Dear Friends,
In the wake of the tragic shooting of Jacob Blake and the ongoing protests across our country leading up to a pivotal election, we all know in our “marrow bones” (W.B. Yeats) how important the topic of Anti-racism is. Thank you again for all that you are doing in this regard and for being a part of our AUSCP working group.
This month we have three main things we are doing/sponsoring:
1) On Friday, September 11th, 2020, at 12Noon EASTERN TIME, we will have our monthly educational meeting. It is so important to listen to the lived experience of African Americans in this time. This month we are honored to have Fr. Jeffery Ott, O.P., who is an African American Pastor of Atlanta’s first and largest African American parish. You don’t want to miss his presentation and subsequent opportunity for questions and answers so mark your calendars. I will send out the Zoom link 24 hours before.
2) Starting Monday September 14th, at 7PM to 8:30PM EASTERN TIME, and then every Monday after that until October 19th at the same time each week, we are sponsoring a book study on Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility hosted by Fr John Judie. We all know how wonderful Fr John Judie is from his first presentation to us regarding his experience of being an African American member of the clergy. The book study will help very much for us to examine ways how in our own interior selves we have ingested the poison of racism and then what we can do about it. Attached is the syllabus for this book study. The Zoom Meeting ID for this book study is 771-353-2679 and the passcode is: 382882. As always, though, I will send out the zoom link 24 hours before if that is easier for some.
3) Our next action meeting is set for Friday, September 25, 2020, at 12noon EASTERN TIME. I hope to be able to continue our discussion of the upcoming election and possibly also the topic of “Reparations.” As to the first, one of our members sent a fantastic “Model Homily,” which I have also attached. That’s the idea! Sharing things like this (model homilies, etc) is a great way we can help priests to preach about these issues leading up to the election. In terms of the issue of reparations the place to start is here: https://www.theatlantic.
How we can start to make reparation for the injustices done, even at our own personal levels, is a very practical way of putting into practice anti-racism. At the end of the meeting (i.e. at 1pm EASTERN TIME), for those who can stay, we will be able to talk about the group and plan for next month. All are invited to be part of that “core team” planning after the meeting.
As you can see we have a lot we are offering this month, addressing anti-racism on many different levels. Hopefully there is something for everyone and I hope to be able to see you at one or all of the meetings and at the book study. God bless you and thank you again for all you are doing in this pivotal time in our nation’s history.
Humbly yours,
Simon