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We Are Our Brothers’ Keepers
By Carl F. Foreman
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As an employee of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), I was honored to serve on the National Black Catholic Congress' Leadership Commission on Africa. The vision of the Commission is "to foster a unifying, healing, mutual dialogue between the continent of Africa and the U.S. African-American Roman Catholic community focused on social, political and economic justice through community events, awareness building and educational resources." The commission identified best practices and provided direction and pertinent information useful in addressing the vision. The Plan of Action for Africa, as outlined by the commission, was approved before Congress X in Buffalo, New York in July 2007. The challenge now is for us as African American Catholics to engage our communities in meaningful and measurable activities to implement the vision of the Plan of Action for Africa here in the United States.

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CRS, through a number of educational and awareness programs and with six regional offices throughout the U.S. does just that. As the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the U.S., CRS strives to help U.S. Catholics change their hearts, minds, and lives so that, on the basis of faith, they actively work to transform the world. Established in 1943 by the U.S Catholic Conference of Bishops, CRS works in more than 100 countries, including nearly 30 countries in Africa.

In the U.S., CRS helps Catholics to respond to the Gospel call to live as one human family. The agency's guiding principles are closely aligned with Catholic social teaching and promote the dignity of every person, international peace and justice, and global solidarity.

To further its mission in the U.S., CRS works closely with the National Black Catholic Congress at the national, regional and diocesan levels. Together, we seek to engage African American Catholics to demonstrate solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Africa and in other countries in a number of ways.

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Through CRS' legislative and advocacy program, Catholics can show support of policy issues that impact people around the world, http://advocacy.crs.org. Youth and justice educational resources, including lesson plans, prayer services, and retreat models are available through a monthly newsletter, Going Global with Youth http://education.crs.or.

The CRS Fair Trade Program unites Catholics in the U.S. with marginalized people overseas through direct relationships, enabling farmers and artisans to earn a fair wage. CRS currently promotes fair trade coffee, chocolate and handcrafts. http://crsfairtrade.org. And through the Africa Campaign, Catholics can engage in prayer, dialogue and advocacy around crucial issues facing the people of Africa http://www.crs.org/africacampaign.

Using the Internet and teleconferencing technologies, Cyber Bridges connects students in the U.S. with their peers overseas, creating cultural understanding and global youth leadership http://cyberbridges.crs.org. CRS' annual Lenten program Operation Rice Bowl has been bringing families and communities together for more than 30 years. The program promotes prayer, fasting, learning and giving while raising money for CRS' food security programs overseas, http://orb.crs.org.

Another educational program, Food Fast is designed for youths and young adults and links the Catholic tradition of fasting with global hunger. Participants fast for 24 hours to raise awareness of global hunger and poverty http://www.foodfast.org.

Connecting with U.S. colleges and universities committed to solidarity is another way CRS reaches out to young people. Campus ministry resources are available at http://www.crscampus.org and grade school students can engage in activities and games that help foster an understanding of our one human family http://www.crs.org/kids.

Let us work together to bring to life the vision of the Plan of Action for Africa by expanding the relationship between the National Black Catholic Congress and Catholic Relief Services. Together, and in partnership with a network of Catholic Episcopal conferences, we can live our faith in solidarity with those in need in Africa and throughout the world.

Carl F. Foreman, Relationship Manager for Catholic Relief Services at CRS/Headquarters has worked for CRS for 34 years including in Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Ghana. He can be reached at 410-951-7291 or cfforem@crs.org.

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