Answering the Call to Solidarity

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Volunteer Promotes Fair Trade in Kansas City Diocese

I am working with a large parish to have Fair Trade coffee at their monthly coffee and donuts gatherings.

We toured with a local roaster who roasts the Mother Earth Fair Trade coffee in Kansas City. This local roaster is very eager to do more with Fair Trade and is willing to donate equipment and coffee to help implement Fair Trade coffee at various parishes.

To my great delight, I was invited to be a Fair Trade Ambassador for CRS. I am looking forward to the training, making connections with others in Fair Trade, and using information from the training to help design a strong Fair Trade plan for the Kansas City (KS) diocese.

—Jenna Mueller,
CRS Bosnia and
Kansas City (KS) Diocese

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Volunteer on Capitol Hill: An Advocate for Food Aid

I attended National Catholic Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. with a delegation from the Richmond Diocese to advocate for a variety of bills on Capitol Hill with the Virginia Senators and Representatives.

As I pointed out, international organizations, such as CRS, do have a need to provide direct food aid when necessary, such as after a disaster.

I explained a bit about the Food Security project that CRS is implementing through partners, such as the one I worked with in Madagascar, that is trying to teach farmers improved growing techniques, crop diversification, and improved storage methods.

Having more money going towards these types of activities, as advocated for by the Bishops, is a positive move that can help the long-term development of a country.

—Celeste Gregory,
CRS Madagascar and Richmond Diocese

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Linking Food Issues and HIV and AIDS Interventions in Ghana and Philadelphia

I have been giving presentations at Catholic high schools, which has been a good experience. Not only have I enjoyed working with the teens, but they have been very receptive and open to me and my message. The teens have shown a lot of interest through their many questions and interest in volunteer programs or activities of the like.

With the Philadelphia Archdiocese, I have participated in their Lenten Series and Walk for Hunger. I am now working with the archdiocese to try to integrate some presentations in their Summer Camp at their feeding sites as well as writing articles comparing food issues and HIV and AIDS interventions in Ghana and Philadelphia.

—Christina Connor-Cerezo,
CRS Ghana and
Philadelphia Archdiocese

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U.S. Family's Life Changes Following Volunteer Presentation

Catholic Social Teaching more than any other Volunteer Program pillar this month has made the greatest impact in our lives.

The richness of our faith is expressed so wonderfully in these teachings and we very much enjoy sharing the teachings, especially solidarity, through our experiences.

We have had the opportunity to engage the audience in the teachings and it has proved very fruitful for both Mona, my wife, and me, and the audience. In Kentucky the day following our presentation a mother in the audience wrote to tell us that there is a name for the way she wants to lead her life and share with her family and that name is Catholic Social Teaching.

She rushed home following our presentation and began to research Catholic Social Teaching on the internet. She was pleased about all that she found and has already begun sharing with her family.

—Ted Lewis, CRS Zambia and Wichita and Covington Dioceses