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Today humanity appears much more interactive than in the past:
this shared sense of being close to one another must be transformed
into true communion. The development of peoples depends, above
all, on a recognition that the human race is a single family working
together in true communion, not simply a group of subjects who
happen to live side by side.

-- Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Charity in Truth (2009) #53.

The Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice Network
and Des Moines Catholic Worker announce

A Social Justice
Immersion Weekend

Thursday, October 8 - Saturday, October 10, 2009
at the Des Moines Catholic Worker

Here is an opportunity to pray, reflect and live in solidarity with our sisters and brothers living in Des Moines ... to experience the practice of Catholic Social Teaching applied to real problems in the real world ... and to grow in appreciation for the values and goals of the Catholic Worker Movement.

The weekend will be facilitated by the staff of the Des Moines Catholic Worker and is open to young adults and adults, age 18 or older.

Donation for the weekend (includes meals and accommodations at the Catholic Worker): $____

_______________________________

What is an immersion experience?
An immersion experience is an opportunity to enter into the lived experience of individuals or groups whose social, political, economic and class living experience is different from our own.  The purpose of an immersion experience is to help participants understand and appreciate the lived experience of people whose daily lives are different from our own.  The goal of an immersion experience is to help participants to enter more fully into a relationship of solidarity with our brothers and sisters.

Pope Benedict XVI explained the theological and philosophical foundations for the solidarity which is developed through immersion experiences in his recent encyclical letter, "Charity in Truth:"
Only if we are aware of our calling, as individuals and as a community, to be part of God's family as his sons and daughters, will we be able to generate a new vision and muster new energy in the service of a truly integral humanism....  Openness to God makes us open towards our brothers and sisters and towards an understanding of life as a joyful task to be accomplished in a spirit of solidarity...." (#53)

Immersion Weekend Tentative Schedule

Thursday, October 8
5:30pm -- Car pools leave St. Edward Parish parking lot, Waterloo
7:30pm -- Arrive Bishop Dingman CW House, Des Moines
8:00pm -- Introduction and Welcome.  View video Don't Call Me A Saint
Overnight at Bishop Dingman House

Friday, October 9
9:30am -- Introduction to the Catholic Worker and history of the Des Moines
              Catholic Worker
Lunch
1:00-3:00pm Weekly food runs to pick up food; prepare for hospitality
3:00-7:00pm Hospitality Ministry at Dingman House.
7:30pm Mass, followed by discussion of the Catholic Worker's social
              justice campaigns and philosophy of civil disobedience
Overnight at Bishop Dingman House

Saturday, October 10
10:00am Free Food Story -- free distribution of food at Trinity Methodist
Lunch
1:00pm -- Concluding discussion, reflection.
3:00pm -- Car pools depart for Waterloo
5:00pm -- Arrive at St. Edward Parish parking lot, Waterloo

About the Des Moines Catholic Worker House

The Des Moines Catholic Worker House was established in 1976, and responds to the Gospel call to compassionate action as summarized by the Sermon on the Mount.  In the spirit of  the Catholic Worker tradition founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, members of the Des Moines Catholic Worker are committed to a simple, nonviolent lifestyle as they live and work among the poor and advocate for social justice in the local and wider community.

The Des Moines community has four houses in the River Bend area of Des Moines: Bishop Dingman House, Msgr. Ligutti House, Lazarus House, and Phil Berrigan House.  Bishop Dingman House is a hospitality center, providing food, clothing, bedding, showers, coffee and conversation to those who need them.  Phil Berrigan House is the community's peace and justice center.
Click here for more information about the Des Moines Catholic Worker

About Catholic Social Teaching

The body of thought and principles referred to as "Catholic Social Teaching" began emerging in the mid-19th Century as the Catholic Church began grappling with the challenges of modern industrial society and the need to adapt traditional Catholic moral principles to modern social issues.  Since that time, the Church's social teaching has been articulated through a growing collection of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents that explore and express the social demands of the Catholic faith.

Although there are various ways of summarizing Catholic Social Teaching, the Catholic Bishops of the United States have identified seven fundamental principles: the life and dignity of the human person; the call to family, community and participation in public life; the mutual interdependence of human rights and responsibilities; a fundamental option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers; the solidarity of the human community; and care for God's creation.
Click here for more information about Catholic Social Teaching

•   •   •

Registration
By phone: call 319-234-9912
By email: DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us
Online: Click here to register online

________________________

For information contact:
Director of Adult Faith Formation  •  320 Mulberry St., Waterloo IA 50703. Phone: 319-234-9912  •  Email: DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us

Posted 08.30.09    Last Update: 08.31.09

ADULT FORMATION PRINCIPLES
The Catholic parishes in Waterloo are committed to providing life-long faith formation and spiritual growth for adults of all ages. We value individual life experience, respect the diversity of personal convictions, and welcome the wisdom of every participant. We encourage conversation and dialogue. We will never intentionally embarrass or offend participants.

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