CASA CRY MARCH, 2026
“If someone asks you if you are a Christian, tell them ‘no’, it should have been obvious!” We must learn to demonstrate love in all kinds of ways, each according to their specific unique gift they bring to the world! One way to show your willingness to follow Christ is to refuse to pay for military weapons and war. Soon it will be Tax Day. Do we really want to give our money for things that destroy human life when we know that 3% of money given to the military would be enough to feed everyone on earth? Dorothy Day said that if we gave to Caesar what is owed to Caesar and to God what is owed to God there would be nothing left for Caesar. Just as Christ refused to give assistance to the Roman empire to do war and make weapons of war we, His followers. are called to do the same in our country. Christians are different. They obey Christ’s law of love and forgiveness. They follow only Christ’s laws of morality which many times do not coincide with the law’s of a human government. St. Hugo, a bishop of Lincolnshire, refused to do what the emperor ordered him to pay taxes so the emperor could use the money to attack other people. St. Hugo refused to give anything to him for the military attack and had all the property of the diocese taken from the diocese. For a Christian property and wealth are never as important as practicing Christ’s nonviolent way of living. I suggest we do the same during this Lenton season. Make a habit of practicing nonviolence. always better to die practicing nonviolence than to die killing or maiming another--- Don Timmerman
DON’S JOKES
"Mommy, how is it possible that you told me that we were created by God, and Daddy said we came from monkeys? The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his." "Son, can you tell me where the post office is?"The little boy replied, "Sure, just go straight down the street a couple of blocks and turn to your right.The man thanked the boy kindly and said, "I'm the new pastor in town, and I'd like for you to come to church on Sunday. I'll show you how to get to Heaven." The little boy replied with a chuckle, "Awww, come on; you don't even know the way to the post office! "Why don’t ants get sick? Because they have little antibodies.What do you call a baby monkey? A chimp off the old block Why do rhinos charge? Bcause they don’t cazry cash, When do hands go to church? On palm Sunday. How do you cut an ocean in half? With a sea saw. What did one dandelion say to the other dandelion? Take me to your weeder. How do dog catchers get their pay? What do you call an elephant that doesn't matter? An irrelephant. Did you hear about the kidnapping at school? It's fine, he woke up. A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing. A day without sunshine is like, night. For Sale: Parachute. Only used once, never opened.
INTERESTING FACTS
The world produces more than enough food to feed everyone. Yet, nearly one in three people worldwide couldn’t access healthy food in 2024.---Action Against Hunger
President Donald Trump announced at the first meeting of the Boardof Peace (BoP) that nine members have agreed to pledge $7 billion toward Gaza’s reconstruction. The countries that made pledges include Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait, . Trump also announced the U.S. would pledge $10 billion for the Board of Peace. A Kenyan intelligence report found more than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine, with at least 89 still on the front lines as of February 2026. Small private companies in Cuba have started receiving imported diesel despite a United States oil blockade that has halted shipments of Venezuelan oil, Cuba continues to produce only about a third of the 110,000 barrels per day it needs.. ---Drop Site Daily\
The U.S. military says it carried out strikes on three boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing at least 11 people and again providing no evidence the boats were allegedly carrying drugs. Since September, the U.S. military has carried out 42 known strikes on small vessels in waters near Latin America, killing at least 145 people total.--- Democracy Now
The U.S. is spending $87 billion of your taxes for nuclear arsenal this year alone, while creating a future class of warships that will be armed with nuclear missiles. The Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in Gaza. sprawling more than 350 acres.. The estimated cost for doing this is $10 billion. ----The Intercept
The U.S. military says it carried out strikes on three boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing at least 11 people and again providing no evidence the boats were allegedly carrying drugs. Since September, the U.S. military has carried out 42 known strikes on small vessels in waters near Latin America, killing at least 145 people total. ---Democracy Now
Portion of people detained by ICE between Oct. 1 and November 15,2025 who had a prior violent criminal conviction: 1/20. Who had prior criminal conviction: ¾. Percentage of American Catholic priests ordained before 1980 who are extremely concerned about the
Trump Administration: 63. Of those ordained after 2000: 20. Percentage of Americans who say their belief in God is as important part of being truly American: 37. ---Harpers Index
The Pentagon has failed eight consecutive audits of its books and is the only major federal agency that has not passed an independent audit. Roughly half of the Pentagon’s annual spending goes to private military contractors.---Common Dreams
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One of our houses, Mapendo House, which takes in homeless moms in the process of getting their kids back, had a bad leak within the radiator heating system and the plumbing system. Sections of the ceiling were damaged on the first and second floor and a new shower is currently being put in. Any help you can give to pay for this costly repair would be appreciated. Lee Jankowski is back with us. He helps with pickups and maintenance and caring for the guests at Casa Lee has a long history of helping different Catholic worker houses.
Saturday, March 14---- NWTRCC plans on promoting PIE Day We would encourage resisters to spread the word about war tax resistance on this day. This could include hosting a session on war tax resistance, vigil outside, tabling, or some other action. Our hope is to capitalize on the War Resisters League handy pie chart and to connect with potential war tax resisters before Tax Day.-----Lincoln Rice
Saturday, March 7 ---Benefit for Voces de la Frontera who help immigrants to get justice starting at 8 p.m. at Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St.
Sat., March 14 ---Kevin Reger, a long time Casa Community member, will be playing some of his songs at the Coffee H:ouse, , 2717 E Hampshire starting at 7:30 p.m. No critics allowed.
Weds., March 18----Vigil Against ROTC on Marquette campus in front of the Library from Noon to 1 p.m. Chris tian institutions do not teach the young to kill for the government.
Mon., March 23 Vigil at Detention Center on 9th & State 11 a/m to 11: a.m. Stop detaining prisoners in solitary confinement. Prisoners do not change their lives by torturing them.
Weds., MARCH 25 ---Anti-Gun Vigil at the Shooters Shop, 84th & Arthur from Noon to 1p.m.
Saturday, March 28 --- Casa Kemnitz Benefit for Casa Maria from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at The Coffee House 2717 E. Hampshire. Pease bring your instruments and voices to have a great time.
NOTESFROM 21ST STREET
The past couple of weeks when I walked in the woods of Hawthorne Glen, all was silent. It felt like all of nature was waiting for the arrival of sunshine and warmer days. This waiting that I sensed in the woods is also experienced by me during Lent. It is a quiet, waiting and reflecting time. It is listening for that inner voice that tells us of the great love that Christ brought into our world. A love that will carry us through all manner of upheaval. It can touch my soul, like the first trill of a Red-winged Blackbird in spring. It is that kernel of truth and love that Christ exhibited when put on a cross to die. As we go through the 40 days of Lent may we try to be open to that message of love and forgiveness. To speak truth to power with a loving spirit. Christ taught us how to love. Even when he was put on the cross his words were “Forgive them for they know not what they do.”. That love is powerful and lifechanging. May we each experience that life changing love. Peace, Roberta
