When school is out and the summer temperatures rise, the City of Chicago often sees an increase in violence on its streets. Responding to this violence is a Catholic issue. Cardinal George recently released a letter to all parishes in the archdiocese asking the faithful to pray for peace and to help provide “safe havens” for the people affected by violence. Several of the archdiocese’s parishes are located in the middle of the areas prone to violent crime. Many of these parishes have developed their own anti-violence programs over the years as a way to bring God into the mix. Two of these parishes are highlighted here. Violence is an issue that impacts all of us, no matter what neighborhood we live in. We join with the cardinal in asking all Catholics to pray for peace and reach out to end the violence. — Catholic New World staff As temperatures climb and most schools close for the summer, church leaders are calling on their congregations to step forward and protect young people from the violence that often seems pervasive in Chicago. In a letter sent to parishes for their June 26-27 bulletins, Cardinal George wrote: “Gunshots and gang violence, rooted often in verbal and physical abuse at home, can scar children and youth. The sad reality of daily life is that our youth and their families often live under a veil of fear. Such an environment hinders the normal development of children, youth and their families. “The daily threat of violence is greater in inner-city neighborhoods. A number of our Catholic parishes in these communities are already providing secure spaces in churches, gymnasiums and other parish buildings for play, exercise and prayer,” the cardinal wrote. “I am thankful to their pastors and their parishioners. There is a need for more of our parishes to provide safe haven as well, and I ask our pastors and their congregations to work toward offering this.” St. Sabina Parish on the South Side offers many opportunities for children and young people to stay safe and keep growing in faith and leadership, as well as offering all members of the community an opportunity to speak out against violence. Marching in unity On June 18, the last day of classes for Chicago Public Schools, Father Michael Pfleger led a rally and march to “Silence the Violence.” Among the more than 300 participants were Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Police Superintendent Jody Weis, public schools chief executive officer Ron Huberman, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris, and the newly named director of Chicago’s community policing initiative, Ron Holt, whose son, Blair, was shot and killed on a city bus in May 2007 while trying to shield a friend from bullets. The group walked from the church down 79th Street to Halstead, making a loop of about a mile and a half, chanting slogans such as, “Stop the violence,” while waving at children in windows and passersby. Khari Riley, 16, is a member of St. Sabina’s choir and has participated in many such marches, she said. “I think it’s important for us to get our message out,” said the Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School student. “I don’t care how far we have to walk. This is one of the few times we get our voices heard.” Tonia Carr of the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary also marched. She attended St. Sabina School as a child, lives in the community and still worships there. Anti-violence marches show people they are not alone, Carr said. They help people feel less isolated and help give them the courage to speak out against violence. Take back your block Before the march started, Daley encouraged people to do just that. “If a drug family says ‘I own your family,’ they own your family. If a drug dealer says he owns your block, he owns your block,” said Daley. Adults must go out and take back their blocks, Daley said, and take responsibility for their children. Pfleger, who lost a foster son to gunfire in 1998, compared the blood shed by gun violence to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, calling it an “urban spill.” “This urban spill is not just affecting wild life and the fishing industry, but, it’s affecting our children and the future of our country,” Pfleger said. “Get involved and get aggressive because we will protect our children, and we will save our future.” Back-of-the-Yards camp keeps kids off streets For the roughly 100 students who attend Camp Imagination at Immaculate Heart of Mary/Holy Cross Parish this summer, safety is one benefit. But the nine-week program, for young people from first grade through age 18, also encourages them to keep up on their academic work, expand their horizons and develop initiative and responsibility, said director Mary Gomez. The program, funded by a state Teen Reach grant, is for students who attend schools in Holy Cross/IHM’s Back-ofthe- Yards neighborhood, and is an outgrowth of the parish’s afterschool program. In the summer, students come from noon-4 p.m. and have time for swimming, crafts, projects, sports and field trips, which are paid for with weekend fundraisers, Gomez said. “Because so many people in our community are economically disadvantaged, we don’t want the parents to have to pay anything,” she said. Group leaders are all college students who act as educational role models. Each group leader plans a theme for each week and plans activities around it. “If the theme was learning about animals, for example, they might have a field trip to the zoo that week,” Gomez said. They might also do a research project or journaling activity about animals, because “we want them to maintain their academic skills,” Gomez said. As students get older, they take more responsibility for planning activities as well, she said. “They like having the opportunity to take on more responsibility and do something for the community, Gomez said. Editor’s note: Camp Imagination is in need of school supplies for the students. For more information, call Sister Angie Kolacinski at (773) 376-3900.