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Catholics Gather for Jubilee Justice
With the world rushing toward the start of the Third Millennium, more than 2,100 Catholics across the United States will gather in Los Angeles at UCLA, July 15-18, for the National Catholic Gathering for Jubilee Justice. "A Jubilee Year is a time for people to become reconciled with God and with one another," says Sister Mary Ann Walsh, a spokesperson for the unprecedented gathering. "During this meeting, men and women will recommit themselves to work for justice and peace, a step toward improving relationships locally, nationally and internationally." More than 100 topics will be addressed at workshops, among them, immigration, racism, the environment, health care, non-violence, parish social ministry, euthanasia, abortion, and Catholic identity.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh can be reached at 202-541-3200.
Bishops' Subcommittee on the Third Millennium Identifies National Hymn/Song for the Jubilee Year 2000
In July, the Jubilee Justice Gathering and the National Convention of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians will showcase the song commissioned by the Bishops' Subcommittee for the Third Millennium. The subcommittee has identified the Te Deum as the national song for 2000 and is recommending widespread usage of two versions. One version, geared for congregational participation, is Marty Haugen's You Are God-Te Deum. It is both in English and Spanish. This was commissioned by the bishops' subcommittee. The second recommended version is by Richard Proulx, You Are God We Praise You. This was especially selected for choral and cathedral usage. "To ensure widespread usage, the Subcommittee and G.I.A. Publications, the holders of the copyrights, are making these songs available to parishes, schools, and others without royalty fee for the duration of the Jubilee," says Paul Henderson, head of the U.S. Bishops' Office for the Third Millennium and Jubilee Year 2000. Copies of the song are available from G.I.A. Publications, Inc., 7404 So Mason Avenue, Chicago, IL. 60638. For additional information, contact G.I.A. at the above address or the Secretariat for the Third Millennium at 202-541-3244/ or jubilee@nccbuscc.org.
Paul Henderson can be reached at 202-541-3245.
U. S. Catholic Conference's Migration and Refugee Services Continues Resettlement of Kosovar Refugees
During July, in the spirit of celebrating national independence and other graces to the United States, the United States Catholic Conference's Migration and Refugee Services (USCC/MRS) will continue helping to meet the humanitarian needs created by the Kosovo crisis. "MRS has been in the forefront of those urging strong U.S. involvement in assistance to the Kosovar refugees including a generous United States refugee resettlement program," says Marie Quinlan, Special Projects Coordinator for Migration and Refugee Services. MRS staff have accompanied United States bishops to the region and traveled there on their own to assess conditions first-hand in order to recommend both operational and policy improvements. Through its network of 107 local Catholic refugee resettlement agencies nationwide, MRS, to date, has resettled 3,500 Kosovar refugees and expects to resettle up to one-third of the 20,000 refugees approved by Congress and expected to come to the United States. The Catholic Church in the United States is involved in the Kosovo crisis also through Catholic Relief Services (CRS). As one of the major humanitarian relief agencies in the Balkans, CRS is an important conduit for United States government food assistance to the refugees, and was among the handful of relief agencies invited to accompany NATO forces back into Kosovo. The Catholic Church in the United States has thus far contributed $20,000,000 in relief aid to the Kosovars.
Marie Quinlan can be reached at 202-541-3347.