MISSION STATEMENT of ST. BARTHOLOMEW
PEACE AND JUSTICE MINISTRY
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The Peace and Justice Ministry recognizes the Church as the Body of Christ.
- The goal of Peace and Justice Ministry is to provide leadership to St. Bartholomew parishioners to help them witness the Good News of Jesus Christ.
- Through education, prayer, reflection and direct communication, it helps parishioners to be effective in communities at local, national, and international levels, thereby enabling them to achieve meaningful and effective social action.
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December 2017 Events and Opportunities
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December 6th was combined November/December meeting
December 9 Family Self-Sufficiency Dinner
- lower level St. Bartholomew Parish hall, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
- Dinner, crafts, visit from Santa, gift baskets for 37 Families in program led by Jill Swain
Haiti Alternative Gift Certificates available after Masses, December 9 and 10, 16 and 17.
- New certificates are SOIL and laptops.
December 16-17 Fair Trade sales
- coffee, tea, chocolate
- after all four Masses
- benefits after school tutoring at St. Ann Parish, teacher salaries and snacks.
- November 18th and 19th next sale
January 10 next Peace & Justice general and team meetings, 7 PM church lower level Room 2
- Note change to Second Wednesdays!
Sundays Weekly Meal Site 4 - 6 pm, Meal Site Teams
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Opportunity to serve St. Bartholomew Parish and Ecumenical Assembly
We would like to honor Patricia Bridgetts for her many years of providing representation for our parish to the Ecumenical Assembly organization. Services to our community and availability of Love Chapel are critical to our mission, and Pat has tirelessly connected us to the needs and news of this organization.
A representative liaison is being sought to continue this important work. For details please contact David Harpenau.
We all wish Pat the very best in "retirement," although we know she will continue to be active in her faith life!
jjhdah@sbcglobal.net
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The Call to Family, Community and Participation, by Rachel Rice
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Catholic Social Teaching is a vital component of our Catholic faith. We move from being a basic unit of family or individual, to the larger community and society in which all individuals participate.
The CST principle of The Call to Family, Community and Participation is one that evident in our Scripture, (“What you own belongs to the Lord and is given for the good of all” -Leviticus 25:23-43; “This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you” –John 15:12-17; “We ought to lay down our lives for one another” -1 John 3:16-18). It can also be seen in our everyday lives, giving thought to our Spotlight Ministry this month, Family Self Sufficiency.
Family Self Sufficiency is a program to coordinate housing assistance with public and private resources to enable families and individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency by reducing dependency on on welfare assistance or voucher programs.
In the month of December, St. Bartholomew participates in the Family Self-Sufficiency Christmas Party, allowing program participants to create memories, friendships and Holiday cheer.
The Family Self-Sufficiency Christmas Party is a way for local families and communities to come together for the greater good to create an environment that is far more encouraging and loving than normal day to day life. Giving of ones’ time, talent and treasure to this program is a great way to live the CST theme of Call to Family, Community and Participation.
From Pope Francis,
On Care of Our Common Home
[Laudato Si’], no. 179, 2019, “Local individuals and groups can make a real difference. They are able to instill a greater sense of responsibility, a strong sense of community, a readiness to protect others, a spirit of creativity and a deep love for the land…Social problems must be addressed by community networks and not simply by the sum of individual good deeds.”
From Second Vatican Council,
The Church in the Modern World
[Gaudium et Spes], no. 12 “But God did not create man as a solitary, for from the beginning “male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). Their companionship produces the primary form of interpersonal communion. For by his innermost nature man is a social being, and unless he relates himself to others he can neither live nor develop his potential.”
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Family Self Sufficiency Ministry Spotlight by Jill Swain
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Family Self-Sufficiency was an initiative started by Mayor Robert Stewart as a part of part of his 2000 Partnership for Progress Initiative. It was It was through the efforts of local business, government, and social service agencies, it was due to the number of Cummins layoffs and the community’s desire to give a hand up instead of a handout. It was adopted as a program of the Columbus Housing Authority in 1995.
The FSS program supports the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s strategic goal of utilizing housing as a platform for improving quality of life by helping HUD-assisted renters increase their economic security and self-sufficiency. The purpose of the program is to coordinate housing assistance with public and private resources to enable assisted families and individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency by reducing the dependency on welfare assistance, voucher programs, public assistance or any federal, state or local rent program.
It is a designed to promote employment and increase savings. A participant in the FSS program must pay higher rental payments as their income increases. A portion of the increase in earned wages will go into an escrow account, and once the participant successfully graduates the program within five years they will receive their escrow account.
My family moved to Columbus nine years ago from Noblesville, Indiana. I volunteered in the Religious Education Department for six years, and have assisted with office work. My oldest was confirmed and now my youngest is preparing to be confirmed in the spring.
From what I have been told, FSS and St B’s began its collaboration in the late 80s or very early 90s. The Peace and Justice ministry has helped many FSS participants throughout the years.
Two of the “founding fathers”, Bob and Charlotte Aldenhagen reached out to the community asking for support
and St. Bartholomew offered to host the Holiday Party. Typically, 80-120 people are served. Every participant who attends enjoys the food, gift basket, family photo, visit from Santa, and crafts. The dedication, kindness and warmth displayed by all the volunteers is one of the reasons it is so successful, as everyone feels welcome. The Christmas party is one of the highlights of the program. Many experience difficulty attending, but everyone leaves with a smile and hope. The Holidays can be a lonely time for some, but the party is a short respite from life’s demands.
More information: http://columbusha.wpengine.com/programs/public-housing/family-self-sufficiency/
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We Are The Peace & Justice Ministry
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- Chairman David Harpenau
- Programming Team: Leader to be determined
- Grants & Finance Team: David Harpenau
- Communications Team: Jan Banister
- Blood Drive: Greg Scherschel, coordinator
- Next drive Spring 2018
- Voter Registration: David Harpenau coordinator
- Next drive fall 2018 dates to be determined
- Ecumenical Assembly: Patricia Bridgetts, Cathy Rush, liaisons
- Pro-Life: Kelley Snoddy
- Giving Tree: Therese Westerfeld, coordinator
- Meal Site: Susan Chandler,
- Sundays 4-6 PM
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- Family Self Sufficiency: Jan Banister coordinator
- Saturday, December 9 at St. B, volunteers and food donations needed.
- Friends of Haiti: Judy Harpenau, liaison
- Next Haiti trip is scheduled for October 23-28
- Bread for the World Offering of Letters: Rachel Rice coordinator
- Completed May 2017, next organizational meeting January 2018.
- Bread for the World, Marty Peter, Convener
- Bi-Monthly second Tuesdays 7 PM at First Presbyterian. BFTW Sunday October14-15, 2017
- Abolition Coalition: Donna Keogh, liaison
- St. Vincent de Paul: David and Hilary Baker, liaison
- Women's Jail Ministry: Sevy Badgley, liason
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Peace & Justice Ministry Reports
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The report written for the 2017 legislature has sent a "No Action" recommendation to the Committee on Corrections and Criminal Code. This means that the legislation for a severe mental illness exclusion to the death penalty is not going to be brought up in January. However, we at Indiana Abolition Coalition feel that the writers of the report were misguided.
If you wish to be a part of our writing campaign, please send a letter to the members of the committee. More information, addresses and sample letters available through Donna Keogh.
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Parish Twinning Program of the Americas (PTPA) will hold a National Conference Aug. 24-26, 2018. The event will be in Nashville, TN. Everyone is invited!
Alternative Gift Certificates will be sold after weekend Masses In December 9-10, 16-17. New certificates are SOIL and laptops.
Annual Epiphany Party will be January 5 in the lower level of the church beginning @ 6:30 pm.
Davidson Joseph, sponsored student of Peace & Justice sent a message of thanks, detailing his expenses for the school year. Davidson is studying Engineering.
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