Pew to Pilgrim - Give Drink to the Thirsty

I thirst!

This cry of our dying Christ is something we hear from millions of people worldwide – whether it be from people who do not have access to clean water, people who are facing life-threatening droughts or closer to home, our neighbors finding their homes delivering lead-filled water to their families. 

Water is key to life yet nearly a billion people lack access to a supply of safe water. This ever-growing shortage of clean water is not only a basic survival problem but also a source for a wide variety of diseases. There are many ways for you to help improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Start by learning more about the worldwide crisis and prayerfully reflect on what you could do. 

On a simpler level, we also think about sharing a drink with someone as an expression of hospitality and fellowship. “Let’s have coffee” or “Let’s meet for a drink” connote an invitation to get together and talk or perhaps more importantly, listen. Is there someone in your life who could use an invitation? Or maybe a new friend or fellow parishioner?

• Join Holy Name parishioners and visitors at our upcoming Coffee in the Courtyard – share a cup with someone you don’t know
• Take this National Geographic Water Quiz 
• Donate to Catholic Charities – Water for Flint
• Read Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment Laudato Si
• Volunteer with Catholic Charities to provide meals
• Participate in FAITH in Flint
• Keep a case of water in your car to share a bottle with the homeless during summer 
• Learn more about worldwide challenges of providing clean water (e.g. The Water Project, Water Aid, Stockholm Water Prize)
• Invite someone to join you for a coffee or a summer drink
• Read about water footprints
• Celebrate the U.N. World Water Day (next year!) on April 22
• Be conscious of your daily habits and how they affect clean water (e.g. limit daily use of water, use environmentally friendly detergents. don’t throw old prescriptions down in toilet)
• Be an active voter and support clean water policies
• Donate to/volunteer with a clean water project – see USCCB partnerships with Catholic Relief Services 
• Volunteer for a clean water or sanitation project in Africa or Central/South America

Lori Doyle and Gabi Schultz are members of the Parish Pastoral Council, active with a variety of Liturgical Ministries as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Cathedral Altar Servers and Ministers of Care at Prentice Hospital/NW Hospital. Both parishioners for about 6 years, Lori loves to travel and cook and is a proud mother of her son John, a UM Wolverine. Gabi enjoys trying new restaurants, running, cooking lessons and spending time with friends and family.

Sources:

http://www.livescience.com/29312-great-lakes.html

http://thewaterproject.org 

http://www.nrdc.org/water 

http://charitywater.org/whywater 

http://www.unwater.org/statistics_san.html 

http://www.unwater.org/water~cooperation~2013 

Institute of Medicine (US) Roundtable on Environmental 

Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine. 

Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US): 2009

Share in the comments below what you're doing to give drink to the thirsty. Share your works of mercy on social media, too - make sure to tag it #SeasonOfMercy and tag the Holy Name Cathedral account - we'll be watching!