30 Days of Prayer for Justice in the New Year of 2021
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30 Days of Prayer for Justice in the New Year of 2021 “Indeed, racism and its death-dealing consequences are not just offenses against our brothers and sisters as fellow human beings. They are offenses against God, the father of us all. And how do people of faith respond when they realize they have offended God? They confess. They acknowledge their sin, express remorse and commit to doing better. But when it comes to slavery, our nation’s original sin, and racism, which continues to enslave in our time, have we done that as Americans? Have we done it as a church? Or have we more often sought comfort in the “over-there-ness” of racist acts and crimes? Have we averted our gaze by pretending that “gang-related ‘violence” and the conditions that make it possible are not really “our problem”?” -- From a column by Cardinal Cupich in Chicago Catholic (May 31, 2020) Project Description 30 Days of Prayer for Justice in the New Year is a journey of prayer and reflection focusing on the history and continuing reality of racial injustice in the United States. This resource focuses specifically on systemic racism against Black individuals and communities. Beginning on January 18th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and leading up to the season of Lent, this prayer program challenges us as Catholics and as members of the Saint Clement community to confront the institutional racism in our country and in our local communities, to humbly examine our role - as a predominantly white community - in systems of oppression, and to prayerfully commit to working for justice on behalf of all people. Origin and Purpose of this Resource The idea for this prayer program and resource came from parishioners in Saint Clement’s Justice Ministry. The goal of this resource is to facilitate prayerful and intentional reflection upon the history of systemic racism in the United States through the lens of the Catholic faith. The intended audience of this resource is the Saint Clement Parish community, and thus the resource was developed with the demographic makeup of the parish in mind. The authors hope that this resource will be a step forward in facilitating the education, reflection, dialogue, and action necessary to transform Saint Clement into an actively inclusive and anti-racist community, as our faith requires. A Note on Authorship This resource was compiled by Saint Clement parishioners Monica Fox, Rebekah Hamilton, Kathleen Salzer and Allen Wesolowski and Saint Clement staff members Rachel Espinoza and Barbara Silva. All of the authors identify as white and therefore acknowledge that their work seeking to illuminate the history of racial injustice in the 1 United States and in the Church is undertaken from a position of privilege. The authors do not intend to speak for people of color in our parish community and beyond. Ways to Use this Resource There are a number of ways to engage with this prayer resource: ● Pray these 30 days with an existing small faith group or ministry ● Pray these 30 days individually or as a family ● Pray these 30 days in community via Zoom or Facebook ○ Facilitated Zoom sessions will be held at 12pm every day to pray each day’s reflection as a group. To receive the Zoom link, please fill out the registration form at www.clement.org. ○ A Facebook group has been created to share thoughts and reactions to each day’s reflection. For the link to access the Facebook group, please visit www.clement.org. Format For every day from January 18th - February 13th, 2021 you will find a reflection with the following parts: 1. Historical Fact 2. Scripture 3. Examination of Conscience & Personal Reflection 4. Lead into Personal Prayer SECTION 1 (JAN. 18-22): SLAVERY Written by Monica Fox SECTION 2 (JAN. 23-27): JIM CROW, SEGREGATION & REDLINING Written by Barbara Silva SECTION 3 (JAN. 28-FEB. 1): DISENFRANCHISEMENT Written by Rachel Espinoza SECTION 4 (FEB. 2-6): DISINVESTMENT & LOSS OF FAMILY WEALTH Written by Allen Wesolowski SECTION 5 (FEB. 7-11): HEALTH DISPARITIES Written by Rebekah Hamilton SECTION 6 (FEB 12-16): POLICE VIOLENCE Written by Kathleen Salzer WORKS CITED 2 S ECTION 1 (JAN. 18-22): SLAVERY DAY 1: Monday, January 18th, 2021 Historical Fact: The Middle Passage The trans-Atlantic slave trade was the largest movement of people in history. Between 10 and 15 million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean between 1500 and 1900, depriving the African continent of some of its healthiest and ablest men and women. But this figure grossly understates the actual number of Africans enslaved, killed, or displaced as a result of the slave trade. At least 2 million Africans- 10 to 15 percent - died during the infamous “Middle Passage” across the Atlantic. Another 4 million died inside Africa, during capture, or during the march to or in confinement along the coast. Altogether, for every 100 slaves who reached the New World, another 40 had died in Africa or during the Middle Passage. ● https://www.history.com/topics/Black-history/slavery ● http://www.worldfuturefund.org/Reports/Slavedeathtoll/slaverydeathtoll.html Scripture: John 15:15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. Examination of Conscience & Personal Reflection: What thoughts or feelings does today’s content raise in my mind or heart? How have I lived up to or failed to live up to God’s call to love all people as my neighbors and beloved creations of God? Lead into Personal Prayer: Lord, help me to look again at what has been done to your people, to their lives and to their dignity. Help me to recognize the systems and structures that deny the dignity of the human person. Help me to acknowledge my own part, either by acting or not acting. Free me from my own ego, so that slowly, and then more strongly, I will move toward justice into your light. Rekindle in my heart the fire of prophetic enthusiasm. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. 3 DAY 2: Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 Historical Fact: Slavery in the US starting in 1619 “Enslavers sought to make their enslaved completely dependent upon them through a system of restrictive codes. The enslaved were usually prohibited from learning to read and write, and their behavior and movement was restricted. Many masters took sexual liberties with enslaved women and rewarded obedient behavior with favors, while rebellious enslaved people were brutally punished. A strict hierarchy among the enslaved (from privileged house workers and skilled artisans down to lowly field hands) helped keep them divided and less likely to organize against their masters. Marriages between enslaved men and women had no legal basis, but many did marry and raise large families. Most slave owners encouraged this practice, but nonetheless did not usually hesitate to divide families by sale or removal.” ● https://www.history.com/topics/Black-history/slavery ● https://www.history.com/news/african-prince-slavery-abdulrahman-ibrahim-ib n-sori ● https://www.history.com/news/zora-neale-hurston-barracoon-slave-clotilda-sur vivor Scripture: Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ set us free. Examination of Conscience & Personal Reflection: What thoughts or feelings does today’s content raise in my mind or heart? How have I lived up to or failed to live up to God’s call to love all people as my neighbors and beloved creations of God? Lead into Personal Prayer: Lord, help me to look again at what has been done to your people, to their lives and to their dignity. Help me to recognize the systems and structures that deny the dignity of the human person. Help me to acknowledge my own part, either by acting or not acting. Free me from my own ego, so that slowly, and then more strongly, I will move toward justice into your light. Rekindle in my heart the fire of prophetic enthusiasm. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. 4 DAY 3: Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 Historical Fact: Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves Two hundred and thirteen years ago a law that outlawed the importation of slaves into the United States was implemented. This meant that with the legal supply of imported slaves terminated, the domestic trade increased in importance. Though Congress outlawed the African slave trade in 1808, the domestic slave trade flourished, and the enslaved population in the US nearly tripled over the next 50 years. The domestic trade continued into the 1860s and displaced approximately 1.2 million men, women, and children, the vast majority of whom were born in America. To be “sold down the river” was one of the most dreaded prospects of the enslaved population. Some destinations, particularly the Louisiana sugar plantations, had especially grim reputations. But it was the destruction of family that made the domestic slave trade so terrifying. “Although young adult men had the highest expected levels of output, young adult women had value over and above their ability to work in the fields; they were able to have children who by law were also enslaved property of the owner of the mother.