ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

FOR MINISTRY IN OUR COMMUNITY

(Contacts who are St. Al’s parishioners are listed)

CATHOLIC JUSTICE AND SERVICE RESOURCES

CALL TO ACTION OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

P0 Box 1051, Dumfries, VA 22026

703-680-0860 / ctanva@comcast.net

St. Al’s contact: Rea Howarth

Call to Action of Northern Virginia, an affiliate of the national organization, provides education regarding religious and social issues facing the Catholic Church. We seek greater openness, advocate for accountability, urge meaningful consultation and open dialogue with the laity, full equality of women, and embrace a vision of church that is inclusive, not exclusive, concerned with justice in the church and the world.

CATHOLIC NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE

6930 Carroll Ave., Suite 506, Takoma Park, MD 20912-4423
301-270-0900 or 1-800-543-5046 / 301-270-0901 (fax) / www.cnvs.org

St. Al’s contact: CarolAnne Otto – ph: 301-270-0900 x10

The Catholic Network of Volunteer Service, is a resource for people who are discerning a call to volunteer service, are in service, or have returned from service. We advocate an increased role for all women and men to utilize their gifts in service to the Church and the world. Call to request a Response Directory of full-time faith-based volunteer opportunities -- Serve for a week, a month, a year or more... in the USA or around the world. Response Directory and Profile form are also available at www.cnvs.org under "Volunteer Opportunities."

THE CATHOLIC WORKER

Dorothy Day Catholic Worker

503 Rock Creek Church Road, NW Washington, DC 20010

202-882-9649

St. Al’s contact: Kathy Boylan, Art Laffin, Colleen McCarthy – ph: same as above

Catholic Worker Communities arose form the collective vision of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, to live the Beatitudes in today’s world. Workers work and live with the poor of their communities and strive for non-violent change in society and a consistent philosophy of peace and life.

CENTER OF CONCERN
1225 Otis Street NE, Washington DC 20017
202-635-2757 / 202 -832-9494 (fax) / www.coc.org
St. Al’s contact: Jim Hug, S.J.,Maria Riley, O.P., Peter O'Driscoll, Jeff Brogan, Kelly Jones – ph: same as above
Now in operation for over 32 years, the Center Of Concern is an independent, interdisciplinary team engaged in social analysis, faith reflection, policy advocacy, and public education on issues of global development, domestic/global links, and just international finance and trade. Working fromthe perspective of Catholic social teaching, the Center is concerned with economic justice in the age of globalization.

CONSISTENT LIFE NETWORK (formerly THE SEAMLESS GARMENT NETWORK)

www.consistent-life.org

St. Al’s contact: Kathy Boylan , Art Laffin, Colleen McCarthy – ph: 202-882-9649

Inspired by the late Cardinal Bernardin’s powerful image of “the Seamless Garment” of life issues, we work to promote a consistent life ethic that opposes abortion, poverty, hunger, euthanasia, militarism, the death penalty, and all related threats to life.

DC JAIL/PRISON MINISTRY

St. Al’s contact: Lou Schwartz – ph: 301-652-7896

The DC Jail/Prison Ministry needs volunteers to assist with bringing Jesus’ love to 80+ locked-down inmates in DC jails and 150+ DC inmates in prisons across the U.S. It also needs Christian PenPals (who remain anonymous) for out-of-city brothers/sisters and the following items: Catholic Bibles, current spiritual books/brochures, hygiene articles, money orders, greeting cards and prayers.

FRANCISCAN MISSION SERVICE

P.O. Box 29034, Washington, DC 20017-0034

202-832-1762 / 202-832-1778 (fax) / http://franciscanmissionservice.catholic.edu

St. Al’s contact: Megeen White Testa– ph: same as above

The call to mission goes from God to every Christian. Some receive a special vocation to listen, learn, and witness in another culture. Franciscan Lay Missioners work in clinics, hospitals, schools, parishes, and farmlands. They live with the poor, share their hopes, struggles, and joys. After the completion of their time overseas, Franciscan Lay Missioners share their stories and seek ways to utilize these experiences in the U.S., thereby promoting justice and peace throughout the world.

MARYKNOLL OFFICE FOR GLOBAL CONCERNS

P.O. Box 29132, Washington, DC 20017

202-832-1780 / 202-832-5195 (fax) / http://maryknoll.org/GLOBAL/OFFICE/office.htm

St. Al’s contact: Judy Coode and Marie Dennis – ph: same as above

The overall purpose of the Global Concerns Office is to link Maryknoll missioners and the people they serve overseas to justice and peace education and advocacy initiatives in the US. Through regular communication about the signs of the times, through discernment with missioners and with Maryknoll leadership, we determine the focus of our advocacy and educational efforts in the US. The work of the Office consists of issue identification, analysis and research, coalition participation, plus writing and publishing NewsNotes, and helping to build a constituency for advocacy. Our work is always shaped by the Gospel, by Catholic social teaching, and the Maryknoll vision of mission.

NETWORK: THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE LOBBY

801 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Suite 460, Washington, DC 20003-2167

202-547-5556 / 202-547-5510 (fax) / www.networklobby.org

St. Al’s contact: Jean Sammon – ph: 202-547-5556 x12

NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, is a membership group which lobbies, educates, and organizes on the federal level from a faith-based perspective promoting economic justice for people who are poor and marginalized. NETWORK works for federal budget priorities that place human needs above military spending, for global relationships that safeguard the environment and the rights of workers worldwide, and for policies that ensure that economic resources are shared equitably by all. The NETWORK Education Program is our educational partner organization, drawing people into active participation in the democratic process through workshops, seminars, and study manuals.

PACE E BENE FRANCISCAN NONVIOLENCE SERVICES

“FROM VIOLENCE TO WHOLENESS” PROGRAM

510-268-8765 (Oakland, CA)/ www.paceebene.org

St. Al’s contacts: Judith Kelly – ph: 703-536-3564, email: silverdove@verizon.net

Micheline Toussaint, 703-536-0418; mc2saint@aol.com

Drawing on learnings from peacemakers throughout history and from our experiences in nonviolence education over the years, Pace e Bene has developed From Violence to Wholeness (FVTW), a systematic program in the spirituality and practice of active nonvioence. Addressing the varied expressions of personal and societal violences, the ten-session program presents the spirit and methodology of active nonviolence as a creative, constructive alternative to either ignoring injustice or meeting violence with more violence. Programparticipants are empowered to find within themselves resources of spirit and processes to transform their lives and work with others in the transformation of society.

PAX CHRISTI METRO DC

3047 4th Street, NE, Washington DC 20017

202-635-0441/ paxchristimdc@yahoo.com

St. Al’s contact: Susan Gunn – ph: 202-667-4050

We are the DC affiliate of the international Catholic movement for peace. Through prayer, education, and action, we work as individuals and in groups to build a just and peaceful world, always witnessing to the nonviolence of Jesus. Pax Christi strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating and witnessing to the call of Christian nonviolence. This work begins in personal life and extends to communities of reflection and action to transform structures of society. Pax Christi rejects war, preparations for war, and every form of violence and domination. It advocates primacy of conscience, economic and social justice, and respect for creation. Pax Christi commits itself to peace education and, with the help of its bishop members, promotes the Gospel imperative of peacemaking as a priority in the US Catholic Church. Through cooperation with other groups, Pax Christi works toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

PAX ROMANA - Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs

3049 Fourth Street NE,Washington, DC 20017

202-269-6672
St. Al’s contact: Joseph Kirchner – ph: same as above, email: joekirchner@pax-romana.org

The Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs is a lay movement of Catholic graduates and professionals dedicated to stimulating reflection and action. Its members are active through their family, profession, community and Church to work for justice and peace. They examine social issues, reflect on Gospel values and Catholic social teaching, and implement their vision through their professions.

PETER MAURIN CENTER/CATHOLIC WORKER BOOKSTORE

1426 9^th Street, NW, Washington DC, 20001

1-800-43-PEACE / http://catholicworker.com/bookstore

St. Al’s contact: Paul Magno

The Peter Maurin Center is attempting to offer books we find especially helpful in sustaining the Catholic Worker vision, from Dorothy Day to Daniel Berrigan and beyond. We operate this bookstore to share learning that will help “build the new society in the shell of the old” as Peter Maurin said. Ultimately, we hope to support our newsletter, furniture exchange, roundtable discussion, and the other work we aspire to continue in our troubled city, work that tries to love our neighbors and love our enemies.

RELIGIOUS TASK FORCE ON CENTRAL AMERICA AND MEXICO

3053 Fourth Street, NE, Washington DC, 20017

202-529-0441 / www.rtfcam.org

St. Al’s contact: Scott Wright – ph: 202-291-4371

The Religious Task Force was founded by Catholic religious leaders in March 1980. We provide resources to people of faith in the US who are working for justice and peace in the region, including our journal, Central America/Mexico Report, published 6 times per year, and organizing resources for the anniversaries of the martyrdom of Archbishop Romero, the four church women, and the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador. We work to promote US policies based on economic and social justice towards our neighbors in the South.

RELIGIOUS WORKING GROUP ON THE WORLD BANK AND IMF

P0 Box 29132, Washington DC 20017

www.religiouswg.org

St. Al’s contact: Marie Dennis – ph: 202-832-1780

The Religious Working Group on the World Bank and IMF is a Washington, DC-based network of more than 40 Protestant denominations, Catholic religious orders and faith-based organizations working to build a broad coalition of people of faith active on issues of global economic justice. Many of the denominations, religious orders, and organizations represented in the network have extensive first-hand experience in the impoverished areas of the world. They know the crushing injustice of the world economic order as experienced from below, from the perspective of the impoverished majorities.

ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI CENTER

415 Michigan Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20017

1-877-VOL-LINK / 202-529-3330 / www.pallotticenter.org / pallotti@pallotticenter.org

St. Al’s contact: Alice Hogan – ph: 703-920-0091

The St. Vincent Pallotti Center is a clearinghouse of information and support center for full time volunteers. Among other things, the Pallotti Center works to help foster continued community among past and present participants of lay volunteer programs.

Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.

-Psalm 106:3

OTHER JUSTICE AND SERVICE RESOURCES

(These are not directly linked to the Church, but have been a ministry undertaken by St. Al’s parishioners past and present.)

BEYOND BORDERS

P.O. Box 42302, Washington, DC 20015

www.beyondborders.net

St. Al’s contact: David Diggs – ph: 202-686-2088

Beyond Borders works for justice and peace out of devotion to Christ by fostering sharing and understanding across cultural and economic borders. We do this to make real the reconciliation and liberation that Christ proclaimed for our world. Working with grassroots organizations in Haiti, Beyond Borders organizes short-term transformational travel group delegations and 1-2 year apprenticeships in shared living for participants who wish an in-depth immersion in Haitian language and culture through living with families in rural communities.

BLACK VOICES FOR PEACE

1400 16th St NW, Suite 225, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-232-5690 / 202-265-4912 (fax) / www.bvfp.org

St. Al’s contact: Mary Helen Washington – ph: 301-495-0819

Black Voices for Peace (BVFP) is a national action network of Black people of African Heritage working for justice and peace in the United States and abroad. Founded by human rights, peace and environmental justice activist Damu Smith, BVFP was formed to organize a progressive Black community response to horrific attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. The BVFP Peoples Action Network (BVFP-PAN) is sponsored by BVFP as a multi-racial action network in support of BVFP's mission.

BREAD FOR THE CITY

1525 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001

202-265-2400 / 202-754-1081 (fax) / www.breadforthecity.org

1640 Good Hope Road, SE, Washington, DC 20020

202-561-8587 / 202-574-1536 (fax) / www.breadforthecity.org
St. Al’s contact: Michael Reilly – ph: 703-534-2498, email: zdocrei@aol.com

Bread for the City is a private, non-profit organization that provides vulnerable residents of Washington, DC with comprehensive services including food, clothing, medical care, legal and social services in an atmosphere of dignity, respect and peace. Through the efforts of over 500 volunteers and the contribution of thousands of community members, our staff serves over 7,000 people each month. All services are free.

BROOKLAND PASTORAL CENTER

1325 Quincy Street NE, Washington DC 20017

202-526-4445 / www.BPCcounseling.com

St. Al’s contact: Lisa Joan Reardon LICSW – ph: 202-526-4445 x7

The Brookland Pastoral Center offers therapy, counseling and spiritual direction, based in a holistic and pastoral tradition, to individuals and couples, including gay and lesbians, serving the Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia areas. Our specialties include psychotherapy in group, couple or individual settings to treat depression, marriage problems, abuse survivors, codependency, grief and other life concerns.

CHRIST HOUSE

1717 Columbia Road, NW Washington, DC 20009
202-328-1100 / 202-232-4972 (fax) / www.christhouse.org

St. Al’s contact: Scott Gunn, Matt Rogers, and Megan Donohue – ph: same as above; email: mrogers@christhouse.org

Christ House provides comprehensive health care for sick, homeless men and women, while assisting them in addressing critical issues to help break the cycle of homelessness.

COMMUNITY FAMILY LIFE SERVICES

305 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20001

202-347-0511 / www.cfls1.org

St. Al’s contact: Mike Kreft – ph: 410-744-3524

Community Family Life Services is a multi-service agency founded in 1969. Located a few blocks away from St. Aloysius at Judiciary Square, CFLS provides housing, youth services and community organizing to homeless and low-income families and individuals.

THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS

801 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Ste 360, Washington, DC 20003

202-543-5298 / 202-543-5653 (fax) / Shelter Hotline: 1-800-535-7252 / www.community-partnership.org

St. Al’s contact: Steve Cleghorn – ph: 202-543-5298, email: jstephencleghorn@yahoo.com

The Community Partnership has the lead responsibility for planning, creating, managing and administering a homeless "continuum of care" under the terms of a 5-year grant from the District government. In addition it manages a portfolio of HUD-funded programs that provide transitional and permanent housing along with essential supportive services such as employment training and job search, primary health care and child care. Over 5,000 homeless and formerly homeless persons are served by programs under contract to the Partnership. The Partnership provides the public with up-to-date information on homelessness through a Fact Sheet and other documents posted on its web site.

CURE (CITIZENS UNITED FOR REHABILITATION OF ERRANTS)

P.O. BOX 2310, National Capitol Station, Washington, DC 20013

202-789-2126 / www.curenational.org

St. Al’s contact: Charlie and Pauline Sullivan – ph: same as above

CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants) is a membership organization of families of prisoners, prisoners, former prisoners and other concerned citizens. CURE's two goals are (1) To use prisons only for those who have to be in them (2) and for those who have to be in them, to provide them all the rehabilitative opportunities they need to turn their lives around.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE IN IRAQ CENTER (EPIC)

1101 Pennsylvania Ave. SE , Washington DC, 20003

202-543-6176 / 202-543-0725 (fax) / www.epic-usa.org

St. Al's contact: Erik Gustafson – ph: same as above

The Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that works to document the humanitarian crisis in Iraq , build public awareness, improve media accountability, and advocate change in U.S. policy. Since its founding in 1998, EPIC has been committed to improving humanitarian conditions and supporting human rights in Iraq . Iraqis have suffered through oppressive rule, crippling sanctions and devastating wars. Yet despite the end to Saddam Hussein’s reign in the country, Iraqis still face all of the problems - insecurity, unemployment, food dependency - that they faced before the war. We continue our commitment to the people of Iraq.

EMMAUS SERVICES FOR THE AGING

1426 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

202-745-1200 / www.emmausservices.org

St. Al’s contact: Mark Andersen ph: 202- 299-0429

Emmaus is a neighborhood outreach and advocacy group that serves the low-income and/or vulnerable elderly population in the Shaw neighborhood just to the north and west of Saint Aloysius. Emmaus utilizes volunteers in many different capacities to help build caring, just community. We also engage in advocacy for deeper structural changes that are at the root of our society’s failure to care for the elderly.

ESM CARES – EPISCOPAL SENIOR MINISTRIES

4200 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC 20016

202-364-0020 / 202-364-3044 (fax) / ESMCares@esm.org

St. Al’s contact: Christina Neill – ph: same as above, email: christina_neill@yahoo.com

ESM Cares is a service of Episcopal Senior Ministries, a non-profit organization that improves the lives of older adults through a comprehensive range of quality, affordable programs. Seniors and their families often face complex issues related to health, living situations and finances. ESM Cares can help reduce the stress and confusion of handling these issues. Professional Care Managers work closely with seniors and their caregivers to identify problems and devise a plan to solve them.

FAIR HOUSING AND CIVIL RIGHTS CONSULTANT – SARA PRATT
6509 Eastern Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
301-891-7272

St. Al’s contact: Sara Pratt – ph: same as above
Fair housing and civil rights attorney and consultant
Assistance in identifying discrimination in housing and lending based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or familial status (having children under the age of 18 in the household). 27 years working in this area as well as 9 years at HUD. Linkages to private fair housing groups, including the National Fair Housing Alliance and the Equal Rights Center, and attorneys and agencies in the area who assist people who feel that they have been discriminated against.

GEORGETOWN FAMILY LIFE CENTER

4400 MacArthur Blvd NW, Suite 103, Washington, DC 20007
202-965-4400 / 202-965-1765 (fax)

St. Al’s contact: Louise Rauseo email: louise@rauseos.net

The mission of the Center is to lead the development of Bowen family systems theory into a science of human behavior and to assist individuals, families, communities, and organizations in solving major life problems through understanding and improving human relationships. The Center carries out its mission locally, nationally, and internationally through its training programs, conferences, research, clinical services, and publications.

HELPING INDIVIDUAL PROSTITUTES SURVIVE

P.O. Box 21394, Washington DC 20009

202-232-8150 / 202-232-8304 (fax) / www.hips.org

St. Al’s contact: Mark Andersen – ph: 202- 299-0429

On any given night, several hundred women and men may work the street sex trade in Washington, DC. Often recruited as runaways fleeing abuse at home, they find themselves caught between pimps, johns, and the law, stigmatized, preyed upon, and all-too alone. HIPS defends their human rights, struggles to offer alternatives to life on the street and critiques a system that perpetuates both the supply and the demand in this harsh trade.

JOBS WITH JUSTICE (D.C. OFFICE)

1925 K Street, NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20006

202-857-1011

St. Al’s contact: Mackenzie Baris – ph: same as above, email: dc@jwj.org

DC Jobs with Justice is a coalition of labor organizations, community groups, religious organizations, and student groups dedicated to protecting the rights of working people and supporting community struggles in Washington, DC. Jobs with Justice mobilizes support for labor and community struggles at rallies, on picket lines, in educational meetings, at hearings, and through letter and petition drives.

LITTLE FRIENDS FOR PEACE

4405 29th Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712

301-927-5474 / www.lffp.org

St. Al’s contact: Jerry and MJ Park – ph: same as above

Little Friends For Peace is an organization dedicated to teaching nonviolence to young children with playful skill-building activities by training their adult and teen leaders. We believe that acts of violence -- from playground putdowns, to family fights, to street crime, to international conflicts -- build on each other to form a house constructed off-balance, over time and mostly unknowingly. The way to break down violence is to learn peace at an early age and to practice it at every age.

MANNA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

P0 Box 26049, Washington, DC 20001

202-232-2915 / http://mannadc.org/MCDC.htm

St. Al’s contact: CarolAnne Otto – ph: 202-399-3485

The Manna Community Development Corporation is actively engaged in collaborating with Shaw neighborhood residents, business owners, and other stake holders to maximize the community’s assets by creating a continuum of resources and opportunities to create self-sustaining community. The CDC is one component of Manna, a non-profit housing developer, which tries to rebuild neighborhoods through affordable homeownership.

NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS

1518 K Street NW, #206, Washington DC 20005

202-638-1526 / www.naeh.org

St. Al’s contact: Steve Cleghorn – ph: 202-543-5298, email: jstephencleghorn@yahoo.com

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nationwide federation of public, private and nonprofit organizations that demonstrate that homelessness need not be a never-ending problem, one person or one family at a time. Working together, Alliance members form a powerful network of concerned individuals and organizations advancing practical, realistic community-based solutions that build a better future.

NEW ENDEAVORS BY WOMEN / NEW EXPECTATIONS

611 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20001

202-682-5825 / 202-635-4552 (fax)

St. Al’s contact: Mary Popit – ph: same as above, email: nebwomen@qwest.net

NEW is a residential transitional center for 38 women that fills a gap between homelessness [and independent living. NEW’s comprehensive program helps homeless women develop the skill and confidence they need to become self-sufficient members of the community. Since NEW opened its doors in July 19e8, over 900 women have been provided services with over 80% moving on to independent living. New Expectations (NEXT) is a provides transitional housing and support for homeless pregnant and post-partum women and their infants. NEXT is an additional resource to address DC’s maternal and child health issues.

NORTHWEST CHURCH FAMILY NETWORK

216 New York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001

202-347-5660 / 202-347-5662 (fax) / www.ncfndc.org

St. Al’s contact: Lisa Goode – ph: 202-682-0488

The Northwest Church Family Network (NCFN) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization committed to fulfilling the moral imperative to shelter the homeless and provide managed opportunities – primarily to struggling families - for a stable and self-sustaining life. NCFN is committed to creating a living-environment wherein families can find semi-permanent (3-5 years) housing in which to raise children free of the fear of crime and drugs. NFCN provides housing and social service support in the renovated Augusta-Louisa buildings. NCFN links the living environment in the Augusta-Louisa Apartments with other community-based organizations and educational and religious institutions. These other organizations provide addiction counseling, employment training, education, parenting support, heath, and nutrition counseling, financial management, etc. as the need is determined by the resident and Program Manager. The organization was founded with the assistance of parishioners from St. Aloysius, Holy Redeemer and Holy Trinity, as well as staff of the Father McKenna Center.

PERRY SCHOOL COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER

128 M St. NW, Washington, DC 20001

202-312-7140 / www.perryschool.org

St. Al’s contact: Alverta Munlyn – ph: 202-789-0868

Perry School is an important structure historically. During a time when the education of former slaves and their children was not seen as important, the School offered this opportunity to a population who was struggling to survive and rebuild their families. After being abandoned for more than 20 years, the School has been rehabilitated as the Perry School Community Services Center by the neighborhoods’ leaders. The Center concept incorporates healthcare, vocational training, family education, child development, economic support, peace education and other social services in a coordinated delivery approach to benefit target community families. This has renewed the tradition of service in the North Capitol neighborhood and will substantially aid in improving and sustaining the growth and stability of the community.

POSITIVE FORCE DC

1426 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

www.positiveforcedc.org

St. Al’s contact: Mark Andersen – ph: 202-299-0429

Positive Force is a volunteer activist group that rose out of the punk underground of the mid-1980’s. We work for radical social change and youth empowerment. We organize benefit and free concerts, demonstrations, and teach-ins and also do direct work with needy people. We endorse no political party or leader, just ideas like the immense possibility of life, the power of music, of expression, of young people working together to build a better world.

PRISONS FOUNDATION

1718 M Street NW, #151, Washington, DC 20036

www.PrisonsFoundation.org

St. Al's contact: Dennis Sobin – ph: 516-728-6249, email: Dennis@PrisonsFoundation.org

Prisons Foundation is a national organization that promotes the arts and education in prison as well as alternatives to incarceration. It believes that the United States cannot continue to call itself a free country with two million men and women incarcerated and almost 4000 awaiting execution. Disgracefully, we have 25% of the world's inmates yet only 5% of the world's population. Prisons Foundation publishes Freedom Now! Bimonthly News Digest, Prisons Almanac 2004, and Prisons Help Sourcebook. It also produces CDs of music made by prisoners and ex-prisoners. Prisons Foundation sponsors an annual Prison Arts and Crafts Show, funded by National Endowment for the Arts and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS WATCH

PO Box 4566, Washington, DC 20017;

202-234-3440 / www.soaw.org / info@soaw.org

St. Al’s contact: Eric LeCompte – ph: same as above, email: elecompte@soaw.org

SOA Watch is an independent organization that seeks to close the US Army School of the Americas, under whatever name it is called, through vigils and fasts, demonstrations and nonviolent protest, as well as media and legislative work. SOA graduates have been responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America.

WASHINGTON LEGAL CLINIC FOR THE HOMELESS

1200 U Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009

202-328-5500 / 202-328-5515 (fax) / www.legalclinic.org

St. Al’s contact: Mary Ann Luby – ph: same as above, email: maryann@legalclinic.org

The Legal Clinic for the Homeless provides free legal services at sites throughout the city including shelters and meal program sites. We also work toward solutions for problems confronting low- and no-income people.

True Compassion is more than flinging a coin at a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that the edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the Service of Life

by Rachel Naomi Remen

In recent years the question how can I help? has become meaningful to many people. But perhaps there is a deeper question we might consider. Perhaps the real question is not how can I help? but how can I serve?

Serving is different from helping. Helping is based on inequality; it is not a relationship between equals. When you help you use your own strength to help those of lesser strength. If I'm attentive to what's going on inside of me when I'm helping, I find that I'm always helping someone who's not as strong as I am, who is needier than I am. People feel this inequality. When we help we may inadvertently take away from people more than we could ever give them; we may diminish their self-esteem, their sense of worth, integrity and wholeness. When I help I am very aware of my own strength. But we don't serve with our strength, we serve with ourselves. We draw from all of our experiences. Our limitations serve, our wounds serve, even our darkness can serve. The wholeness in us serves the wholeness in others and the wholeness in life. The wholeness in you is the same as the wholeness in me. Service is a relationship between equals.

Helping incurs debt. When you help someone they owe you one. But serving, like healing, is mutual. There is no debt. I am as served as the person I am serving. When I help I have a feeling of satisfaction. When I serve I have a feeling of gratitude. These are very different things.

Serving is also different from fixing. When I fix a person I perceive them as broken, and their brokenness requires me to act. When I fix I do not see the wholeness in the other person or trust the integrity of the life in them. When I serve I see and trust that wholeness. It is what I am responding to and collaborating with.

There is distance between ourselves and whatever or whomever we are fixing. Fixing is a form of judgment. All judgment creates distance, a disconnection, an experience of difference. In fixing there is an inequality of expertise that can easily become a moral distance. We cannot serve at a distance. We can only serve that to which we are profoundly connected, that which we are willing to touch. This is Mother Teresa's basic message. We serve life not because it is broken but because it is holy.

If helping is an experience of strength, fixing is an experience of mastery and expertise. Service, on the other hand, is an experience of mystery, surrender and awe. A fixer has the illusion of being causal. A server knows that he or she is being used and has a willingness to be used in the service of something greater, something essentially unknown. Fixing and helping are very personal; they are very particular, concrete and specific. We fix and help many different things in our lifetimes, but when we serve we are always serving the same thing. Everyone who has ever served through the history of time serves the same thing. We are servers of the wholeness and mystery in life.