MISSION STATEMENT of ST. BARTHOLOMEW
PEACE AND JUSTICE MINISTRY
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.
March 2018 Events and Opportunities
MEETING SCHEDULE AND PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
  • Peace and Justice Meetings are now on the SECOND Wednesday of each month, and as always all are welcome to attend.
  • Peace and Justice Newsletter will publish mid-month, reflecting ministry news and reports from the meetings and presentations.
March 17-18 Fair Trade sales, see feature article below!
  • coffee, tea, chocolate
  • after all four Masses
  • benefits after school tutoring at St. Anne Parish, teacher salaries and snacks.
  • April 21 and 22 next sale
April 11 Peace & Justice general and team meetings, 7 PM church lower level Room 2
  • Meetings are scheduled for SECOND Wednesday of the month
  • Teams: Programming, Communications, Finance and Grants
  • All are welcome to attend and become involved!
Sundays Weekly Meal Site 4 - 6 pm, Meal Site Teams
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, by Donna Keogh
The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.

Work should be the setting for rich personal growth, developing our talents, living out our values, giving glory to God. We were created with a vocation to work; it is part of the meaning of life on this earth, and includes human development and personal fulfillment. These aspirations are not just for the rich; the pathway to helping the poor financially should include the goal of allowing them a dignified life through work. In many cases, poverty results from a violation of the dignity of human work, either because work opportunities are limited or the value of the
work is low.

St. John Paul II wrote On Human Work, no. 9, “Work is a good thing for man–a good thing for his humanity–because through work man not only transforms nature , adapting it to his own needs, but he also achieves fulfillment as a human being and indeed, in a sense, becomes “more a human being.”

“…Man must work out of regard for others, especially his own family, but also for the society he belongs to…and the whole human family of which he is a member…” On Human Work, no. 16.

The Church reaffirms that the subject and goal of all social institutions is the human person. All people have the right to work, decent working conditions, a chance to develop their qualities and personalities and to receive just wages and benefits, which will enable them to lead productive and satisfying lives.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 says: The Lord blesses our work so that we may share its fruits with others.
Ministry Spotlight on Fair Trade Sales, by David Harpenau
Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate sales have been taking place at St. Bartholomew for ten years. They are offered after all Masses on their scheduled third weekend of each month. The proceeds benefit after school tutoring at St. Anne Parish in Limonade Haiti, and teacher salaries and snacks. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) receives modest percentage of sales. Our sales rely on the generosity of our volunteers in giving their time and talents to support education in Haiti while also supporting small farmers.

From the website of our supplier Equal Exchange, we may learn the principles involved in authentic fair trade practices. As you read, you may recognize multiple Catholic Social Justice Teachings, notably The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers and The Care of Creation,

"In 1986, Equal Exchange was founded to challenge the existing trade model, which favors large plantations,
agri-business, and multi-national corporations; support small farmers; and connect consumers and producers through information, education, and the exchange of products in the marketplace. With our founding, we joined a growing movement of small farmers, alternative traders (ATOs), religious organizations, and non-profits throughout the world with like-minded principles and objectives. Underlying our work is the belief that only through organization, can small farmers survive and thrive. The cooperative model has been essential for building this model of change.

Standards and Practices
  • Fair Trade is a way of doing business that ultimately aims to keep small farmers an active part of the
  • world marketplace, and aims to empower consumers to make purchases that support their values. Fair Trade is a set of business practices voluntarily adopted by the producers and buyers of agricultural commodities and hand-made crafts that are designed to advance many economic, social and environmental goals, including: Raising and stabilizing the incomes of small-scale farmers, farm workers, and artisans
  • More equitably distributing the economic gains, opportunities and risks associated with the production and sale of these goods
  • Increasing the organizational and commercial capacities of producer groups
  • Supporting democratically owned and controlled producer organizations
  • Promoting labor rights and the right of workers to organize
  • Promoting safe and sustainable farming methods and working conditions
  • Connecting consumers and producers
  • Increasing consumer awareness and engagement with issues affecting producers
The Fair Trade practices that advance these goals typically, but not always, include:
  • Direct trade relationships and long term contracts between importers and producer groups
  • Sourcing from small-farmer or artisan co-operatives
  • Higher than conventional market prices, either through above-market premiums and/or price floors
  • The provision of affordable credit
  • Adherence to the policies of the International Labor Organization, especially those concerning child and forced labor and the right to collective bargaining
  • The prohibition of the use of the more dangerous pesticides and herbicides
  • Substantial price premiums for the production of certified organic crops
  • External monitoring, auditing, and certification of these practices by independent third-parties"
Stand With Small Farmers
Continue learning about the issues that affect small farmers and why it's important to support Authentic Fair Trade. Read the resources listed on this page. Work with us to educate others and ask them to support small-farmer-centered Fair Trade.


Sojourner Truth

If we laugh and sing a little
as we fight the good fight of freedom
it makes it all go easier .

We Are The Peace & Justice Ministry
  • Chairman David Harpenau
  • Programming Team: Steve Audretch and David Harpenau
  • Grants & Finance Team: David Harpenau
  • Communications Team: Jan Banister
  • Blood Drive: Greg Scherschel, coordinator
  • Next drive Fall 2018
  • Voter Registration: Steve Audretch coordinator
  • Next drive Fall 2018
  • Ecumenical Assembly: Rebecca Reeck
  • Pro-Life: Kelley Snoddy
  • Giving Tree: Theresa Westerfeld, coordinator
  • Meal Site: Susan Chandler,
  • Sundays 4-6 PM
  • Friends of Haiti: Judy Harpenau, liaison
  • Bread for the World Offering of Letters: Rachel Rice coordinator
  • Next campaign April/May 2018.
  • Bread for the World, Fr. Marty Peter, Convener
  • Second Tuesdays 7 PM at First Presbyterian Church
  • Abolition Coalition: Donna Keogh, liaison
  • St. Vincent de Paul: David and Hilary Baker, liaisons
  • Women's Jail Ministry: Sevy Badgley, liasion
  • Family Self Sufficiency: Jan Banister coordinator, December 8, 2018
Peace & Justice Ministry Reports
Friends of Haiti Ministry Report for
February 2018

On the February trip to Limonade, health checks took place for children in Pister, as well as the walk for Literacy. There is a new seminarian in residence at St. Anne Parish. A trip is being planned in October for teachers of St. Bartholomew School. 

Our next trip to Haiti from March 23-28, 2018, will occur over Palm Sunday weekend. Water With Blessings training will take place on March 24, which will bring the total number of mothers trained to 462. Each mother/water woman agrees to supply safe water to at least 3 additional households.  Households being served with safe water: 462 x 4 = 1,848. Adults and children receiving safe water number in the thousands since the beginning of the program in November 2014. Goat distribution will also take place; funds were wired to purchase 30 additional goats. 
  
Limonade Nutrition Center has hired new cooks. Children need a place to play. Pere Gelin would like to fence off part of the yard of the rectory for playground space.

Tutoring classes have been moved to a new location near the vicinity of the rectory.
Blood Drive Results

One of the stated goals of the Peace and Justice Ministry is to conduct at least two
blood drives annually, ensuring that parishioners have opportunities to be
donors and potentially save lives.

Parishioner Greg Scherschel coordinates these events, and was assisted by Steve Audretch.

By the numbers:
The March Blood Drive at St. Bartholomew was very successful:

26 units collected
78 lives potentially saved

Another drive will be held in the fall; date to be determined.
Thank you to all of the donors!

St. Vincent de Paul Society
David and Hilary Baker report that the Changing Lives Forever program being considered as a resource, and that training is currently taking place in Indianapolis. The program focuses on moving people from poverty to a sustainable life with the assistance of mentors..