December 2022 Newsletter
Issue #70
Consumerism
As we enter the month when we traditionally spend a lot of money on gifts, here are a few facts & figures about consumerism in the U.S.

Consumer spending is the biggest driving factor behind the U.S. economy. Consumer spending makes up about 70% of the economic activity.

The size of an average new single family house has almost doubled. In 1975, the average new single family home was 1,535 square feet. Today, the average new single family home in the U.S. is 2,467 square feet.

Almost 25% (approximately 350 million) of the world’s cars can be found in the U.S.

U.S. consumers spent a record $32 billion on home entertainment in 2021. Streaming video subscription revenue also set a record, rising by 19.8% to $25.3 billion last year.

Self storage has grown to more than 1.6 billion square feet of space in 2022. Over the span of the last 5 years, 257 million square feet of storage space was added. In 2021 almost 30.3 million rentable square feet were finalized, an area that would cover Central Park in New York City.

The average American spends $1,497 per month on non-essential items.

The average American makes an average 12 impulse purchases and spends an average of $276 per month, up from an average $183 per month last year. These items include:

  • Food/groceries 48%
  • Household items 42%
  • Clothing 40%
  • Technology 33%
  • Coffee 29%
Due to advertising campaigns aimed at them, American children have spent an estimated $500 billion in retail.

The United States is one of the largest producers of municipal solid waste -- recycling 32% -- 25th in the world.

Christmas
In 2020, Americans spent roughly $188.2 billion online for the Christmas holiday.

Last year consumers spent an average of $997.73 on gifts and other holiday items. The median weekly salary was $1,001 before taxes.

70% of Americans feel Christmas is too focused on money and over 20% go into debt over the holidays.

19% of Americans don’t like their gifts anyway.

Despite all the material growth, people in the U.S. are more unhappy today than they've been in nearly 50 years. 14% of American adults say they're very happy, down from 31% who said the same in 2018.

For resources on Simple Living, click here.
Other Resources
Beyond Welcome: Centering Immigrants in Our Christian Response to Immigration
By Karen Gonzalez. Asks how can people with good intentions, welcome immigrants with hospitality and solidarity that empowers them rather than pushing them to the fringes of white-dominant culture and keeping them as outsiders. Examines why the traditional approach to immigration ministries and activism is at best incomplete and at worst harmful. By advocating for putting immigrants in the center of the conversation, helps readers grow in discipleship and recognize themselves in their immigrant neighbors. Inspires people to take action to dismantle white supremacy and xenophobia in the church and emerge with new insights into our shared humanity and need for belonging and liberation. Read more.

For more on Immigration, click here.
The Inconvenient Gospel: A Southern Prophet Tackles War, Wealth, Race and Religion
By Clarence Jordan. Edited by Frederick L. Downing. A selection from Jordan's talks and writings that outlines his experiment in racial equality, nonviolence, economic justice, and sustainable agriculture. Highlights his biblical rejection of materialism, militarism, and racism as obstacles to authentic faith -- which stood in stark contrast to the hypocrisy of some churches that blessed wars, justified wealth disparity, and enforced racial segregation. Read more.

For more on Racism, click here.
Inequality.org
A project of the Institute for Policy Studies since 2011, tracks inequality-related news and views to provide information and insights for readers ranging from educators and journalists to activists and policy makers. Contributors come from the United States and around the world. Their focus is to narrow the staggering economic inequality that afflicts so many people in almost every aspect of life.

For more on Economic Justice, click here.
The Redress Movement
An emerging racial justice organization that aims to organize racially and ethnically diverse local movements in communities throughout the U.S. Specifically:
  • Brings visibility to the issue of racial segregation and its impact that has undermined the success of Black communities for decades.
  • Helps to educate, organize, and mobilize local communities to redress the past harm by done intentional efforts to segregate our nation.
  • Organizes Redress campaigns that are driven by local Redress Committees and Roundtables.
  • Changes the public narrative about how we arrived at this moment (our history of segregation) and starts to replace that narrative with one the supports a truly racially inclusive nation.
  • Builds public will for policy changes through direct action.
  • Builds a national movement through organizing and action at the local level.
  • Wins reforms that start to significantly improve the lives of African American families through redress of the harms caused by segregation.

For more on Housing, click here.
 Unguarded
A documentary that takes viewers inside the walls of APAC (Association for the Protection and Assistance of Convicts) -- a revolutionary Brazilian prison system centered on the full recovery and rehabilitation of the person. Beginning in 1972, APAC founder Dr. Mario Ottoboni volunteered in some of Brazil’s worst prisons. Seeing men and women frequently return to a life of crime once they left prison, Dr. Ottoboni decided to found his own restorative justice-based system. The results have been extraordinary: while the crime rate and recidivism rates have continued to increase in Brazil's public prisons, within the APAC system they have steadily decreased. The film explores the unique method behind this system, now present in twenty three countries across four continents. Observing the daily lives of the “recuperandos” (recovering inmates) who live and work there, viewers see firsthand why—as one inmate puts it—“no one escapes from love." Watch the trailer.

For more on the Criminal Justice System,
Prison Education Foundation
A non-profit, tax-exempt public charity dedicated to transforming the lives of incarcerated men and women by encouraging educational achievement and providing post-secondary educational opportunities. Specifically, provides opportunities to earn a collegiate education from a fully accredited institution of higher learning by providing:
  • A portal of access to higher education for prisoners.
  • Associate and baccalaureate degree opportunities consistent with the aspirations of the student.
  • Prison education departments with post-secondary educational resources and assistance.
  • A long-term mentoring and support connection back to the prisoner’s community.
  • Service to prisons, prisoners and the public interest as a center of innovation, information and advocacy on behalf of prisoner students.

For more on the Criminal Justice System,
He Called Me Sister: A True Story of Finding Humanity on Death Row
By Suzanne Craig Robertson. Recounts the story a fifteen-year friendship between the author -- a white middle-class woman and Cecil Johnson -- a Black man who grew up devoid of advantage. Relates how trust and compassion were forged despite the difficult circumstances, and how Cecil ended up ministering more to Suzanne’s family than they did to him. The story details how Cecil maintained inexplicable joy and hope despite the tragic events of his life and how Suzanne, her husband and their two daughters opened their hearts to a man convicted of murder. Includes a foreword by Sister Helen Prejean.

For more on Capital Punishment, click here.
Tips for Preaching About the Death Penalty
A resource from the Catholic Mobilizing Network, designed for bishops, priests, and deacons who want to identify opportunities to connect the Church's teaching against the death penalty to scripture. This free resource offers:
  • A selection of Scripture passages and Liturgical Feasts that lend themselves towards preaching about the death penalty
  • Core Church teachings on the death penalty from the Catholic Catechism, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Pope Francis' papal encyclical, Fratelli Tutti
  • Basic facts about capital punishment in the U.S. and where to find information about the death penalty in each state

For more on Capital Punishment, click here.

Catholics for Social Justice
A Facebook group with over 2,000 members. Features a wide variety of quotes, prayers, articles, video clips, event announcements, reflections, commentaries, anniversaries & other resources related to social justice. Request membership.

For more Justice resources, click here.
Jesus' Alternative Plan:
The Sermon on the Mount
By Richard Rohr OFM. Explores the implications of Jesus' vision in the Sermon on the Mount. Goes through the teachings, explaining the historical and cultural context of each verse and offering guidance for what it means for Christians today. The result is a clear, yet challenging look at the alternative plan laid out by Jesus for all to see. Learn more.

For more Justice resources, click here.
Dry Bones and Holy Wars: A Call for Social and Spiritual Renewal
By Brandon Robertson. Reflections by an activist and pastor who uses Christian scripture to call readers to wake up and take action for the collective good in the ways of Jesus--challenging and inspiring all to believe that a just world is on the horizon.

For more Justice resources, click here.
The Progressive Magazine
A nonprofit organization that aims to amplify voices of dissent and those under-represented in the mainstream, with a goal of championing grassroots progressive politics. Publishes on national politics, culture, and events including U.S. foreign policy; also focuses on issues of particular importance to the heartland. Two flagship projects include Public School Shakedown, which covers efforts to resist the privatization of public education, and The Progressive Media Project, aiming to diversify the nation’s op-ed pages. Publish multiple stories every day on their website, and also produce a bimonthly magazine featuring investigative reporting, cultural and political analysis, and poetry. Learn more.

For more Justice resources, click here.
Liturgy and Discipleship Preparing Worship That Inspires and Transforms
By Mary A. Ehle, Anne Y. Koester, and Stephen S. Wilbricht. A resource from Liturgy Training Publications that provides practical ideas for preparing the liturgy by integrating the needs of the world in an appropriate way. The ideas adhere to liturgical norms and Catholic Social Teaching and explore the many options provided in the ritual texts.
Includes:
  • Easy-to-use material organized by the seven key themes of Catholic Social Teaching
  • Explanations of each theme and its important connection to Liturgy
  • Quotes from Church documents related to each theme
  • Charts noting readings from the Sunday Lectionary which correspond to each theme
  • Preaching points for appropriately integrating each theme into the homily
  • Music suggestions
  • Ideas for prayer texts, Masses for various needs, blessings, and other prayer options
  • Original texts that may be used at Mass and other liturgies
  • Recommendations for when each theme should be highlighted at liturgy
  • Practical ways for Catholic parishes to put the teachings into action
  • Scripture passages for adult faith formation reflection
  • Index of patron saints related to social needs

For more Catholic Social Teaching resources,
Just Haiti
A faith-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to an alternative way of doing business in which the wealth that is generated through Haitian resource development or the sale of Haitian products is retained by the producers in Haiti. Focuses on the poorest communities, transforming both the consumer and producer through a just and dignified relationship. Learn more.

For more Fair Trade resources, click here.
Join the Resistance:
Step into the Good Work of Kingdom Justice
By Michelle Ferrigno Warren. The author, a faith-rooted justice advocate and activist, encourages Christians to join Christ's restorative work in the world. Affirms how people show up is just as important as showing up. Invites readers to understand their place in this moment and to learn from those who have gone before: the poets and prophets who call for resistance to oppression and injustice. Offers Biblical, historical, and contemporary examples to walk in God's righteousness, truth, and peace. Read more.

For more Public Witness resources, click here.
 
Prayer
Prayer for Elected Leadership
O God, give us strong, wise and
compassionate leaders.
Send us leaders with large hearts
and impassioned spirits,
who will stand for justice and freedom for all.
Give us leaders who will unite with other leaders
To bring about a kinder, more peaceful world,
Leaders who will support their co-workers
During times of challenge and change.
Give us leaders who are servants of the people,
Listening, encouraging, caring
For all races, creeds and cultures,
Welcoming those seeking asylum,
Providing a safe place for all to thrive.
Amen

Mount St. Scholastica
Benedictine Sisters
Music
Gonna Sing
Written by Mary Schmich
Performed by 4th-8th Grade Student Virtual Chorus
 Oak Park, District 97
 
Important Dates This Month
December 1st: Anniversary of the Arrest of Rosa Parks & World AIDS Day
December 7th: Anniversary of the Publication of Joy & Hope (Gaudium et Spes)
December 8th: Anniversary of the Closing of the Second Vatican Council
December 10th: Anniversary of the Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
December 18th: International Migrants Day
Individuals Honored This Month
December 10th
One way to stop the next war is to continue to tell the truth about this one.
December 17th
Do not give up your dreams of a more just world.
December 18th
Tradition has it that whenever a group of people has tasted the lovely fruits of wealth, security, and prestige, it begins to find it more comfortable to believe in the obvious lie and accept that it alone is entitled to privilege.
December 27th
We are collecting the people’s memories because we want to contribute to the
construction of a different country. This path was and continues to be full of risks,
but the construction of the kingdom of God entails risks, and only those who have the strength to confront those risks can be its builders.
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To learn more, click here.

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