Social Justice Committee
Mission Statement:
Recognizing that baptism calls each of us to work for social justice and following the guide of Catholic Social Teaching, our mission is twofold: to empower our fellow parishioners through education and to engage them in works of advocacy, with the goal of changing policies, structures, and institutions so that ultimately they work on behalf of the common good.
The Social Justice Committee meets monthly to identify and implement projects reflecting this mission statement. On-going activities include Catholic Social Teaching bulletin articles, and fair trade coffee sales and education. Ideas for future projects that are consistent with our mission are welcome. Parishioners who are interested in education and advocacy related to social justice are encouraged to consider this opportunity.
For more information, contact Mike or Sally Burns (287-0133, smburns@charter.net)
Current and Planned Activities
Rochester Catholics Read
The difficult issue of immigration will be explored when Margaret Regan visits Rochester in April. She is the author of The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands. Ms. Regan writes for the Tucson Weekly and has won a dozen journalism awards for border reporting, including two national prizes.
On April 27, there will be a potluck dinner and book discussion at the Unitarian Church in Rochester. On April 28 there will be a presentation at the public library; and finally on Sunday, April 29 at 2:00 PM, there will be a bilingual presentation at St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Book discussions will be taking place prior to her visit. Buy your copy of her book now and stay tuned for further information.
Please see the links below to the letters from the US Latino bishops and the bishops of Wisconsin on the issue of immigration.
The Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society.
- Life and Dignity of the Human Person
- Call to Family, Community, and Participation
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
- Solidarity
- Care for God’s Creation
From Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, more information is available at the United States Council of Catholic Bishops' website (USCCB).
JustFaith / JustMatters
Just Faith Mission Statement
"JustFaith Ministries strives to provide faith formation processes and resources that emphasize the Gospel message of peace and justice, Catholic social teaching and the intersection of spirituality and action. The aim of JustFaith Ministries is to enable people of faith to develop a passion for justice and to express this passion in concrete acts of social ministry."
The intention of JustFaith is to help participants recognize God’s presence in fresh and accurate ways and to see the world with eyes wide open. To accomplish this, the foundational insights of the Bible and Catholic social teaching are constantly resourced. While many issues are discussed in JustFaith, the primary focus is on domestic and international poverty.
Just Faith is a 30 week program. Source material includes prayer, reading, videos, speakers, dialog, community building and an immersion component. Classes meet once a week starting in the fall.
JustMatters
JustMatters is a new and expanding series of formation materials that allow participants to spend six to eight weekly or bi-weekly sessions focusing on a particular social justice topic. Formatted like JustFaith, JustMatters allows a group of eight to twelve people to give sustained attention to a specific area of social concern or social ministry, culminating in a call to engaged action.
Some of the currently available topics include:
In the Spirit of St Francis and the Sultan: Muslims and Christians Working Together for the Common Good
Living Solidarity: Government, the Federal Budget and the Common Good
Just Peacemaking Initiative: The Challenge and Promise of Nonviolence for Our Time
Global Climate Change: Faith Encounters the Ecological Crisis
Crossing Borders: Migration, Theology, and the Human Journey
Prison Reform: The Church of the Second Chance
God’s Creation Cries for Justice - Climate Change: Impact and Response
Engaging Our Conflicts: An Exploration of Nonviolent Peacemaking
More information of the JustMatters programs can be obtained from the JustFaith WEB site, http://www.justfaith.org/programs/justmatters.html.
Members of the Social Justice Committee will be more than happy to arrange for the presentation of a JustFaith or JustMatters program, if enough people are interested. If you are interested in either the JustFaith program or any of the JustMatters programs, please contact Mike Burns (287-0133, smburns@charter.net) or Jennie Vinski (281-4731).
Information on Catholic Social Teaching
* Office of Social Justice of the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis
* USCCB (United States Council of Catholic Bishops)
Faith and Political Responsibility
Become Involved! The following are a few of many web sites that discuss legislative action related to social justice issues
* JRLC (Joint Religious Legislative Coalition - http://www.jrlc.org/ )
* Network (A National Social Justice Lobby)
* Bread for the World (http://www.bread.org/)
* Faithful Citizenship (USCCB)
* National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Peace and Nonviolence
The following web sites are focused on peace and nonviolence issues
* Pax Christi USA (http://paxchristiusa.org/)