tvc.dsj.org | April 24, 2018
COMMUNITY
5
Catholic Campaign for Human Development Aids Diocese
How does your contribution to the
Catholic Campaign For Human Devel-
opment’s (CCHD) November collection,
make a difference in the lives of people
living in Santa Clara County? Through
your generosity, CCHD has improved
the lives of thousands in our commu-
nity. CCHD is the Gospel at work and
Catholic social teachings in action. It
provides funding for groups of poor
and low-income people who are em-
powered to address the root causes of
poverty in our community.
Just ask the 170 women at the Learn-
ing and Loving Education Center in
Gilroy who attend English language
classes, develop computer skills, and
learn to be advocates for their chil-
dren in the school system. Many have
completed the GED at the center. Grant
money from CCHD helped them re-
ceive valuable skills leading to a better
life for their families.
Or visit the Day Workers’ Program
in Mountain View where a CCHD grant
helped men and women participate in
English language courses, and attend
resume writing workshops. Workers
take computer classes and receive
training in leadership skills that helped
them launch a successful campaign for
rent control.
Teamworks Services received a
grant that gave 21 individuals training
to establish their own cleaning coopera-
tive. All members are now owners of a
successful business venture that has a
full roster of cleaning jobs and a wait-
ing list of additional applicants wishing
their services.
In Sunnyvale, The Bay Area Or-
ganizing Committee (BAOC) has
empowered a Sunnyvale Catholic
parish’s social justice ministry. BAOC
did this by organizing a large housing
action meeting between the parish
members and city officials (vice-
mayor and council members) and
other non-profit organizations. As a
result, this parish is developing im-
portant relationships with those who
can directly impact this parish’s most
pressing social just needs – slowing
the frequency of rent increases and
providing low-income housing.
Silicon Valley Rising (SVR) re-
ceived a grant that helped over 4,000
subcontract workers, cafeteria work-
ers, security officers, janitors and
drivers, organize themselves leading
to higher wages, improved benefits
and stronger job protections. SVR is
offering training that develops lead-
ers in low-income neighborhoods.
Other grants have been given to orga-
nizations that are training imm igrants
to know their rights. They are protect-
ing the poor from unfair evictions and
working with the City of San Jose to
protect low-income families from los-
ing affordable housing due to gentrifi-
cation in the San Jose area.
Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish Helping Out
Sponsored by the Social Concerns Committee of Saint Lawrence the Martyr parish in Santa Clara,
parishioners, along with pastor, Father Ernesto Orci, prepared and served a delicious dinner to
the clients at the Sunnyvale Cold Weather Shelter on March 10. The shelter is run by HomeFirst
and assists more than 4,000 people each year in Santa Clara County.
St. Clare’s Retreat
2381 Laurel Glen Road, Soquel, CA 95073
May 4-6
Men’s Silent Retreat
Miles Christi Priests
Ignatian Spiritual Exercises for Men
May 18-20
Men’s & Women’s Silent Retreat (Legion of Mary)
Fr. Joseph Nassal, CPPS
Mary’s Magnifi cat: Proclaiming the Greatness of God
June 8-10
Men’s & Women’s Silent Retreat
Fr. Andrew Garcia, SJ
Confession as a Daily Attitude & Disposition of Life
June 26-July 3
Sisters’ & Lay Women’s 8-days Silent Retreat
Msgr. Daniel Seiker
Holy Women in Sacred Scripture
For more information:
831-423-8093
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.stclaresretreatcenter.com
Staffed by Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows
Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish in
Santa Clara, along with pastor, Father
Ernesto Orci, prepared and served din-
ner to the clients at the Sunnyvale Cold
Weather Shelter on March 10. Sponsored
by the parish’s Social Concerns Com-
mittee, the Saint Lawrence community
came together to donate all the food and
utensils and to do all the preparations,
cooking and transportation in order to
have everything ready for serving at
the shelter.
In addition, the committee received
enough monetary donations to send a
$500 check to the shelter. Many enthusi-
astic parishioners placed their names in
a lottery in order to be selected to serve
at the shelter since space was limited.
The shelter is run by HomeFirst and
serves 140 men, women and children.
HomeFirst assists more than 4,000
adults, veterans, families, and youth
each year in Santa Clara County. Home-
first recently announced that the Santa
Clara County Board of Supervisors
voted to keep the Sunnyvale shelter
open through the remainder of 2018 on
a pilot basis. For more information, or
if you would like to volunteer, please
visit www.homefirstscc.org or contact
Tracie Wallace, Volunteer Coordinator
at HomeFirst, at (408) 539-2143.