Lowell Transitional Living Center

Each year, our Social Justice Committee facilitates a collection in support of the needs of our homeless neighbors who are served by the Lowell Transitional Living Center... who offer services that end homelessness.

Welcome to our 2022 Collection!

Collection bins will be located at each of our churches from Saturday, November 5 through Sunday, November 13. Additionally, we are offering the option of dropping off your donation(s) via a drive-thru event that will be held Saturday, November 12 in the St. John parking lot between 8–11 am.
 
ITEMS OF GREATEST NEED:

• Men’s and women’s sweatpants (all sizes)
• Men’s and women’s hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, winter jackets and feet warmers
• Twin-size blankets, sheets and pillowcases
• Bath towels and Shower Shoes (flip-flops)
• Hand sanitizer (individual size), anti-bacterial wipes and disinfecting sprays

 TOILETRIES

• Q-tips
• shampoo (travel size)
• conditioner (travel size)
• unscented soap
• body wash
• deodorants
• face cloths
• men’s/women’s razors
• shaving cream
• unscented lotion
• combs/hair brushes
• chapstick
• hair ties/ head bands
• finger nail clippers

 NEW CLOTHING

• women’s underwear
• men’s boxers and undershirts
• socks
• plain t-shirts
• leggings
• shoelaces

 GENTLY USED CLOTHING  (clean, no stains, no rips, no odor)

• light jackets
• shoes/ sneakers
• sweatshirts/hoodies

 
 

As the newly formed social Justice Committee, we would like to promote our first presentation on the issue of Human Trafficking. Each year, an estimated 17,000 vulnerable men, women and children are trafficked across our borders and then forced into slavery.

Human trafficking has more than one face. Two of the major faces of trafficking are labor trafficking and sex trafficking. Labor trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, which exists both nationally and internationally. The most likely victims are the weak and vulnerable, such as newly arrived immigrants, those in debt, or those on the lower end of the class spectrum. Traffickers use physical and psychological control to keep victims in a state of repression until they are somehow able to escape.
 
Sex trafficking is also a heinous form of slavery. Runaway or homeless youth, victims of domestic violence, or even victims of war are vulnerable to this form of trafficking. Young people below the age of eighteen who are targeted and  demoralized are the most serious victims. The internet is a key resource many traffickers use to lure, manipulate, and entrap victims. Victims of either labor or sex trafficking can be held against their will for months, or even years.
 
To understand how our community may take action to combat human trafficking, our committee is raising awareness through a speaker series. It only takes one person to make a difference! This first event is a panel discussion to learn more about how this issue affects our own local community.  

Awareness and Education Series:
Shining a Light on Human Trafficking
 

Part One

Panel Discussion: Thursday, January 11, 2018
Panelists will include a trafficking survivor, those who provide assistance to human trafficking victims, and those involved in law enforcement at state and federal levels.
 
To understand how our community may take action to combat human trafficking, our committee is raising awareness through a speaker series. It only takes one person to make a difference! This first event is a panel discussion to learn more about how this issue affects our own local community.  

Below is feedback received from this event...

On January 11th, I attended the first [of four] Human Trafficking events held at St Mary’s. It was a panel discussion that included local law enforcement, activists, and a human trafficking survivor who shared her personal story. The enthusiasm of each speaker made it evident that this is something they are deeply passionate about. They talked about how they help survivors and find offenders. They spoke about how human trafficking is a real issue and not uncommon, even in our own community. They also talked about the signals to look for and gave examples of how girls, boys, women and men get pulled in, often without them realizing and how it’s not always easy to escape – whether it’s due to a lack of resources, fear, or even the perception of love. The message of the panelists was clear: Spread the word. We can make an impact on raising awareness, which in turn can help current victims and prevent future victimization.

 

Part Two

Speaker Presentation: Sex Trafficking: Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Jasmine Grace, a survivor of Sex Trafficking

Jasmine is a young woman who was “trafficked, recovered and redeemed” as the subtitle of her books states. In her true story, The Diary of Jasmine Grace, this modern-day abolitionist reflects on the values and experiences that influenced her. From dating a man who would eventually sell her body, to finding redemption in the back seat of a car, Jasmine reveals the strengths, vulnerabilities and processes that changed her. She opens a door into her life as a prostitute, sharing her diary and the struggles that eventually landed her a seat in a 12-step program, a job in the anti-trafficking movement and a place in a community church. Speaking candidly about her years as a prostitute and heroin addict, Jasmine discusses how faith influenced her, and she sheds light on the road to recovery, relapse and redemption. To read more about her story, visit https://jasminegrace.org.
 

 

Part Three

Panel Presentation: Labor Trafficking: Thursday, April 26, 2018
Jeffrey Bourgeois, Assistant AG with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
Beatrice Fernando, founder of the Nivasa Foundation
a Sri Lankan survivor of human trafficking
 

Labor trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery which exists both within the United States and globally. Labor traffickers use violence, threats, lies, debt bondage, or other forms of coercion to force people to work against their will in many different industries. For victims of forced labor, the body is made into a disposable machine made to work long hours for little or no pay for the profit of others. Labor trafficking victims include those forced into domestic servitude, those forced to work under the threat of violence with no pay, and those compelled to work in order to repay a debt. U.S. citizens, foreign nationals, women, men, and even young children can be victims of labor trafficking. Vulnerable populations are frequently targeted by traffickers. Immigration status, isolation, and poverty are just some of the vulnerabilities that can lead to labor trafficking. Tonight we will we learn more about how labor trafficking affects our own community, the international dimensions of labor trafficking, and what is being done and what needs to be done to address this issue.
 

Part Four

Movie Screening: Not My Life: Tuesday, May 1, 2018

In collaboration with the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), we viewed and discussed the documentary film Not My Life. Filmed on five continents over four years, the film brings the horrifying practices of the multibillion-dollar human trafficking industry to life through the stories of survivors. Following the film screening and discussion, we started planning ways that our community can take action to end human trafficking.  

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Continuing the Conversation...

A Panel Presentation: Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Pi Downsborough, Mass State Police Captain
Mike Posanka, NH Human Resident Agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations
DAnielle Nichole, LICSW, A Clinical Specialist from RIA House
Stacy Reed, MSW, a sex trafficking survivor professional from RIA House.

Human trafficking, one of the most horrific injustices of our time, is something that is happening in the cities, suburbs and rural areas of every New England state. This event took form of a panel discussion where speakers provided us with an update on sex and labor trafficking in our region and how we can take action. To learn more about each of our panelists, please refer to the PANEL GUIDE.

 

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O St. Bakhita
                  
       Assist all those who are trapped
          in a state of slavery. 
      Intercede with God on their behalf,
          so that they will be released
          from their chains of captivity. 
      Those whom man enslaves,
      let God set free.

Amirah's (5k) Walk in Her Shoes
A Walk to to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking

 

Saturday, October 26, 2019

The Social Justice Committee thanks those who participated in Amirah’s Walk in Her Shoes 5K walk to support sex trafficking survivors and raise awareness about trafficking! We were part of a group of nearly 250 people who took part in the walk around the world. The money we raised will help Amirah continue to provide aftercare recovery and housing to survivors at its Massachusetts safe home. It will also help Amirah open a new safe home in Connecticut, a state that currently has no aftercare services for survivors. Visit www.amirahinc.org to learn more about their programs. Thank you for your help taking action on human trafficking and supporting survivors! To learn more about Amirah House, visit them at https://www.amirahinc.org/.

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Saturday, October 27, 2018 

The Social Justice Committee thanks those who participated in the ‘Amirah’s Walk in Her Shoes’ 5K walk to support sex trafficking survivors and raise awareness about trafficking and what it takes to recover!
 
We were part of a group of nearly 200 people who took part around the world. After each kilometer, we read about the journey of a survivor that Amirah helped move from exploitation to liberation. One survivor said that “I want you to know that Amirah has saved my life. It helped me become a strong, independent woman who knows she can do anything in life as long as she puts her mind into it.”
 
The money we raised will help Amirah continue to provide aftercare recovery and housing to survivors at its Massachusetts safe home. It will also help Amirah establish a new safe home in Connecticut, a state that currently has no aftercare services for survivors. 
 

 

 

Chocolate Fondue Protest Party
             hosted by Freedom Café of Durham, New Hampshire

Are you a chocolate lover? Did you know that chocolate is the 5th highest sold commodity in the world and its industry is rapidly growing? Sadly, the hidden secret to this booming industry is cheap labor due to human trafficking. We came together on this night to feast on ethically sourced chocolate and learn about child trafficked labor in the cocoa industry. We discovered the link between chocolate and human trafficking, what is being done about this tragic reality, and resources for change. 

Read More about Fair Trade Policy below...

Google defines Fair Trade Policy as a policy that eliminates discrimination against imports and exports. Buyers and sellers from different economies may voluntarily trade without a government applying tariffs, quotas, subsidies or prohibitions on goods and services. Fair Trade is the opposite of protectionism and economic isolation.
 
Fair Trade products are available at stores nationwide. Some examples of these products include Fair Trade coffee which is sold at Trader Joes and Target; chocolate bars can be found at Market Basket, Trader Joes and Whole Foods; tea can also be found at Market Basket as well as Hannafard. Hannaford also sells some Fair Trade fruit. Whole Foods also deals with baskets, soap and winter hats.
 
Other stores that sponsor Fair Trade products are BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco, Sam’s Club, Stop and Shop and Wegmans. Also, almost all flavors of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream are made with Fair Trade ingredients. Did you know that Taza Chocolate is a Fair Trade product from right here in Somerville?
 
So you might ask, “What is the problem with products that do not display the Fair Trade label?” The big problem stems from what is known as Human Trafficking. In some countries, children are actually abducted/stolen from their families and then routed to jobs from which they are unable to escape. They are placed in terrible working conditions, and even worse living quarters where they are given little to no money for their labor. Their work is not only unpaid, but in some cases, hazardous. These children can be abducted by professional pirates and are totally vulnerable to their methods. Interestingly, a major portion of the human trafficking cycle is centered in the agriculture industry.
 
One solution to this problem lies in Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade (https:/ethicaltrade.crs.org). This organization is a celebration of the dignity of work. It’s a community of Fair Trade believers dedicated to improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable by choosing to consume differently.
 
In a world of exploited workers longing to be seen, we are called to communion. Whether you join us in prayer or in consideration of your next purchase, we ask that you take action.

Immigration

The Collaborative Social Justice Committee is beginning an education series on the subject of Immigration. Exodus tells the story of the Chosen People, Israel, who were victims of bitter slavery in Egypt. For forty years they lived as wanderers with no homeland of their own. Their experience of living as homeless aliens was so painful and frightening that God ordered his people for all time to have special care for the alien:

"You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for him as for yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt." (Leviticus 19:33-34)

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Breaking Bread and Barriers

Thursday, November 14, 2019
Speaker Presentation: Engelie Blomerus, South African Refufee
                                               Zainab Absdo, Syrain Refugee

Engelie Blomerus will briefly shared with us the struggles and joys that she and her family experienced as immigrants from South Africa, and how her experiences led her to helping others who also face this life-changing transition. She also spoke about her work with her church in assisting immigrants to our local area.
 
We then heard from Zainab, a Kurdish refugee from Syria, who shared quite a different story… one of leaving her homeland amidst war and destruction. We learned how she and Engelie crossed paths and shared stories in the “Conversation Room,” a ministry focused on helping local immigrants build community and relationships. We were fiven some direction on how maybe we, too, can begin similar work in our own collaborative community.

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Breaking Bread and Building Relationships

Thursday, February 27, 2020
Speaker Presentation: Zaniag Absdo, Syrain Refugee
Also joining us are Nawal and Raedha, Iraqi Refugges

Imagine living in a war-ravaged country where the destruction of hospitals, homes, historic landmarks, schools, and once bustling downtown centers is a daily occurrence. You live in constant fear that your home could be the next target of arbitrary shelling. And then the unthinkable happens – your home is nearly leveled in a fiery explosion. You and your family survive, but you realize that it’s no longer possible to make a life in the only country you have ever known. You must leave behind your friends, all of your possessions, your school, and your native language. You wait two years while working tirelessly to obtain the necessary paperwork to come to the United States with the hope of a better life. This is the story twenty three year-old Syrian refugee Zainab Abdo courageously shared with our community last November.
 
Through Zainab, we learned firsthand the tremendous courage, resilience, and hope that it takes to come to the United States and start a new life. We learned how difficult it is to learn a new language, start over in a new school, and obtain work. We also learned that immigrants and refugees cannot do this on their own. Every immigrant and refugee needs the support of their new community to survive and thrive.
 
Engelie Blomberg, an immigrant herself, shared with us how her immigration experience led her to help others who are also facing such a life-changing transition. She spoke about her work helping refugees through outreach and relationship building. She also spoke about a “Conversation Room” program that teaches English to recent immigrants and refugees. 

Many of you were excited about starting a program like this in our Collaborative. As a first step, the Collaborative Social Justice Committee is hosting this meeting to explore what our community might do to support refugees. Refreshments will generously be provided by Nawal and Raedha, two Iraqi refugees who will also join us.

“We were put in this world to love him and our neighbors. Everything else passes away, only this remains. The tragedy we are experiencing at this time summons us to take seriously the things that are serious, and not to be caught up in those that matter less; to rediscover that life is of no use if not used to serve others. For life is measured by love.”  
                                                                                                          – Pope Francis

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Prominent Events and Figures

Thank you for continuing the journey with the Social Justice Committee of the Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative in celebrating Black History Month. In this final article in our bulletin series, we highlight prominent events and figures in Black History, including several prominent Black American Catholics.

• 1853: Harriet Thompson writes to Pope Pius IX to plead for the Catholic Church to minister to black people in New York and address the concerns of racism. This was the beginning of the Black Catholic Movement.
• 1909: The National Association for the Advancement of colored People is founded.
• 1915: One half century after the 13th amendment abolishes slavery in the U.S., the origin of Black History Month begins. Carter C. Woodson of Harvard and Minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the ASNLH (Association for the Study of Negro Life and History) to highlight the achievement of Black Americans.
• 1926: The ASNLH sponsors a Negro History Week coinciding with the February birthdates of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
• 1960’s: The Civil Rights Movement sees its dawn on college campuses as well as in the streets (including Washington, D.C.). This movement was inspired by the Prophet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose marvelous ideas constantly advocated peaceful demonstrations without violence.
• 1964: Dr. Lena Edwards (1901 – 1986) receives the President's Medal of Freedom for her work with the poor. Dr. Edwards was a dedicated physician and a mother of six. She was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, and was also very concerned about the poor. In her later years, she ministered to Mexican American migrant workers in Texas. She had a very deep faith and dedicated her life to serving others.
• 1972 - 1978: Barbara Jordan (1936 - 1996) represents Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives as the first Black congresswoman from the Deep South.
• 1976: President Gerald Ford officially designates the month of February as Black History Month. We recognize the achievements of our Black sisters and brothers throughout the month. Every American president has assigned February as Black History Month since then. Each February specifies a particular theme for that year. The theme for this year is “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity”.
• 2000: St. Sister Katherine Drexel is canonized on October 1st, 2000, becoming only the second recognized American-born Saint. She was the founder of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters and the first and only Black Catholic University in United States, Xavier University, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

While there is still much work to be done eliminate the sin of racism in America, a look back at the bravery, tenacity, and achievements of prominent Black Americans provides hope for the future. We dedicate ourselves to continuing in their footsteps to ensure that Blacks are treated equally in all aspects of American life. If you are interested in learning more about the work of the Social Justice Committee, please contact Craig Bonaceto (cbonaceto@gmail.com).

We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, 
                                               but it bends toward justice.

                                                   -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
                                                   “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.”
                                                   Speech given at the National Cathedral, March 31, 1968

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Supporting Black-Owned Businesses

Thank you for continuing the journey with the Social Justice Committee of the Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative in celebrating Black History Month and confronting racism. In our last bulletin article, we highlighted resources to educate ourselves about racism and identify ways in which we can take action as a faith community. While Covid-19 has significantly impacted the committee’s outreach ability, one way in which we can all take action to address racism is by supporting the numerous black-owned businesses in the Merrimack Valley.  By no means is this an inclusive list, but we wanted to provide a few names of the varied types of local businesses to get started.  As you can see there is something for everyone!  

• Gloryscent Beauty; Lowell ~ www.gloryscent.com
• Code Wiz; Westford ~ www.thecodewiz.com
• Offbeet Compost; Dracut ~ www.offbeetcompost.com
• FingerMetrics LLC; Chelmsford ~ www.fingermetrics.business.site
• AKM Graphics LLC; Lowell ~ www.akmgraphics.com
• Nile Cargo Carrier; North Chelmsford ~ www.nilecargocarrier.com
• Coulter Construction; Billerica ~ www.coulterinc.com
• Zulu Moving and Storage LLC; Lowell ~ www.zulumoving.com 

One company that stood out to us is called Soel (Simply Offering Edible Love) Sistas LLC located in Nashua, NH.  Kendra, the owner, offers a diverse menu of homemade food for full-service catering, meal preparation for take home/delivery meals and a ‘feed the kids’ free meal program. This program is free to all school-aged children and provides them with a hot dinner-time meal on Monday and Wednesday afternoons at specific locations in Nashua. On her website—www.soelsistas.com—Kendra makes a point of writing that there are no questions asked, and no judgement is passed on the kids taking part in this program.  

Another resource we came upon helps identify black-owned businesses that are not only local, but national and international, as well. This resource came in the form of an article written in June of 2020 titled, “How to Find and Support Black-Owned Business, Wherever You Are,” which can be read at www.fastcompany.com. This article discusses numerous apps, directories and marketplaces to help you find black-owned businesses to support in our communities and beyond.

Please stay tuned next week for the last article in our Black History Month bulletin series highlighting prominent Black Catholics. If you are interested in learning more about the Social Justice Committee, please contact Craig Bonaceto (cbonaceto@gmail.com).

 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

                                                                                                                                  -Micah 6:8

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Anti-Racism Resources

Each year, the Social Justice Committee of the Chelmsford Catholic Collaborative identifies a social justice issue with the purpose of educating our parish community about this issue and identifying ways to take action through service and outreach based on Catholic Social Teaching.

This year is no different, and the social justice issue we are addressing is Racism.  2020 was a sad and tumultuous year for our Black and Brown brothers and sisters who endured mistreatment, violence and even death, and time and time again justice eluded them. There is not a more relevant and pressing issue to be addressed. As Catholics, we are called to work to protect the dignity of all members of our one human family by confronting racism in all its forms.

Black History Month provides an opportunity to celebrate the too-often overlooked accomplishments of African Americans and reflect on their central role in U.S. History. As we reflect on the prominent achievements of African Americans and also prepare to enter into our Lenten journey, let us also reflect on how we can enter into a journey toward a more just and equitable society and eradicate the sin of racism. This will not be an easy journey, but it is one we will take together through prayer, listening, and responding.

As a step on this journey, the Social Justice Committee has prepared a list of resources to educate our community about racism and ways in which we can confront it as Catholics. All you need do is click on any of the below links.

Please stay tuned for upcoming articles in our Black History Month bulletin series on supporting Black-owned businesses and highlighting prominent Black Catholics.  

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee Against Racism
• USCCB Combatting Racism - Educational Resources
• Open Wide Our Hearts - USCCB pastoral letter against racism
• Archdiocese of Boston Social Justice Ministry
• Pax Christ Anti-Racism Resources
•  How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
  • the committee is has read and discussed this book  

Each year, the Collaborative Social Justice Committee facilitiates a Lenten Almsgiving Collection in support of our sister parish in Sierra Leone, West Africa as part of our International Initiative. All money collected directly benefits Our Lady Star of the Sea, which is supremely dedicated to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

Our Lady Star of the Sea, has a preschool and elementary school that serves a large number of children; a vocational school for adults where many women come to be trained in skills such as dress-making, hair-dressing, jewelry-making,  amd weaving that they can use to support and empower their families; a health clinic that serves EVERYONE in their community, including mothers in the delivery of their babies, those dealing with infections, as well as infant and elder care; and a vibrant Catholic Church community.

Learn More 
 

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Lenten Almsgiving 2021

The Collaborative Social Justice Committee has taken for its International Initiative to support our Sister Parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea, in Sierra Leone, West Africa. During Lent, we are conducting an Almsgiving collection to support this Parish, which is so dedicated to serving its community through corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Your material and goods donations in years past have helped this community in a number of profound ways.

In 2018, your generous donations helped the parish undertake a much-needed project to pave the Church compound. Your donations were also used to help the parish provide critical services and support to its community. In addition to its vibrant Catholic Church, the parish has a health clinic, a vocational school, and a pre-school and elementary school. In 2019, your generous goods donations were used in the clinic, vocational institute, and schools: We received this thank you letter from Fr. Sylvester Moijueh: 

“We are grateful for the items you donated to our clinic, vocational institute,
and pre and primary schools. You have been of help over the years and we pray for God’s continuous blessings, provisions, and protection for all who made it possible. The items yousent helped the students in our schools and the patients in our clinics tremendously as manyof them are extremely poor. They express their gratitude. We hope and pray that yoursupport continues and the ties we have established continue to grow in leaps and bounds.May the Good Lord abundantly reward you.”

This year, you may donate online via St. Mary or St. John’s online giving programs. If you prefer to donate by check, please make checks payable to either St. John or St. Mary, noting Lenten Almsgiving in the memo.