By Denise MacLachlan
Catholic Herald staff

The next generation is poised to take the reins at advocacy at the state Capitol.
Nearly 600 Catholics from across California, including 45 from the Oakland Diocese, met in Sacramento on April 27 to influence lawmakers on funding priorities in the state budget and to advocate for the passage of bills that feed the hungry, give hope and the possibility of a productive life to incarcerated adolescents, and allow California high school graduates who are undocumented immigrants to receive financial aid to attend college.

Amid the speakers and participants at the 12th annual Catholic Lobby Day, sponsored by the California Catholic Conference, were knowledgeable young people committed to social justice. Featured speakers Feriel Aoun and Sruthi Ramaswami, students at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose, urged the crowd to take practical action on behalf of the hungry in California.

Noting that their understanding of poverty comes not from Internet research but from their first-hand witness as volunteers and advocates in their community, the students took a proactive stance on Assembly Bill 1642, which would simplify the CalWorks and Food Stamp Program process. The students brought with them immediate practical help: bilingual public service posters that explain the food stamp application process.

Aoun and Ramaswami asked Lobby Day participants to take copies of the posters, modify them for their appropriate county, and distribute them at food banks and other venues where they might help guide hungry families to the available resources.

The Oakland delegation from seven parishes (Christ the King, Pleasant Hill; St. Bernard, St. Columba and St. Louis Bertrand, Oakland; St. Felicitas, San Leandro; Corpus Christi, Piedmont; and St. Catherine, Martinez) met with their elected representatives to discuss the importance of legislation that promotes justice and care for the poor and needy.

“All four of the legislators my delegation visited were either supporters or co-sponsors of the bills” being targeted by Lobby Day, said Gwen Watson of Christ the King Parish. “It was a matter of saying ‘thanks’ rather than ‘asking’ for support.”

In keeping with a focus on youth participation, the Oakland delegation included 11 teens from Confirmation classes at St. Bernard and St. Louis Bertrand parishes.

Several meet with the staff of Senator Loni Hancock, then moved on to the offices of Assembly members Joan Buchanan and Mary Hayashi. At first, “the kids were hesitant, not having advocated for themselves before,” said Gaby Miller who accompanied them. “But they improved by the time we got to the other offices.”

Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto presided at the Lobby Day Mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. He noted that the crowd gathered to represent those who are lost in the margins — children in the womb, the frail elderly, immigrants who can’t get into colleges and universities, young people floundering in prison — in short, “our brothers and sisters.”

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