Role of CRS Southwest
CRS Southwest provides opportunities for Catholic in its eight-state region (Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming) to become involved in the work of global solidarity through a variety of activities available in English and Spanish. Team members are available to assist dioceses and Catholic organizations by providing resources and making presentations at workshops, trainings, conferences and other events.
CRS Southwest program areas include:
Global Solidarity Education and Faith Formation
- Providing prayer and liturgy resources (with an emphasis on global solidarity)
- Developing CRS Rice Bowl as a parish-based Lenten program of prayer, fasting, almsgiving and learning about our brothers and sisters in need overseas
- Coordinating Speaker tours featuring presenters from CRS programs overseas
- Facilitating clergy and seminarians to preach about global solidarity in parishes
Engaging Youth and Young Adults in Global Solidarity
- Offering a global hunger awareness retreat for youth through the Food Fast program
- Providing leadership development (including overseas immersion experiences) for youth ministers and Catholic high school teachers
- Advancing global solidarity themes through training on curriculum integration for Catholic high school teachers
CRS U.S.-Mexico Border Program
- Collaborating to work on resources and opportunities for global solidarity on the U.S.-Mexico border
- Developing a cross-border peacebuilding program integrating cultural awareness, spiritual formation and leadership development for Catholic young people
Catholic Higher Education
- Establish collaborative relationships in the Southwest Region, i.e., relationships that strategically made sense for direct person-to-person outreach and opportunities.
- Assist faculty, staff, and student leaders to increase the integration of global solidarity issues into higher education programming and teaching using quality CRS resources.
- Where appropriate, prepare a mutually agreed upon program of activities/events for the academic year with the respective Catholic higher education institution.
Advocacy and Fair Trade
- Educating on global issues such as global poverty and international development, HIV and AIDS,peacebuilding and immigration
- Providing information and opportunities for advocacy on international policy and legislative issues affecting the poor overseas through the CRS Advocacy Network
- Promoting Fair Trade resources and activities as a means to learn about and to participate in economic justice
