Senior News
By Phil O’Sullivan; Senior Program Coordinator
[email protected]
Call: 617-265-5300 Ext. 13
Cara Club
With the weather improving over the week, we saw an increase in participants to both our Monday and Wednesday senior citizen groups. Monday’s Cara Club saw Eileen Smith conduct an excellent class with the seniors in Brighton, doing gentle exercises that certainly got the blood flowing. Valuable exercises and new techniques to keep fit and healthy were taught throughout the afternoon. The seniors certainly seemed to enjoy these exercises and finished the afternoon with some wonderful singing.
Café Eireann
There was a more relaxed atmosphere in Dorchester as the tea and coffee was flowing. No exercises this week but Eileen will be in Dorchester next Wednesday to keep the seniors on their toes with more gentle exercises. There was also a great sing song throughout the coffee morning in Dorchester and it’s safe to say we have some very talented singers in both groups.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Cardinal Sean O’Malley will be celebrating Mass on St. Patrick’s Day which will take place at 12 noon. The IPC is offering bus service from the Dorchester office and from the Cara Club (leaving from the Stockyard on Market Street.) You MUST call in to reserve your spot on the bus – FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS. Mass will be followed by complimentary tea/coffee and baked goods in the Church basement hall.
March Monthly Mass and Luncheon at ICCNE
The IPC’s Monthly Mass & Luncheon will be held on Thursday 19th at 12 noon at the ICCNE following lunch will be live music. Please RSVP by Friday 13th if you plan to attend this Mass – it is always a very popular event so please call to reserve your spot. It is on a first come first serve basis as the capacity is 175 in the interest of safety and fire regulations. RSVP to 855-479-2472 to book your spot, leaving your name and telephone number. If you cannot attend and you have booked your spot – please call to let us know as we may have a waiting list.
Immigration News
By Kieran C. O’ Sullivan; Immigration Counselor
[email protected]
Call: 617-265-5300 Ext. 16
Marriage green card cases
Each month, we get some calls from people who are about to file for legal permanent residency after marriage to a U.S. citizen. Family based adjustment of status cases can be filed to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and it can be up to six months before the interview takes place. These adjustments of status packages containing immigration forms, photos, fees, and other evidence required by the USCIS should be reviewed by immigration attorneys. It is now more crucial than ever that you keep a copy of every document in anticipation of some paperwork getting lost or misplaced along the way. In Boston, the interviews take place at the USCIS offices, John F. Kennedy Building, Boston.
Affidavits of support
This week, an Irish senator referred a case to me and it involved affidavit of support issues in an adjustment of status case. The affidavit of support is filed as part of the package of paperwork filed when applying for adjustment of status to that of legal permanent resident in the U.S. An affidavit of support is a guarantee to the U.S. government that a green card applicant will not become a “public charge.” The affidavit can be offered by the I-130 petitioner/sponsor or someone who could provide financial assistance to the applicant in the event that such help would be necessary. The person offering the affidavit would have to demonstrate his or her financial health in a number of ways, including tax returns, W-2 forms, bank statements and letters, etc. The I-864 affidavit of support form has always presented a challenge to those who have limited income and assets. The good news is you can get a co-sponsor to help you on this particular part of the process. A cosponsor may complete a separate I-864 with all of the necessary financial evidence. The cosponsor’s package should be included with your forms to USCIS.
Expiring green cards
I had another call last week from a gentleman who had an expired legal permanent residency card (green card). We remind readers to check the validity of all travel documents including LPR cards and passports.
Taxes
A reminder to readers that for most tax payers, the April 15th deadline is only weeks away. Failure to file taxes, if required to do so, can sometimes have an effect on U.S. citizenship and legal permanent residency cases.
H-1B Filing date
Anyone hoping for one of the H-1B visas coming on-stream on Oct. 1, 2015 should have their petitions filed on April 1, 2015 with an Oct. 1 start date. Consult an attorney today if you have not already done so.
Legal Clinic
Our next clinic will be on April 7 at The Banshee, 934 Dorchester Ave. beginning at 6:30 PM. We will have handouts with information on deferred action and attorneys will see people one to one for private confidential consultations.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information contained in it is provided to inform generally, and is not intended as a substitute for individual advice. Immigration law is subject to frequent changes and individual circumstances can affect the application of certain legal provisions. For individual legal advice, please contact the Irish Pastoral Centre directly regarding upcoming legal clinics or consultation with an immigration attorney.
Pastoral News
By Sr. Marguerite Kelly; Pastoral Associate
617-265-5300 Ext. 10
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT –CLEANSING OUR TEMPLES
“But he was speaking about the temple of his body” (John 2:21).
I, too, am speaking of the temple of your body when I ask that you let this midpoint of the season of Lent be a Sunday for cleansing the temple. We have been told that our bodies are temples of the Spirit. We are to treat ourselves and one another with reverence. The season of Lent is a time of purification and cleansing. What do we need to set right in our lives? What kind of cleansing is needed in our own temples? Have we forgotten how dear we are?
Jesus shows anger as he drives out of the temple of worship those who would lessen its sacredness by means of business transactions. The temple of our bodies deserves this same respect. Is there any way we have lessened the beauty and goodness of our bodies by neglect or overpampering? We have been created to give God glory though the holiness and creativity of our lives It is easy to forget the purpose of our lives here on earth. Take time to ponder the truth that you are a temple of God in which Christ dwells.
LIVING with CHRIST Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB
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