March 25, 2022

Inside this issue

• CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly
• Faith and the Common Good
• Trivia
• Connections

  CCUSA Presents the Washington Weekly  
 
Overview: Washington's focus has been on the war in Ukraine and the Supreme Court nomination hearing of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. President Biden announced in Brussels that his administration would take in up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.

CCUSA files Amicus Brief: This week CCUSA, joined by USCCB and CLINIC, filed an Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of DHS' decision to end migration protection protocols ("MPP") and restore migrants' right to seek asylum.

Economy: In the week ending March 19, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial [unemployment insurance weekly] claims was 187,000, a decrease of 28,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since September 6, 1969, when it was 182,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 214,000 to 215,000.

Public charge: The Department of Homeland Security has published a proposed rule to amend the federal "public charge" provisions. CCUSA is preparing comments to submit in favor of the rule.

Refugees: The Biden administration said the U.S. would take in up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, prioritizing those who already have family in the U.S. and those who are members of vulnerable groups. The timing and mechanisms for receiving these refugees are still being discerned, although it is clear that not all will come through the formal refugee program.
 
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  Faith and the Common Good  
 
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The feast celebrates the Lord's incarnation in Mary's womb, an event that God the Father had planned from the moment his creatures, Adam and Eve, turned from him. With Jesus becoming man by the power of the Holy Spirit, the stage was set for the salvation of the world. It's worth noting, of course, that God chose a human being, Mary, to cooperate in the fulfillment of his will. Asked to give birth to the Savior, Mary replied: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:26-39).

Yielding to the word of God, cooperating with his will: One could say that this is the common call of every human being. Salvation has already been guaranteed by the Word made flesh. Jesus, by his life, death, and resurrection, has established his peace and opened the gates of heaven to all. We are invited by Christ to follow him and witness by our faithful lives the glory already present and to be realized fully at the end of time. In other words, we don't have to save the world; that's already been done. But we do need to cooperate with God's salvation and that requires us to adopt the simple (yet courageous) "yes" of Mary who knew where she stood vis-à-vis Almighty God: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior" (Lk 1:46-47).

Pope Francis takes this feast today as an opportunity to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He is asking the Blessed Mother to intercede on behalf of the two countries and the whole world to God that he bestow his mercy in abundance so that human hearts might be converted from violence to peace. Who knows what will be the result of this prayer? We do know that God invites all men and women to cooperate with him and his divine will so that all people become one family. We also know that one woman who said "yes" to God became a free and willing vessel of God's grace that changed the world. How would the world change and how might the situation in Ukraine come to an end if each of us, with faith in God, said "yes" to him?
 
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  Trivia  
 
Q. What popular Catholic prayer is closely associated with the feast of the Annunciation? 

Please send your answers to [email protected]. 

Last week's question and answer:

Q. Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day. What life experience contributed to St. Patrick's success in converting many Irish people to Christ?

A. Thanks to Sister Attracta Kelly, OP, director of the Office of Immigration Assistance at the Adrian Dominican Sisters, for being first with the answer: "Patrick was trafficked and enslaved into Ireland.  During his years there he learned to talk with and trust in God. He also learned the Irish language and culture, and when he graciously returned after having escaped, he honored their culture and traditions by using some of the same symbols: e.g., the Irish used fire on mountain-tops to honor their gods. Patrick lit the Easter fire on the Hill of Tara, to teach the Christian faith."
 
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  Connections  
 
Please share the weekly with your friends, family and networks so that we can build a movement of solidarity for those most in need!

Be sure to text CCUSA to 50457 to receive our action alerts! 

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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