Welcome to the  Oct. 21, 2020 edition of Just 3 Things, the weekly social action newsletter of the Office of Human Life & Dignity. Here are some of the social justice news items of the week. If this email was forwarded, and you'd like to receive it each week, please click here.     __________________________________________________________________

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ recently-released children’s book “Everyone Belongs” has won a gold medal in the Religion/Spirituality category of the 2020 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, the conference announced Oct.15.  “Intended for children ages 5-12, Everyone Belongs helps young readers explore potential solutions, reconciliation, and healing,” said the USCCB in a statement released on Thursday. The book tells the story of Ray Ikanga, a young boy who moves to the United States with his family as refugees fleeing violence.

The Archdiocese of San Francisco has established an ad hoc advisory Committee for Racial Reconciliation and Justice. Its first task will be to organize listening sessions around the archdiocese.  Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone said hearing each other’s stories is the first step toward understanding. “I think that's so important -- that we listen,” Archbishop Cordileone said Oct. 10 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in East Palo Alto, speaking at the the first listening session on racism. “We need to listen to stories and learn from one another. This is my vision in building up these listening sessions. I'm convinced - I've experienced, and I'm convinced that we need to hear each other's stories and understand each other's perspectives.”