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 Unit Activities & Answer Key With Your Group Unit Resources  
Entries relate to BLEST ARE WE FAITH & Word Edition © 2008 and BENDECIDOS © 2008. Titles that refer only to BLEST ARE WE © 2002 and ©2004 are indicated in parentheses.    Catholic Social Teaching -Solidarity Our Church teaches that we are one human family. As children of God, we are brothers and sisters called to be responsible for one another. Loving our brothers and sisters throughout the world requires that we work for peace and justice. These brothers and sisters include immigrants to our country, both legal and illegal. Our U.S. bishops have advocated a viable path to citizenship for the undocumented, more generous family reunification policies, and a temporary worker program. In "Strangers No Longer," the bishops state that nations have the right to control their borders. They also state that this right must be balanced against the right of persons to migrate so that they can realize their God-given rights. It all comes down to a matter of balancing. A nation has a responsibility to the common good of its own people and this must be balanced against a need for universal common good. Additionally, the bishops recognize that there are conditions that compel people to leave their homes out of desperation and lack of opportunities to provide for themselves and their families. These issues must be addressed if an effective and comprehensive response to migration is to be achieved in our country. 
 Discuss the immigrant experience of the Holy Family as they fled Bethlehem for Egypt to live among strangers until it was safe to return to their homeland. Compare their experience with that of a refugee family from another country fleeing to the United States to see asylum. Have participants role-play the two experiences, or share their reflections through a poem or in a drawing.  Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick reminds us, "We must never forget the Gospel call of Jesus – to welcome the stranger – for in the face of this stranger, we see the face of Christ." Discuss what this means for the young people in your group. Links Catholic Charities Advocacy for humane immigrant treatment. "Salt of the Earth" Online resources for social justice Books The DK Illustrated Family Bible Illustrated Bible interprets the text of all the most important stories in the Old and New Testaments; texts selected from the New International Version. Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-7894-1503-8 Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey Available through the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 800-235-8722, www.usccb.org People of Purpose by Arnold Cheyney Available through Good Year Books, 1999 Videos How Do You Spell God? (30 min.) Children of different faith traditions answer questions about faith and God Available through Videos with Values The Tabernacle (28 min.) Computer-generated tour of the ancient Tabernacle Available through Vision Video, 2000 Many Though One (28 min.) A look into rituals of Eastern rite churches in Egypt Available through Maryknoll World Productions, 1992 Music "Wade in the Water," "Let Us Go Rejoicing" BLEST ARE WE Music CD 6 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36657-3 BLEST ARE WE Song Book Words and melodies for songs on the BLEST ARE WE music CDS, Levels 1-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 BLEST ARE WE Accompaniment Book Accompaniment music for songs on the BLEST ARE WE music CDs, Levels 1-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2 |
