Comfort and joy

It's been a tough number of weeks. Not only for us at the Catholic Standard & Times, but for all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

And for Latinos in Arizona, who have seen one bill move through the Appropriations Committee that would make it possible for the children of the undocumented to be denied schooling of any kind (including private or home-schooling), medical care and housing; and another couple of bills denying U.S.-born babies citizenship.

And for workers in Wisconsin, who may no longer have collective bargaining rights. (Click here for the Catholic bishops' statements in support of workers' rights.)

And for people in Oman, Djibouti, Libya, Iraq. And Somalia, which has seen some of its worst violence in recent years, according to a family friend who knows what he's speaking about.

In the readings of the week (Sir. 5:1-8) I read:

Rely not on your wealth; say not: “I have the power.” Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart.

And it is -- somehow -- reflection, commentary and prophesy all rolled into one.
Authority is not right. Power over is not the same as power from. Repression and misdirection are not the refuge of the righteous, but of the terrified.

Amid all the huge (HUGE) issues of the day, I find comfort in the most plebian of tasks: cooking for my loved ones. Comfort food that speaks to us of warmth and love and days spent peacefully -- with eyes fixed to a calm horizon.

I am cooking cochinita pibil and Oaxacan-style pumpkin tamales: You are invited.

I'm a simple person, and I don't have much, but I understand what Russell Pearce and Scott Walker and Muammar Gaddafi and so many others with real power in the world don't: there is enough --and it is a joy to share.

Anti-immigrant legislation introduced in PA Senate

This from the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition:

There is no time to lose -- SB 9, a bill requiring government-issued ID in order to apply for a wide variety of public benefits, was approved by the Senate State Government Committee on Tuesday, and could come to a floor vote in the very near future. Several other dangerous bill have already been introduced this session, including provisions mandating the use of E-Verify and making English the official language of the Commonwealth.

Music for a Wednesday night

(My intro to this was on artist/writer/editor Terri Windling's beautiful blog the Drawing Board. And, I admit, I stole her blog post title too. Now, where's that iPod confession app?)

Preview a segment from a film about Mexican community in Philadelphia

This is an excerpt from the beginning of El Sol Sale Para Todos a 54 minute documentary about the growth of the Mexican community in South Philadelphia.
Directed by Leticia Roa Nixon, Carlos Pascual Sanchez and Laura Deutch.

By now the Mexican community of faithful at St. Thomas Aquinas is so large and devoted they not only celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at that church (and overflow onto the streets) but at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, which fits 1,000+ people and fills to the rafters during that celebration.

In addition, Antonio (one of the first people interviewed in the piece, was instrumental in the move to bring an image of la Morena to the Cathedral, as a permanent shrine. I will tell you -- her bank of candles is always, always lit.