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During this holy season of Advent, this calendar, created by our "Caring for Creation Committee", will help you each day to be more intentional in being good stewards of this earth as you prepare for the Christmas holidays.

All are invited to join Archbishop Etienne and Catholics from around the Archdiocese for this festive, colorful and prayerful Advent celebration on Saturday, December 14 at 11am at St. James Cathedral.  This Filipino tradition ushers in Simbang Gabi, a novena of Masses meant to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Reception to follow.  Look for more information soon about the novena with our local community. 

All are welcome at the Archdiocesan Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Americas on Saturday, December 7.  The 25th anniversary of this celebration starts with a 9:30am Rosary followed by a procession from St. Mary, Seattle to St. James Cathedral.  Mass at the Cathedral begins at 12:10pm with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall.  Click above for more details.

Do you have books that are ready for a new home?  Consider giving them to the new Mary’s Place Family Shelter in Burien.  They could especially use kids’ books.  The West Seattle Food Bank also gives out books.  They are especially in need of recipe books and books with lots of pictures for people who are just beginning to learn the English language. Click above to learn more.

Last year, staff member Jennifer Ibach and Project Rachel Coordinator Aleah Patulot had the opportunity to travel to Malawi as part of a Catholic Relief Services delegation. You can hear reflections from their trip on this first installment of a podcast series. Learn about the CRS programs they witnessed and the partnerships they saw by clicking above.

Did you know that slavery is still a problem, even here in the U.S.?  The U.S. government has led the fight against human trafficking with a policy of preventing trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers. Catholics have the opportunity to urge our leaders to combat human trafficking by enforcing transparency in corporate supply chains. Together, we can work toward eradicating human trafficking. Click above to learn more.

Do the holidays bring you down?  The Holy Family Kirkland Mental Health Ministry invites you to join them for an afternoon of prayer, song, and fellowship to help all see the Light in these dark days.  Saturday, November 16 from 3-4:30pm in the Parish Center.  Information, Andrea, andrea@hfkparish.org 

Black and Catholic Artists: Catholicism as Foundation and Inspiration Seattle U’s Institute of Catholic Thought and Culture invite all to a lecture entitled "Black and Catholic Artists: Catholicism as Foundation and Inspiration" with Dr. Cecilia Moore on Thursday, November 14 at 7pm in Student Center 160.  This free event is one of four in the Catholic Heritage Lecture Series exploring cultural contributions and contemporary challenges to American Catholic life.  To RSVP, visit seattleu.edu/ictc/events 

St. Catherine of Siena Mental Health Ministry Team invites all for a discussion on November 14 from 7-9pm with Dr. Tema Gochberg, ND, on the use of biofeedback for mental health conditions.  In this interactive experience, you will learn about the different ways stress can impact our minds and bodies, as well as practice hands-on tools to relieve that stress.  Click above for more information.

OLG makes kits to hand out to those in need you encounter on the streets.  We are currently collecting items for our kits.  Please consider dropping off donations in the marked green box in the church narthex.  Please no old or partially-used products. Feel free to take kits from the church or parish office to hand out as well! Click above for more details on what we need.

One of our RSVP small groups received a CRS Rice Bowl grant to help fund quarterly meals at the Welcome Table.  The Welcome Table offers a free Saturday lunch in the Bartell’s Parking lot in White Center.  If you would like to help shop for, cook, and/or serve the meal with this OLG group on Saturday, November 30, click above.   Children welcome! 

The Nature Conservancy has developed a Carbon Calculator that helps you calculate your personal “carbon footprint”.  Use this interactive tool to discover your impact on the environment and find ways to reduce it.  Click above to learn more. 

Learn more about Catholic Relief Services, the humanitarian nonprofit that offers us Rice Bowl every Lent.  Last year, CRS turned 75 years old.  Click above to learn more about who they are, how they started, and what they do.

St. James Cathedral invites all to a special Mass in memory of the homeless men and women who died in our community this year.  Honor their memory, celebrate their lives, and pray for them on Thursday, November 7 at 5:30pm.  All are invited to bring winter hats, gloves, and scarves for those in need.  Information, Patrick, 206-382-4515 or pbarredo@stjames-cathedral.org. 

In Ethiopia, about 2.8 million people were forced to leave their homes because of conflict and war. When they were finally safe, there were no bathrooms, access to clean water or privacy. When Catholic Relief Services arrived, they met immediate needs like food, water, shelter, and they also restored dignity and encouraged social cohesion. Visit www.crs.org to find out how you can help.

October is Fair Trade Month and Equal Exchange is celebrating by discounting their chocolate mini bars just in time for Halloween.  Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy a year for Halloween and about 90 million pounds of chocolate candy the week of Halloween.  Imagine how much good could be done with that purchasing power!  Help support fair wages, promote environmentally sustainable policies, and empower communities around the world.  Visit https://equalexchange.coop/ today to order your chocolates!  #FairTradeHalloween

All are invited to an Immigration Forum at St. James Cathedral Hall (804 9th Ave, Seattle 98104) on Thursday, October 3 from 6:30-8:30pm. The evening will include a panel discussion of the current immigration landscape, Catholic social teaching, personal experience, policy and action. For information or to RSVP, contact Caroline at cokello@stjames-cathedral.org or 206-382-4511.

Did you know that OLG partners with Holy Rosary to host a shelter for up to 10 women every Saturday and Sunday night from September to June?   With homelessness on the rise and bad weather coming, this is a great opportunity to help provide a safe space for women in our community.  Volunteer drivers are especially in demand.  Training is provided.  To learn more or to sign up, click above.

Food, shelter and clothing—three basic needs.  We rely on these necessities for our everyday life, but what happens when our abundant use of these items begins to harm the very environment in which we live?  As consumers we have the power to change our habits, choose sustainable options and care for creation! Click above to learn more.

Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, is devastated by war, hunger and a cholera crisis. Conflict and a lack of aid has triggered a humanitarian disaster, leaving 70 percent of the population in need of assistance and children facing acute malnutrition. Through its partner Islamic Relief, Catholic Relief Services is providing food, water and more. Click above for more details.