Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Learn about slavery in our world today.
Welcome to the Internet Pathway for Haitian Economic Development, a joint project of the worldwide Vincentian Family, Fonkoze, DePaul University, and the Haitian Hometown Association Resource Group Initiated on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the deaths of St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul...full story
A new exhibit titled "Who Knows Tomorrow?" tells the stories of extremely neglected and rejected people from seven countries and how the Daughters of Charity work to assist them...full story
World hunger continues to escalate...full story can be found on pg.3 of June 2009 ASJ Newsletter
Sex trafficking in Macon, Georgia?...full story
Learn more about an exhibit highlighting the rich history and contributions of Catholic sisters in the United States...full story
After reading about the issues that our Social Justice section focuses on, are you wondering what, if anything, you can do to make a difference? You can do something! Inform yourself by reading articles and books or visiting websites regarding the issue(s) that move you. Write to your congressman and senator when appropriate. Pray, Pray, Pray! Tell your friends and family about the social inequities that exist and suggest how they, too, can help make a difference. We’ve listed some of the issues that move us to action along with some ways you can take action.
Background:
In September of 2010 world leaders will gather for a High Level Plenary (HLP) at the United Nations to do a ten-year review of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are time-bound targets agreed to by all the member nations in 2000 to reduce extreme poverty by one-half by the year 2015. The eight goals are: 1) Eradicate Hunger and Poverty; 2) Achieve Universal Primary Education; 3) Promote Gender Equality and Empower women; 4) Reduce Child Mortality; 5) Improve Maternal Health; 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases; 7) Ensure Environmental Sustainability; and 8) Develop a Global Partnership for Development.
Although some progress has been made a great deal remains to be done if these goals are to be achieved by 2015. The Sisters of Charity Federation signed on to a letter with 100 other civil society organizations through the Global Call to Action Against Poverty calling for a Millennium Development Breakthrough Plan to be achieved at the UN Summit with clear and concrete results for the 1.4 billion people who continue to live in poverty.
The letter includes the following recommendations and demands: 1) there must be broad space for civil society participation at all levels; 2) the Review Process must address the issues of inequality and discrimination and the lack of progress on gender equality; 3) a gender and social inclusion audit must be carried out to measure to what extent achievements under the MDG Process have reached marginalized and excluded communities and persons; 4) there must be an effective and inclusive monitoring and accountability component; 5) concrete measures must be taken to address corruption; 6) countries must agree to binding timetables toward the attainment of Official Development Assistance (ODA) targets; 7) new forms for financing development are required; 8) the MDGs require an integrated approach to development; 9) urgent steps to achieve MDG8 must be included in the MDG Breakthrough Plan; 10) productive employment must be a key component of the Plan; 11) funds for climate change mitigation and adaptation must be additional to ODA; and 12) the MDG Breakthrough Plan must recognize the centrality of emissions reduction to combat climate change.
Although we have signed on as a Federation each of the civil society organizations is being urged to invite their individual members to support this initiative.
Send to:
Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Office of the Secretary General
The United Nations
New York, New York 10017
Dear Secretary General Ban Ki-moon:
I urge you to support the Millennium Breakthrough Plan submitted to you by the Global Call to Action against Poverty in the name of 100 civil society organizations. Your leadership is needed at the MDG Review to both challenge world leaders to honor commitments already made and to help them recognize that, in the aftermath of the financial and climate crises, more funding will be required to meet the MDGs.
Visit Zafen.org to learn more about this joint project of the worldwide Vincentian Family, Fonkoze, DePaul University, and the Haitian Hometown Association Resource Group Initiated on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the deaths of St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul.
Watch a video of Sr. Elizabeth speaking about human trafficking in Macon, Georgia.
Visit these websites to learn more:
Read "The Slave Next Door" by Kevin Bales and Ron Soodalter.
Make a FREE FOOD donation at http://www.freerice.com/
Visit these websites to learn more:
Order and read "Seeds of Hope: Stories of Systemic Change".
Visit Catholics Confront Global Poverty a joint effort of Catholic Relief Services and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to learn more.
Visit the Justice for Immigrants website to find out more about this issue. Here you will find resource materials, learn what Catholic Social Teaching tells us as well as ways to be involved in comprehensive immigration reform.