May 29, 2020

Inside this issue

• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
 
Our hearts are broken and there are no words to describe our feelings.  On Monday, May 25, 2020, George Floyd died in the custody of the Minneapolis Police Department.  As we grieve, we know that there is important work ahead to address the evils of racism and other injustices in our communities across the country. Here is the statement from Catholic Charities Twin Cities.

This week saw the Senate at home for the Memorial Day recess while the House met to vote on fixes to the Payment Protection Program (PPP). Unemployment claims also continued to drastically rise.

On Thursday the House voted overwhelmingly, 417-1, in support of a bill that provides small businesses additional flexibility with how they can use PPP funds. The bipartisan bill increases the amount of time small businesses and nonprofits have to spend the money, extending the period from eight weeks to 24 weeks. Additionally, the bill lowers the amount of the loan required to be spent on payroll to 60 percent instead of 75 percent. The House vote comes after many employers lamented that restrictions imposed on the money threatened their ability to achieve loan forgiveness. It is now up to the Senate to take up the measure once they return next week. PPP was conceived with the intention of keeping businesses financially afloat and staving off massive layoffs by keeping employees on payroll.

An additional 2.1 million people filed for unemployment assistance this week. In total, more than 40 million people have filed for unemployment assistance since mid-March. The total claims bring the equivalent of one out of every four U.S. workers filing for assistance.

Again, the Supreme Court did not issue its DACA decision this week. CCUSA continues to closely monitor the court's opinions and related developments. CCUSA is working with agencies and elected officials in search of a legislative solution for DACA recipients.

When the Senate returns next week they will continue to consider what will be included in the next COVID-19 aid package. It is a critical time to raise the needs of Catholic Charities agencies and the clients they serve. You can email your senator and share with them that you stand with Catholic Charities at this time and that you need them to act.

Faith and the Common Good

This weekend, we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, and commemorate when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles.  The apostles also received the gifts to fulfill their mission to go out and preach the Gospels to all nations.  Often called the birth of the Church, Pentecost reminds us of the importance of community and how we are related to each other.  During this time of the pandemic, may we be called to recognize the disparity in our communities, promote equity and renew the face of the earth as we build the beloved community.  So we share this prayer for Pentecost.

For the Spirit of Peace
that calms our mind
and stills our life,
we give you thanks.
For the Spirit of Love
that touches hearts
and reaches out,
we give you thanks.
For the Spirit of Joy
that lifts our soul
and gives us faith
we give you thanks.
For the Spirit of Power,
that gift of grace
for this your church,
we give you thanks.

Trivia

What is the name of the only Catholic University in the United States founded by a Saint?

Please send your answers to [email protected]

Sr. Marcianne Bzdon, SSND was the first to identify the Most Reverend Ignatius Chung Wang as the first Asian Amerian and Chinese American to be appointed to the office of bishop in the United States.  He was auxiliary bishop of San Francisco from 2002-2009.

He was born in Beijing, China in 1934.  He attended Catholic schools and begna his studies to become a priest at the Regional Seminary in Hong Kong.  He was ordained a priest in 1959 in Hong Kong at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. After his ordination, he was sent to Rome where he completed a doctorate in Canon Law in 1962. He then served on the Caribbean Island of Grenada, where he served as a parish priest and Vicar General of the Diocese of St. George.  

In 1974, Fr. Wang moved to San Francisco to be near his widowed sister, who had small children and was in poor health. When his sister died of cancer, Bishop Wang became guardian of her children.

Bishop Wang began his service in the Archdiocese of San Francisco 1974.  He initiated a ritual Blessing of Ancestors at the annual archdiocesan Chinese New Year's Mass. In 1982, he was appointed pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in San Francisco, making Fr. Wang the first Chinese Catholic pastor in San Francisco.

Pope John Paul II named him a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness with the title of Monsignor in 1989. He also has served in the archdiocesan Tribunal and as Coordinator of the Chinese Apostolate. 

On December 13, 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed Monsignor Wang to the post of Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He served as auxiliary bishop of San Francisco under Archbishop William J. Levada and Archbishop George Niederauer before retiring in 2009.

Please share the weekly with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!

You can also access advocacy opportunities through our advocacy and policy page.

Stay connected with our work to end poverty, follow us on Twitter at @CCharitiesUSA.

If you would like to help further Catholic Charities' commitment to alleviating, reducing, and preventing poverty you can contribute here.
 
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