By Kieran C. O’Sullivan

Kieran@ipcboston.org

IPC in the News

The Irish Pastoral Centre and specifically the IPC’s Prisoner Visitation Program were in the news in Ireland recently when the Irish Independent featured a story on a young man who was detained here in Massachusetts.  The feature ran in the Independent on March 16^th, and may still be viewed on line at their website or check on the link below.

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/they-handcuffed-me-and-put-me-in-restraints-29133884.html

H1-B visas to go by end of week

USCIS has issued a notice that they expect the Oct. 1, 3013 batch of H1B visas will be gone by the end of this week.  Employers are allowed to file for these visas six months ahead of the Oct. 1 date of release of the visas.

The following statement was released by the USCIS:

“Based on feedback from a number of stakeholders, USCIS anticipates that it may receive more petitions than the H-1B cap between April 1, 2013 and April 5, 2013. USCIS will monitor the number of petitions received and notify the public of the date on which the numerical limit of the H-1B cap has been met. This date is known as the final receipt date. If USCIS receives more petitions than it can accept, USCIS will use a lottery system to randomly select the number of petitions required to reach the numerical limit. USCIS will reject petitions that are subject to the cap and are not selected, as well as petitions received after it has the necessary number of petitions needed to meet the cap. The lottery for the H-1B cap was last used in April 2008.”

The H-1B visa is a temporary employment visa issued for an initial period of one to three years (with the option to renew it for a total of six years).  It is a popular way for US employers to hire qualified foreign workers in certain specialty occupations. After 6 years of H-1B status, there is a one-year foreign residency requirement after which you may reapply to enter the US on H-1B or other status.  Because of the current shortage of skilled workers in certain areas, this visa has become extremely popular with American employers.

The J visa

For those not successful with the H1B visa filing dates, the J1 might be an option.  These particular types of visas are issued to allow you to enter the US for a period up 18 months to work for a US employer and gain experience in your field of work.  More information on the J visas may be seen at www.aipt.org or www.usit.ie

The E visa

The E visa is becoming a popular visa among those seeking to enter and work in the US.  An applicant for an E-1 visa must be coming to the US to carry on trade principally (more than 51% of the company’s total volume of trade) between the US and the foreign country of which you are a national.

One of the requirements to be met before applying for the E-1 is that your country has an established treaty of friendship, commerce and navigation with the US.  Foreign nationals may check with a US Consulate/Embassy in their home countries to see if such a treaty exists between their country and the US.  Spouse and children of treaty traders also may apply for and obtain E-1 visas.  The company itself may be organized in the US, but the majority (more that 50%) ownership of the company must be by nationals of the treaty country.  Permanent residents of the US may only be minority owners, even though they may still hold citizenship in the treaty country.

The E-1 visa is also available to managerial or executive employees with skills essential to the operation of the company.

Any readers with any questions on these and other categories can either email us or attend our next legal clinic.

LEGAL CLINIC

The next IPC legal clinic will be on Tuesday April 2^nd  at the Banshee, 934 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester.  The attorneys who advise on cases each month, Chris Lavery and Dan Harrington, donate their time at our legal clinic.  Questions on visas, green cards, citizenship and other legal matters are answered one to one on a confidential basis.

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.

Bridie Coffey displays a blanket she crotched over 50 years ago!

Senior Notes by Eileen O’Callaghan

Email me at eileenoc@ipcboston.org or call 617 265 5300 x 13

Sleep… Easy steps to clock in that 8 hours!

THE AVERAGE PERSON spends more than one third of his/her life asleep. But don’t be fooled — just because the body is sleeping doesn’t mean it’s slacking off.  During sleep, the body repairs itself so that when the alarm clock goes off, our bodies are renewed and refreshed. Tossing and turning all night can affect judgment, productivity, and the ability to retain information the next day. Over time, it can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and — of course — a chronic bad attitude. (Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?)

Remember: While factors like stress or big life changes can bring on a few sleepless nights, prolonged trouble sleeping could be a sign of another issue like depression or a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. If these are worries, schedule a doctor’s visit to get things checked out. A medical professional might suggest a hormone test or another kind of evaluation to make sure everything’s okay.

Top tips:

• Establish a bedtime routine. This lets the body know unwind from the day’s stress and chill. Figure out a schedule and stick to it every night of the week — even weekends!
• Journal. Thinking about or doing stressful activities can cause the body to release stress hormones, leading to alertness. But writing out stressful thoughts in a journal can help us avoid restlessness once we hit the sheets. Studies suggest certain types of journaling allow us to focus on the positive instead of the negative aspects of our day.
• Try a cup of chamomile tea. This herbal drink can reduce anxiety that might make it more difficult to fall asleep.
• Exercise regularly. Studies suggest some aerobic exercise can reduce anxiety and improve quality of sleep in people who suffer from insomnia.
• Take a power nap during the day. Ten to 30 minutes in the mid-afternoonis best to ensure a good night’s sleep. Any longer and we risk falling into deeper stages of sleep, which can leave us feeling groggy when we wake up.
• Take a hot shower or bath before bed. This can help the mind relax, while the rise and fall of body temperature induces sleepiness.
• Set a daily wakeup time. Just like it’s best to go to bed at the same time every day, it’s a good idea to keep a consistent wakeup time — even on the weekends. Irregular bedtime and wake-up hours can lead to poor sleep patterns.
• Make up for lost sleep. Stayed up too late the past few nights? Tack on an extra hour tonight to repay sleep debt and get back on track.
• Don’t toss and turn. Can’t fall asleep? If you’ve been lying in bed awake for more than 20 minutes, get out of bed and try a relaxing activity like reading or listening to mellow music. Thinking about not sleeping will bring on even more anxiousness — it’s a vicious cycle.
• Check the medicine cabinet. Certain medications might be interfering with sleep. Think a prescription is the culprit to a sleepless night? Talk to a doctor about potential side effects and how to deal with them.

 See thejournal.ie for article in full!

Feeling Lucky?

Fancy a flutter on the cards – well then the IPC trip to Foxwoods is for you.  On Thursday, April 11^th the bus will leave St. Anne’s in Quincy at 8am and leave Foxwoods that evening at 4pm.  Tickets are all inclusive at $25.  Please call Eileen to reserve a spot on 617.265.5300!

All at the Cara Club would like to welcome back Pat and Mary Ahern.  They were missed and it’s great to have Mary and Pat back in full health!!

Irish Senior Connect News

by Susan Doody, ISC Coordinator

All of us at the Irish Senior Connect Listening Line hope that you have had a wonderful Saint Patrick’s Day, and we wish you a Joyous Easter! Spring is just around the corner, and we know you are looking forward to connecting with the many Irish events and activities for seniors happening in and around Boston in 2013!  Please give us a call at 855-249-5146 so we can help you connect!

Irish Senior Connect is a confidential listening and information service hosted by the Irish Pastoral Centre in Dorchester. Our trained volunteers, many of whom are seniors themselves, are available to take your calls on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to noon, and on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 2pm to 4pm.  We’re here to listen about how you are feeling, how your day’s been going, or hear about anything you might like to discuss.

If you need information about social events in the Irish community, we will provide a list from our calendar of upcoming events. Or, you might like to learn about what’s available in the local area for senior transportation services, home care, companionship, or errand services. We can provide you with options to choose from. Working with the staff of the Irish Pastoral Centre, we can also let you know about ongoing events and activities being held by the IPC Senior Outreach Program.

During the past few weeks, we have been contacting elder services and Irish organizations throughout Boston and vicinity with information about the listening line service. We want to make sure that the word is out and about that Irish Senior Connect is available to help connect Irish, Irish American, and all seniors with a supportive network of friends who are here to listen and to provide support. We want to ensure that no senior is feeling isolated or alone.

Please call us to say hello, have a chat, ask for event or services information, or to find out more about Irish Senior Connect, the listening line. Our volunteers are waiting to hear from you, and to listen!

By Kieran C. O Sullivan

Kieran@ipcboston.org

We wish all of our readers and supporters a happy St. Patrick’s Day.

 Attorneys recommend petition filings for undocumented

We had a good attendance at our March clinic in the Banshee last week.  Our thanks to attorneys Chris Lavery and Dan Harrington who provided free one to one consultations.  An issue which came up at the clinic was family sponsorship.  Attorneys are suggesting that any immigrants who are here without status at the moment should consider having a qualifying relative file petitions for them to give them a place in line.  Some advocacy activists are concerned that reform might result in the elimination of some family sponsorship categories.  In such a case however, it is likely that those petitions in line might be safe.  Any readers with a need for clarification on these complex matters can email me.  The following are the list of family based preferences.

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

First: Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent
Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, and any unused first preference numbers:

A. Spouses and Children: 77% of the overall second preference limitation,
of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older): 23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third: Married Sons and Daughters of Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth: Brothers and Sisters of Adult Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

Each month the US Department of State issues a Visa Bulletin on its website at www.state.gov   On the Bulletin,  readers can see where the DOS stands with visa issuance.

Citizenship Nightmare

We recently came across a case where an Irish immigrant applied for US citizenship and she was not only turned down for citizenship but informed her legal permanent residency status may have in fact been granted in error.  She is now receiving ongoing assistance from one of our attorneys.

The case is a reminder that anyone applying for any kind of USCIS benefit, whether US citizenship or legal permanent residency, should have a full forms and eligibility review with an immigration attorney.

Arrests and travel

Any legal permanent residents who have old convictions (even for minor infractions) and are nervous about leaving the US to visit home can have a free review of their case at our monthly clinic.

Minor traffic offense leads to ICE detention

Recently a minor error by an Irish driver in Boston led to a nightmare situation for him when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained him.  Fr. John McCarthy is continuing to provide support and assistance on the case.   Because of confidentiality, we can issue no further information.  Fr. McCarthy asked me to remind drivers to use great care on the road.  “I see people get in trouble for such small things as missing turn/stop/yield/traffic lights/signs”.  Drivers should avoid talking/texting on the phone and insure vehicles are inspected, registered and insured, said Fr. McCarthy this week before going to a local prison to spend time with a detainee adding that people in construction need to make sure their ladders and loads are properly  covered or fastened. “Most of the people I visit should never have ended up in prison”.

Legal Clinic

The attorneys who advise on all of these cases each month, Chris Lavery and Dan Harrington, donate their time at our legal clinic.  Questions on visas, green cards, citizenship and other legal matters are answered one to one on a confidential basis.  Our next clinic will be on April 2^nd at the Banshee, Dorchester, beginning at 6:30pm.  Anyone with any questions meantime are invited to email me at my address above.

Email me today with your immigration query or a topic you would like us to cover:  Kieran@ipcboston.org

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.

Eileen O’Callaghan

Email me at eileenoc@ipcboston.org or call 617 265 5300 x 13

Money Management

Jodie joined us from South Shore Elder Services this week at Café Eireann.  She presented to a strong group of 42 seniors and shared some great money management tips and advice.  Here are just a few Jodie shared with us:

• It all adds up – That daily coffee, donut or muffin adds up.  If you are spending a few dollars a day, it could add up to over $70 a month.
• Keep a daily / weekly ‘spend log’ of money going out and what you are spending it on.  This way you can see where your money is going and make the necessary changes.
• Keep an eye on subscription costs – things like newspapers and magazines may be automatically renewed without your knowledge!
• Household heating – NSTAR offers some great conservation checks on your home through ‘Mass Save’.  NSAR can organize this for you free of charge and help reduce heating costs!
• Check around – regular comparisons of cable and cell phone providers are a good way of insuring that you are getting a good deal!
• Shop around – shopping around weekly lets you get the best deal on groceries and other items!  You can still be wise about your money while treating yourself to that manicure or dinner out!

Many thanks again to Jodie for her time and sharing some great advice!

Congratulations

All at the IPC would like to say huge Congratulations to Kathi Sullivan on her award at the Sligo Association dinner dance.  Kathi is a great friend and volunteer at the IPC and we are delighted to see her honored!

A marathon at 101 Years OLD

We all know that exercise is good for us.  However, it can often be hard to encourage ourselves off the couch, to put down the bar of chocolate and start pounding the path.  Some inspiration… Fauja Singh ran his first marathon in London, at the ripe age of 89 and became an international sensation.   He ran his final race in February of this year in Hong Kong, at the age of 101 and entered the Guinness Book of Records!  He was retired form races but will continue to run every day!  So there’s no excuse not to lace up the runners!

Get your Green OUT!!

The Cara Club (Monday 1pm to 3pm at the Veronica Smith Senior Centre) and Café Eireann (Wednesday 10 to 12 noon at the IPC) invite you to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with us this week.  As usual we will have hot coffee, fresh treats with additional craic, caint agus ceol!!  All are welcome!

Pat Moran celebrates her Birthday with her friends at the IPC

Bridie Coffey displays a blanket she crotched over 50 years ago!

Get to know the City of Boston

http://www.cityofboston.gov/

By Kieran C. O’Sullivan, Immigration Counselor

Kieran@ipcboston.org

Hopes rise for Immigration Reform

Many of our regular service users have checked in with us after hearing the news of immigration reform efforts among Senate and House members in Washington DC.  Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) met at the White House on Feb. 26th with President Obama and Vice President Biden to discuss immigration policy and early reports indicated all were very pleased with the meeting.  A lot of work remains to be done because opposition remains in particular in the House of Representatives.

Meantime, some immigrants are applying for tax identification numbers anticipating that part of any reform agreement might include undocumented immigrants having their tax returns in order.

Irish ministers to advocate for undocumented

The Irish government has recently committed to advocating for reform for the Irish undocumented as part of reform during upcoming St. Patrick’s Day events in Washington, DC.  We will answer questions on immigration reform matters at our clinic March 5^th.

J visas

Mary in Galway emailed me this week for information on J1 visas.  These particular types of visas are issued to allow a person to enter the US for a period up to 18 months to work for a US employer and gain experience in a field of work.  A spouse and/or children may enter on a J2.  A person on a J2 may obtain permission to work from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) but only for their own support and not for the support of the J1 recipient.  In recent years, the 18 month J-1 trainee program visas have been more difficult to obtain.

The J is a “non-immigrant” visa. This means that it is temporary in nature, and requires you to prove to the USCIS that you do not have the intention to remain in the US forever. In order to be eligible for a J visa, one of the issues you will have to demonstrate to USCIS is that you have non-immigrant intent.  This means that you have to show some evidence that you intend returning to your home country at the end of the J visa.  Email me for more information on the one year and the 18 month J visas.

Arrests and the right to silence

Some people may not realize it but a police officer may ask you to identify yourself or question you briefly at any time without actually arresting you.  The 1955 Miranda decision in the US Supreme Court mandates that police officers advise you of special rights.

If you are asked to sign any forms or statements, be sure to understand the information on the form, and if you don’t understand it, ask for an interpreter and consult with your attorney before signing any statements, consents, or forms.  You have a constitutional right not to answer questions relating to a particular situation though you may give police your name and address.  Immigrants should always consult an attorney on such matters.

We’ve had a few inquires lately about old arrests.  Anyone attending our next legal clinic on such an issue is reminded to bring all paperwork relating to the case including certified docket sheets.

Legal Clinic

The attorneys who advise on cases each month, Chris Lavery and Dan Harrington, donate their time at our legal clinic.  Questions on visas, green cards, citizenship and other legal matters are answered one to one on a confidential basis.  Our March clinic is on this Tuesday, March 5^th, starting at 6:30 pm.

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.

Eileen O’Callaghan,

Senior Program Coordinator

Email me at eileenoc@ipcboston.org or call 617 265 5300 x 13

The IPC Luncheon at the ICCNE

All had a great time at the IPC Mass and Luncheon at the ICCNE in Canton last week.  John Connors and Martin Battle of the Irish Express keep the floor full and moving all afternoon.  Many thanks to them and all our great volunteers!  Pat Devilly of St. Gregory’s Parish Dorchester celebrated a Birthday with us and Happy Birthday to her again!  We look forward to seeing everyone at the next luncheon on March 21^st, where we will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!  Please remember to call ahead on 1.855.479.2472 to reserve a spot.

Pat Devilly surrounded by friends

‘I believe a lot of things are down to mind over matter’

February can be a dull and tough month to muddle through!  As I’m writing the weather outside looks like a rough day in Connemara!  I came across this article on the Irish Times website and wanted to share this inspiriting man and the power of positive thinking!

Andy was diagnosed with MND (Motor Neuron Disease/Lou Gehrigh’s disease) 30 years ago and turned 80 this month, astonishing Doctors.  ‘Having lived through the two-to five-year MND life expectancy period, my survival instincts kicked in’, stated Andy, who was diagnosed in 1977.

Andy is a native of Leitrim and is Ireland’s longest living survivor of MND.  He puts overcoming this limited life expectancy down a combination of faith in God, the support of friends and family and having a positive outlook.

In Andy’s own words – ‘At first, I felt really terrible then and didn’t know what to do or what was going to happen to me, but slowly it became clear that I would not be able to live my life like I had before. Bit by bit I got worse.  I had to give up my occupation as a mechanical machine driver and later a car driver. I knocked everything over when eating. I was ashamed, embarrassed, frustrated, angry, bitter and infuriated as I slowly became aware of an active, alert brain imprisoned in a useless body as I lost the function of my arms and hands.  But after successfully living through the prognostic time, my survival instincts kicked in and following a pilgrimage to Lourdes I felt empowered with a power greater than myself.

So I started to accept my condition. I concentrated on the abilities that I had – and realized that they were many; for example – I can still walk, talk, see, hear, taste, touch and smell. I can laugh; I can smile to brighten up someone’s day. I can love, I can write, I can enjoy fun, I can eat and I can drink – even Guinness through a straw tastes just the same. I discovered that my list of positive abilities is endless.

‘Mind over Matter’- Essentially, I believe a lot of things are down to mind over matter and I have reached the ripe old age of 80, by always trying to think positively and concentrating on my remaining abilities, not the ones I have lost.  We all have abilities that we never knew we had – and technology is improving every day and has eliminated many disabilities.  Most people would have said that writing the book was an impossibility for someone with a disability like mine. What could I produce with a keyboard that I could not use or with hands and arms which were rendere

d useless?  I take great inspiration from other disabled people, for example: our Paralympic team and that little teenage girl from Cork, Joanne O’Riordan – without arms or legs – addressing the United Nations and holding the delegates in awe with her speech.

Positive thinking - I believe if you want to find initiative, courage, determination or resilience in a person – then look for someone with a disability. And my advice to anyone who has just received a diagnosis like mine, think positively and accept the way you are – always remember that life is terminal for everyone.”

Andy McGovern has been suffering from Motor Neuron Disease/Lou Gehrig’s Disease for 37 years. To celebrate his 80^th birthday in February, he has just released a book called ‘Against The Odds’.’

For the article in full see: Irishtimes.com

Please feel free to call Eileen at 617 265 5300 x 13 for more information on IPC Senior Citizen Outreach Program activities and services.

By Sr. Marguerite Kelly, mfic

Email me at: Srmkelly@ipcboston.org

In today’s Gospel two historic events, at least historic to the readers of Luke’s Gospel, are presented as a backdrop for the use of a parable by Jesus.  The people tell Jesus about some who were killed by a falling tower and that others suffered by Pilate’s mixing blood with their sacrifices.  Jesus reminds them that physical suffering is not caused by sin necessarily, which was the common religious thought at the time.  Jesus bends their news back on them.  Those others suffered and some died, but those in front of Jesus will certainly suffer unless they repent. To show them that they have time to experience the compassion of God, he relates a picturesque parable.

God had been patient with Israel and brought them slowly to be the fruitful people of the Covenant by bringing them out of slavery and into a fruitful land.

There is a people who have withered as mature produce of God’s fidelity.  Jesus will minister that love in his incarnate presence within Israel.  His time will be their time for repenting from unfruitful, un-incarnate lives themselves.

We have these days of Lent for our repenting from the non-life things. We are preparing to renew our own baptisms as well as preparing as a community to welcome into our communities those preparing for entrance during these days as well.

Larry Gillick, S.J.                        Collaborative Ministry

Come join us at our First 25 Progressive Card Drive on Sunday April 7th.

25 Card Drive