller programs "from Britain and Beyond". Watching how police operate in Britain, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Australia (so far!) have let them see how while crimes, even serial murders, occur, the response of police is so different there than here. Guns are much less present, mediation is prominent, judgment is measured, and  incarceration is much more humane. And did I mention there are no capital crimes? To see how criminal justice reform is already operating in the rest of the English speaking world, I recommend Acorn TV! Contact Jim (jimgrantbc@gmail.com) for more on why he and Peggy enjoy Acorn so much.

In this program, Jim Grant, Retired Director and current Bishop's Liaison for Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares his personal experience of Interfaith Dialogue through his participation in weekly Torah Study at Temple Beth Israel in Fresno, CA. He introduces viewers and listeners to what happens during the zoom session in which members of Temple Beth Israel and some Christian friends of that community share insights into Hebrew Scripture. At present, they have just finished 2 Kings and are beginning an in-depth reflection on the Book of Isaiah. Seeing Deacon Candidate Gabriel Gil join the group made his day! Contact Jim (jimgrantbc@gmail.com) for more on Torah Study on Zoom!

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares his personal experience of getting back to enjoying William Shakespeare. After mentioning the social justice themes that he sees running through the plays Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Othello, Richard II and Richard III) and podcasts (The Patrick Page Podcast), that he has seen or listened to, and invites viewers and listeners to join him in this chance for enrichment during the pandemic, and to share with him what they have enjoyed and learned as well.

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno briefly introduces viewers and listeners to Commonweal Magazine and its currently running webinar series on "Re-Imagining U.S. Catholicism". The magazine articles on "Whose Lives Matter", Parish Life, American Exceptionalism, the Environment, Religion and Presidential Politics, and Life During the Pandemic were shown briefly, and a quick reprise of the two webinars on "Prophetic Inclusion: Catholic Women in Church Leadership" and "Modern and Just Catholic Education and Formation" were shared. 

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno briefly introduces some major takeaways from Pope Francis' newest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, on Fraternity and Social Friendship. Based on Austen Ivereigh's brief video clip in America media, Jim highlights these main points of Fratelli Tutti: 1.It is a rediscovery of Fraternity 2. It offers a critique of both Liberalism and Populism 3. It proposes Dialogue and Listening as the way to overcome polarization 4. Its proposal of the Good Samaritan as a model for the world at this critical time in our history. Its relation to Evangelii Gaudium and Laudato Si is presented, and its connection to the joint statement on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together (signed with Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in February 2019) wrap up this first  look at Fratelli Tutti. 

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares his experience as an adjunct member of the staff  at the St. Paul Catholic Newman Center, his parish. In particular he discusses Bishop Robert Barron's video website Word on Fire, and in particular Bishop's series entitled Catholicism: Pivotal Players. He concluded the program by inviting viewers and listeners to view the program on St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, whose first feast day as a saint we just celebrated on October 9.

In this program, Jim Grant. Retired Director of Social Justice Ministry for the Diocese of Fresno shares the work of the Environmental Stewardship Committee of the California Catholic Conference. In particular, he describes the first priority chosen by that committee: The California Bishops' commitment to support clergy, liturgists, musicians and pastoral leaders to integrate the messages of Laudato Si into our life of worship, and to offer priest study days and days of recollection to share practical tools, such as homily helps, music, and resources that will regularly proclaim themes of Laudato Si. He invited parishioners to ask their priests, deacons and catechists to join in this effort of teaching about and implementing Laudato Si.

As the United States is polarized, so are many in the Catholic Church in this country. Gloria Purvis, host of EWTN’s Morning Glory radio show stands out as someone proudly pro-life and definitely pro-all of Catholic Social Teaching. Based on an interview she gave to Stephen Adubato and America Media (September 23, 2020), Jim Grant will share her prophetic commitment to the life and dignity of the human person from womb to tomb, and her critique of racism even among her Catholic brothers and sisters.

Laudato Si, On Caring for our Common Home, is not only the most read papal encyclical of all time, but has been inspiring concrete, practical action across the globe.                        As we conclude the Season of Creation (Sept.1-Oct.4, 2020) we will reflect methodically on the Message with which Pope Francis opened the Season. In this sixth of 6 programs, Jim Grant will share what Pope Francis says about Jubilee as “A Time to Rejoice”, reminding us that despite the urgency of the crisis, and the challenges we face, we should rejoice in the progress being made and never lose hope that “things can change” (L.S. 13). Looking at Social Justice programs # 126-130 have shared more deeply about other Jubilee themes which Pope Francis develops.

Laudato Si, On Caring for our Common Home, is not only the most read papal encyclical of all time, but has been inspiring concrete, practical action across the globe.                        As we conclude the Season of Creation (Sept.1-Oct.4, 2020) we will reflect methodically on the Message with which Pope Francis opened the Season. In this fifth of 6 programs, Jim Grant will share what Pope Francis says about Jubilee as “A Time to Restore”, connecting it to the principal of restorative justice, recognition of the medical, social and economic crises many face as a result of Covid-19, and a cancellation of debt of the most vulnerable countries. Looking at Social Justice programs # 126-130 will share more deeply about other Jubilee themes which Pope Francis develops.

Laudato Si, On Caring for our Common Home, is not only the most read papal encyclical of all time, but has been inspiring concrete, practical action across the globe.                        As we conclude the Season of Creation (Sept.1-Oct.4, 2020) we will reflect methodically on the Message with which Pope Francis opened the Season. In this fourth of 6 programs, Jim Grant will share what Pope Francis says about Jubilee as “A Time to Rest”, connecting it to the Sabbath and the deeper Hebraic understanding of “Shabbat”, and the different pace of life which the pandemic is offering us a chance to appreciate. Looking at Social Justice programs # 126-130 will share more deeply about other Jubilee themes which Pope Francis develops.

Laudato Si, On Caring for our Common Home, is not only the most read papal encyclical of all time, but has been inspiring concrete, practical action across the globe.                        As we conclude the Season of Creation (Sept.1-Oct.4, 2020) we will reflect methodically on the Message with which Pope Francis opened the Season. In this third of 6 programs, Jim Grant will share what Pope Francis says about Jubilee as “A Time to Return”, connecting it to Yom Kippur (9/28/20) and the deeper Hebraic understanding of “Teshuva”, which is not a change of mind as much as a “turning” or “returning to the Lord”. Looking at Social Justice programs # 128-130 will share more deeply about other Jubilee themes which Pope Francis develops.

Laudato Si, On Caring for our Common Home, is not only the most read papal encyclical of all time, but has been inspiring concrete, practical action across the globe.                        As we conclude the Season of Creation (Sept.1-Oct.4, 2020) we will reflect methodically on the Message with which Pope Francis opened the Season. In this second of 6 programs, Jim Grant will share what Pope Francis says about Jubilee as “A Time to Remember” that everything is related (L.S. 92) and interconnected (L.S. 70), despite what Bob Dylan (“Everything is Broken, 1989) may lead us to believe. Looking at Social Justice programs # 127-130 will share more deeply about other Jubilee themes.

Laudato Si, On Caring for our Common Home, is not only the most read papal encyclical of all time, but has been inspiring concrete, practical action across the globe.                        As we conclude the Season of Creation (Sept.1-Oct.4, 2020) we will reflect methodically on the Message with which Pope Francis opened the Season. In this first of 6 programs, Jim Grant will offer a brief introduction to this year’s theme “Jubilee for the Earth”. Pope Francis sees Jubilee asea sacred time to remember, to return, to rest, to restore, and to rejoice. Looking at Social Justice programs # 126-130 will share more deeply about each of these times.

Laudato Si, On Caring for our Common Home, is not only the most read papal encyclical of all time, but has been inspiring concrete, practical action across the globe.                        Stewardship is a major theme of Laudato Si, and soon after that encyclical was published in 2015, T.J. Grembowski produced a beautiful video called Stewardship (The Water Parable) (3:56). Jim Grant will comment on the Laudato Si and video and propose that during this Season of Creation we all decide on ways to develop our “stewardship” and implement Pope Francis’ encyclical locally.

In this program on Solidarity, Jim Grant returns to the sixth principle of Catholic Social Teaching which he commented upon in Looking at Social Justice # 116.                         Based on a video clip and prayer from the USCCB, he will show how COVID-19 offers us not only tremendous challenges but opportunities to show solidarity in so many concrete ways with those most impacted by the pandemic.

Since January 2016, Pope Francis’ monthly prayer intentions have been produced, illustrated, and promoted visually as the Pope Video. Workers and Workers Rights is a theme he returns to often, and as an example of his concern is well presented in the October 2017 Pope Video.                                  Since we are just beginning Hispanic Heritage Month, we will also see a brief video on that topic and Jim Grant will comment on the connection he sees between these two video clips.

To help Catholics better appreciate the importance for years the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published and periodically updated a booklet with that title and on that topic. In 2020, in time for elections that year, they produced a series of videos in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese to reach a wider audience. The one entitled “Catholics Love Their Neighbors” (2:27) relates very well to the fourth principle of CST 101: Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. Following the video clip, Jim Grant will comment on this principle, continuing his reflection he started in Looking at Social Justice #114.

To help Catholics better appreciate the importance of Faithful Citizenship, for years the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published and periodically updated a booklet with that title, and on that topic. Prior to the 2020 elections, in 2020 they produced a series of videos in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese to reach a wider audience. The one entitled “Catholics Promote the Common Good” (1:4) fleshes out nicely the third principle of CST 101: Rights and Responsibilities.  Following the video clip, Jim Grant will comment on this principle, continuing the reflection he started in Looking at Social Justice #113.