Hello again everyone,

Just about a year ago, I first joined Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and became the Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). I remember so many parishioners gently teasing me when we first met. They would smile and ask me how long I was going to be able to last in this position! I was initially surprised by the comments until they explained to me that I was now officially the fourth person to be Director of the JPIC at IC within the last few years (since our beloved long-time parishioner and friend Maryann Crea retired when covid began)!

Obviously, with so many transitions and changes, a lot of rebuilding needed to be done. While my paperwork was still processing, I volunteered to start organizing my very first JPIC initiative: Praying in Solidarity for Peace in Ukraine - An Ecumenical Vigil. I knew from that very first event, however, Immaculate Conception was a parish firmly rooted in the Gospel’s call to justice. Our parishioners joined together with members of numerous other Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches, along with people throughout our greater community, united for peace. Over the past year, I have been truly grateful for all the ways you have continued to be a living witness, embodying your faith in the world through your active involvement in our JPIC ministries!

As we continue sharing another Lenten season together, let us reflect on how our faith and spirituality can help us actively respond to God’s call for justice, peace, and care for creation. We can do this in a special way during the month of March, as our Catholic (universal) church joins in our society’s celebration of Women’s History month and recognition of National Disabilities Awareness. In Catholic Social Teaching, the biblical understanding of justice becomes particularly significant when listening to the voices of women, the disabled, or anyone's story that God calls us to attentively hear. In Scripture, justice means “to make right.” First and foremost, it is a “relational term.” Therefore, justice is about being in “right relationship” with God, one another, and the natural creation. Christian discipleship begins with authentic, loving encounters where we first listen to the voices of others. Justice begins with these relationships rooted in solidarity.  

Lent is a time for us to prepare for Christ’s glorious resurrection, the final victory over sin and death, and all that alienates or separates us from this “right relation” and God’s plan for our loving salvation. This restoration of “right relations,” God’s loving will for justice and peace for all people, particularly the poor and most vulnerable, lies at the heart of all our JPIC ministries, formation, and advocacy opportunities below. 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANK YOU!!!

VALENTINE'S DAY FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE SALE

The JPIC would like to thank all our parishioners for supporting our “Valentine's Day Fair Trade Chocolate Sale” again! Despite the cold and rainy weather, your amazing generosity led us to break yet another JPIC RECORD this year as our parish continues to embody the Gospel’s call to work for justice in the world! “Bull City Fair Trade” sales totaled $3,250, with 50% more chocolate being sold this year than Immaculate Conception’s best previous record! 10% of their proceeds will be donated back to our JPIC budget so we can continue to serve our parish community. Thank you to “Bull City Fair Trade” and all our parishioner volunteers for making this event possible. 

CROP WALK - INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY

THE 49th ANNUAL

​DURHAM CROP HUNGER WALK

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, - 2 PM

Join us this year for the 49th Annual Durham CROP Hunger Walk on Sunday, April 2nd. Walker signups and t-shirts sales will continue after Mass throughout March! You can even sign up to sponsor the friars. All funds go to Church World Services to help fight hunger both internationally and locally, with 25% of all funds going directly to Durham area food charities such as Meals on Wheels and Urban Ministries of Durham. Please help us keep the Golden Sneakers at ICC for another year. To sign up, please click on the IC's CROP Walk link.

All Immaculata Conception parishioners will meet and walk as a group at the following time and location noted below:

Sunday, April 2, 2 pm 

Duke Chapel, 401 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC.

*Please meet at the right side of Duke Chapel stairs

SUGGESTED PARKING

Duke lower lot (near East campus)

*You can either walk from there or ride the "East to West campus bus" to the Chapel for free

CAR WASH

SUPPORTING CROP WALK 2023

SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 9-1 PM IMMACULATA PARKING LOT

Respeto’s annual car wash in support of the Durham CROP Hunger Walk will take place on Saturday, March 18th, from 9 – 1 PM in Immaculata’s school parking lot. All proceeds will be donated to the Crop Walk. Please come and support the Youth Group in their efforts for this important cause!

FARM BILL - INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY

BREAD FOR THE WORLD:

OFFERING OF LETTERS



APRIL 29-30 - AFTER ALL MASSES

Once again, our JPIC will be supporting the annual “Bread for the World: Offering of Letters” to our Congressional representatives in the gathering space after all masses the weekend of April 29 and 30. This year’s focus will be the approval of the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill deals with much more than just farming; it covers jobs/workers’ rights, nutrition, research, infrastructure, conservation, and innovation to create a food system that is equitable and sustainable focusing on the needs of those who are poor as well as the needs of our Common Home.

The impact of the farm bill is significant. It is our nation’s most important national food system legislation. Among the measures that should be included are strengthening nutrition security in domestic and international food aid programs, creating a more equitable Supplemental Nutrition Assistance SNAP (AKA Food Stamps) program, and increasing food systems sustainability. It not only affects the agriculture and food sectors - but it can also play a huge role in ending food insecurity and hunger in the U.S. and save the lives of millions abroad. It is critical to ending hunger at home and abroad.

Please join your fellow IC parishioners at this year’s “Bread for the World: Offering of Letters” and tell your senators and representatives to support the reauthorization of the farm bill in order to build healthy, equitable, and sustainable food systems.

“ADVOCATING TOGETHER FOR OUR FARM BILL”

A JUSTFAITH MINISTRIES EVENT

THURSDAY, MARCH 16 - 7 PM 

The Farm (or “Food”) Bill is one of the oldest and ever-evolving pieces of legislation and is a bedrock policy for US and global food security, our farmers’ and ranchers’ well-being and relationship with the environment and markets, and nutrition assistance. It is updated every five years, but if the latest version does not pass Congress it will default to the 1949 version, which is outdated and would threaten the sustainability of our food security system. 

Mary Kate Costello, the Director of International Policy and Relations at Church World Service (CWS), and Eric Mitchell, the Executive Director of the Alliance to End Hunger, will discuss the value and details of the Farm Bill and answer questions to equip as many people as possible to reach out to their Congressional Representatives and help get it passed.

2023 EATER’S GUIDE TO THE FARM BILL

This comprehensive guide explains the bill in easy-to-understand pictures, details the current food and farming situation in the U.S., and includes questions for local, state, or federal candidates.

PROMOTING HUMAN DIGNITY (PHD) 

SAINT FRANCIS BUILDS: HOUSING REPAIR MINISTRY IN EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Saint Francis Builds (SFB) works with underserved communities, repairing homes while building community for participants. These trips are an opportunity to renovate homes, restore hope and reimagine the church. SFB invites parishioners to a May 23-28 trip in Plymouth, NC. Renovation experience is not required. For information on SFB and past trips, click below or contact Kevin Concannon.

PREGNANCY/INFANT LOSS SUPPORT MINISTRY

Our parish is exploring starting a new ministry focused on pregnancy and infant loss. Parishioner Christina Gebel, a birth doula, childbirth educator, and someone who has experienced loss, is gathering interested families to talk about this new ministry. Anyone who has had a loss in pregnancy and/or of an infant is welcome to join, whether recently or years prior. Please email Christina to express interest and receive more information.

CARE FOR CREATION 

EARTH DAY FAIR

APRIL 22-23 - AFTER ALL MASSES

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) FARM TOUR AND BLESSING OF THE LAND 

SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2-3:30 PM

Get a steady supply of fresh vegetables and support a Black farmer. IC’s JPIC Care for Creation/Green Team is partnering with other churches to support Kamal Bell/Sankofa Farms, in Efland. Join us on Sunday, 03/19, 2-3:30 pm, for a blessing and tour of Sankofa farms. Meet farmer Kamal Bell and learn about the opportunity to join the CSA that starts in early May. For more information, click below.

Sankofa Farms

2916 JA Killough Drive

Ceder Grove, N C, 27231

DURHAM CREEK WEEK!!!

MARCH 18-25

Celebrated annually during the third week of March, Creek Week is a time to discover and clean up our local waterways. Since 2009, we have collected an estimated total of 190,637 pounds of litter with 4,117 volunteers during Durham Creek Week!

This year, Creek Week will take place from March 18th to March 25th. Creek Week is one of Durham’s largest litter cleanup initiatives of the year, as well as a week-long celebration of Durham’s creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes. Learn more about Creek Week here!

Want to organize a cleanup for Creek Week? Register here! We can help you choose a location if you don't have one in mind yet.

View other educational and recreational events or join a cleanup here.

ASK EPA TO SET 

STRONG SOOT POLLUTION STANDARDS 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it will update soot pollution standards. This is a critical step to protect our health and our climate from deadly air pollution, but the planned update fails to set the strong science-based soot pollution standards that would protect communities. 

Soot is a dangerous and deadly pollutant that is produced by power plants, tailpipes on cars and trucks, and other industrial sources. An updated standard for soot pollution could save thousands of lives. According to the American Lung Association, 63 million Americans experience unhealthy spikes in daily soot, or particle pollution, and more than 20 million Americans experience dangerous levels of soot pollution on a year-round basis. Soot pollution disproportionately affects low-wealth communities and communities of color. 

As people of faith and conscience, our values call us to love our neighbors and to be good stewards of our Sacred Earth. The EPA has a moral opportunity right now to advance environmental justice, ensure that our neighbors have clean air to breathe and to protect those most vulnerable such as children, seniors, and people with chronic illnesses. 

Submit a comment to the EPA urging a strong, science-based soot pollution standard that protects health and advances environmental justice. 

IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES 

AN INVITATION TO A SIMPLE SUPPER/SHARING (COURTESY OF THE RAPUANO-DIRR FAMILY)

MIGRANT WORKER HYGIENE KITS

This year the parish again offers the opportunity during Lent to collect hygiene items for farmworkers in our community. Every spring, an estimated 150,000 farmworkers pour into North Carolina to harvest cucumbers, tobacco, apples, sweet potatoes, green peppers, and Christmas trees. At the height of the growing season, farm workers often work 12-14 hours a day in the hot sun with few breaks, and the average farmworker earns less than $11,000 a year. Would you be able to feed and support your family for that? This weekend you can pick up a plastic bag and a list of items needed for each kit in the gathering space. Please return the bag/s to the barrels in the gathering space no later than Sunday, March 26.

SUBMIT A COMMENT ON THE ASYLUM BAN

The Biden Administration proposed a new rule that will establish a near-total ban on access to asylum at the U.S. southern border. This new rule will require that people:

1. Prove they applied for and were denied asylum in countries through which they traveled and 
2. Have an appointment confirmed at a port of entry using the notoriously glitchy CBP One app.

This rule and other changes to the asylum system will have a discriminatory impact, favoring those with access to technology and wealthier immigrants who can access visas, have sponsors in the United States, and travel by plane. While announced as a two-year, temporary measure, this rule may cause the long-term erosion of the right to access asylum as we know it in the United States.

If you would like to learn more, Church & Society of the United Methodist Church will host “In Defense of Asylum” on March 20 at 3 pm with impacted asylum seekers from the border. 

Comments to the proposed rule made must be individualized in order to count. In other words, one should not copy and paste the same wording. Your submission does not have to be lengthy. It can be as brief as a few sentences about why you personally oppose the ban.

Click here to access talking points and resources we have gathered from immigration expert partners to help in composing a unique comment. Use this link to submit your comment. Comments are due by March 27.

TAKE ACTION AGAINST FAMILY DETENTION

The U.S. Administration is reportedly considering reinstating family detention as a strategy to deter migrants from seeking refuge. This practice has been proven inhumane, ineffective, and trauma-inducing for young children. Migrants seeking refuge deserve protection and opportunities.

Take action today by sending a message to the Biden Administration opposing the implementation of family detention.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING 

DURHAM CAN

INTERNAL ACTION MEETING - DURHAM CAN

Any Immaculate Conception parishioners interested in becoming JPIC Community Organizing Durham CAN Core Team Leaders should attend this meeting. We will gather to hear updates from our Research Action Teams as well as begin to discuss and make commitments for our Durham CAN Refounding Day.



INTERNAL ACTION MEETING

​Thursday, 03/16, 6-7:30 PM

Monument of Faith's Sojourner Truth Building

​(900 Simmons Street)

REFOUNDING DAY - DURHAM CAN

The purpose of the gathering is to publicly reclaim Durham CAN's position and power in Durham. All members of our Immaculate Conception community are encouraged to attend this event!

REFOUNDING MEETING 

​Sunday, 04/30, 6-7:30 PM

​Duke Memorial UMC

(504 West Chapel Hill Street) 

ACTION TEAMS - DURHAM CAN

For more information on Immaculate Conception's involvement with Durham CAN or any of Durham CAN's current "Action Teams" (Affordable Housing, Poverty, Gun Violence, and Public Transportation), please click on our JPIC link below.

DIRECT SERVICE

FURNITURE PROJECT OF DURHAM

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

The JPIC’s Furniture Ministry at Immaculate Conception is looking for volunteer movers with a pickup truck or van to help deliver free furniture to neighbors in need. Volunteers typically commit to one 2-hour shift each month (Saturday mornings), but any amount of help is welcome! Please get in touch with Mike Jenista for more information.

MEALS FOR THE HUNGRY

MARCH 18

Help us prepare meals! As a parish, we serve dinner to approximately 150-200 people on the third Saturday of every month. Donations can be dropped off at the Immaculata kitchen (attached to the school) between 4 and 4:30 pm on Saturday.

Individual meals will be packaged and transported to Urban Ministries on Liberty Street.

Please sign up and tell us what you can bring! 

JPIC 2023 LENT EVENTS

Just a quick reminder about some of our ongoing JPIC Lenten events/programming! Please click on any of our JPIC links below for more information or visit the complete Immaculate Conception's Lenten Opportunities Guide here!

• Greener Lent
• Bi-Lingual Stations of the Cross/Ecological Conversion
• Lenten Book Study
• 2023 IC Lenten “Carbon Fast” Calendar