The time is here! The 10th Annual AUSCP Assembly will be held in Minneapolis, June 21-24, 2021. We regret that many of you are unable to attend. We invite you to be with us in spirit and to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as the Assembly participants discern priorities for the next few years and consider changes to the AUSCP Bylaws.

Special thanks to those of you who sent in comments regarding the Bylaws and the Strategic Plan priorities. We value your participation. We also look forward to having many of you online for the Retreat Day on Monday. Be sure to click on the Zoom link to join us.

As previously noted, this year's speakers include: Fr. Michael Joncas (Retreat presenter), Michael Sean Winters, Dr. Shannen Dee Williams, and Bishop William Wack; Contemplative Reflector - Sr. Margie Klein, SSND. The main presentations will be recorded and posted on the AUSCP website (www.auscp.org) where you can access them at your convenience.

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns and NETWORK have suggestions on how to honor World Refugee Day through action, prayer, and study. As the U.S. begins to recover from the pandemic, it is time to push for the restoration of the U.S. refugee resettlement and asylum systems. Here are some resources from Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns:

Pray: Watch this 40-minute ecumenical prayer service for World Refugee Day, featuring the words of Maryknoll missioners working with refugees and the voices of refugees who have been resettled with the help of U.S. faith communities. Pray this prayer for World Refugee Day 2021.

Learn: Explore this toolkit from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, featuring prayer, education, and action materials.

NETWORK: The previous administration weaponized the COVID-19 pandemic, using it as an excuse to violate the rights of asylum-seekers. By continuing to keep this order in place, the Biden administration is endorsing these same cruel and unscientific policies.

In most Catholic Diocesan offices, you’ll find someone – perhaps a priest, more often a Deacon or a member of the laity – responsible for promoting Catholic Social Teaching. These men and women report to the local Bishop and are a critical resource for those doing the work of justice. And there’s a professional association that brings them together: the Roundtable Association of Catholic Diocesan Social Action Directors. The Roundtable has partnered with the Catholic Labor Network on a number of projects and events over the past three years.

Each July the Roundtable hosts a Social Action Summer Institute (SASI) featuring workshops on different dimensions of Catholic Social Teaching. It’s not restricted to members of the Roundtable, and in fact is open to any Catholic interested in social justice or social ministry. And this year, due to the pandemic, SASI will be virtual – making it accessible to those who can’t travel. Registration is just $25.

Want to learn more about Catholic Social Teaching, and meet like-minded friends and contacts? SASI will be held July 14 and 15 this year. To learn more about the event, and to register, CLICK HERE.

Paths of Renewed Encounter: A Restorative Justice Engagement Guide for Catholic Communities is a brand new resource from CMN exploring the foundational concepts and practical considerations for restorative justice engagement in Catholic settings. This expansive toolkit features theological teachings, restorative justice basics, related resources and reflection questions, and next steps for discernment and engagement.