Javier Acevedo-Baez, Anti-Trafficking Outreach Specialist and Educator for the UMOS, Wisconsin Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Program, has worked at the UMOS, Latina Resource Center for over 7 years. The UMOS Latina Resource Center (LRC) provides comprehensive, culturally and linguistically appropriate advocacy and victim services to adults, youth, and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

Javier will be at St. Mary Church on Tuesday, January 28 at 5:30 pm. He will share information on labor trafficking and how you can help locally. He will do a similar talk in Spanish on the same night at St. Mary at 6:30 pm. For more information go to www.umos.org/social_services/human_trafficking.html or contact Erin Cobb at the Holy Family Offices.

Labor Trafficking Indicators

• Works excessively long hours for little or no compensation.
• Does not have any days off.
• Is often monitored or timed during breaks.
• Does not have consistent access to food, water, and other basic necessities.
• Is not paid, paid consistently, or promised a future payment.
• Is physically assaulted or verbally and emotionally abused by controller, trafficker, or recruiter.

The UMOS Latina Resource Center Crisis Line-Available 24 Hours, 7 Days a Week at (414) 389-6510, or contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888.

Starting Monday, February 3, Holy Family will be offering GriefShare. The group will meet from 4:00-6:00 pm in the Holy Family St. Agnes Library, but you are welcome to being attending at any point.

Who should come to GriefShare? GriefShare is for people grieving the death of a family member or friend. Each week your GriefShare group will watch a video seminar featuring top experts on grief and recovery subjects. These videos are produced in an interesting television magazine format featuring expert interviews, real-life case studies, dramatic reenactments, and on-location video. After viewing the video, you and the other group members will spend time as a support group, discussing what was presented in that week’s video and what is going on in your lives. After the meeting, you will have the opportunity to use your workbook for further personal study of the grieving process, and to help sort out your emotions through journaling. Your group will spend time discussing questions and comments from the workbook study. If you have questions, or you would like to register for GriefShare, contact Mary Denzin at Holy Family Office or mdenzin@hffdl.org.

Join us for evening viewing of “El Norte” (1984) at 6:00 pm on Thursday, February 13, at Holy Family Hall. Following the movie, small group discussion will be facilitated by Fr. John LoCoco.

“El Norte” is the moving depiction of an adult brother and sister from Guatemala who emigrate to the United States when their family is persecuted because of their father's labor movement activism. The film touches upon serious themes for Catholics to consider; such as the right and dignity of the worker, as well as the crisis of immigration, and political refugees.

For more information, contact Erin Cobb.

Scripture shares with us compelling visions of refugees forced to flee because of oppression. Exodus details the escape of the Chosen People from Egyptian slavery whereas the first years of our Lord's life were spent in bitter exile. But what exactly is the Catholic Social Teaching on immigration? What are its basic principles? How can we support those forced to flee from their homeland?

Please consider joining us in Holy Family Hall, on Thursday, February 20, at 6:30 pm, for an evening devoted to the question of immigration, its basic principles, and Catholic Social Teaching, presented by Rev. John LoCoco. For more information, contact Erin Cobb at the Holy Family Office.

Come and join the Holy Family Stewardship Commission’s “educational panel discussion” on the Missionary Fraternity of Mary, the religious order from which our archdiocese has received many wonderful priests, including our own Fr. Fabian and Fr. Max. This event will take place at Holy Family Hall on Thursday, February 27, beginning at 6:00 pm. A light supper will be served. Included on the panel will be Mike and Mary Cezarz from Lumen Christi Parish, Mequon, Jim and Kathy Simon, Fond du Lac, Fr. Max Tzul and Fr. Fabian Rodas, and the Development Director of the order, Fr. Jaime Charuc. The Missionary Fraternity of Mary has been designated as Holy Family’s new international charity and will be receiving all Holy Family parishioner contributions from a special collection that will be taking place during Lent, and then again for the Propagation of the Faith weekend collection, in August. The Lenten envelopes that many of our parishioners receive through the mail will be directed toward this order, as well. Please call the parish office, (920) 9210580, and register with the receptionist if you plan to attend so we have an accurate count for the meal that will be served. Also, if you are interested in making a special donation to the order at any time, or have any questions, please contact Gail Kraig or the parish office.