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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February 2018 Events and Opportunities
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NEW MEETING SCHEDULE AND NEW 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.
February 17-18 Fair Trade sales
- coffee, tea, chocolate
- after all four Masses
- benefits after school tutoring at St. Anne Parish, teacher salaries and snacks.
- March 17th and 18th next sale
March 3-4 Voter Registration offered in narthex, assistance needed
March 10-11 Blood Drive: assistance needed
March 14 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
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Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, by Rachel Rice
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Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is a dynamic element of our Catholic faith. The most basic ethical assessment of our society as a whole is to understand how the most vulnerable of our society are surviving. This principle involves an examination of personal, social and political decisions based on efforts to achieve the common good.
The CST principle of Option for the Poor and Vulnerable is one that is apparent in many of our Scripture readings (“You shall not oppress the poor or vulnerable. God will hear their cry” -Exodus 22:20-26; “Speak out in defense of the poor” –Proverbs 31:8-9; “What you do for the least among you, you do for Jesus” -Matthew 25:34-40). It can also be seen in our everyday lives as you give thought to our Spotlight Ministry this month, Voter Registration.
Through voter registration we are provided a means for voicing our thoughts and beliefs that support and defend the poor and vulnerable of our country. We are given a choice, and when given that choice we should choose the option that best serves those in the greatest need. Pope Paul VI says we need to look beyond charity and address the larger systematic issues that perpetuate poverty in our society, so that those in poverty will not have to live in poverty forever. Voting in our country is a viable way to serve the poor and vulnerable of our world and have an effect on the future of those in need.
"The Church's love for the poor . . . is a part of her constant tradition." This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor. . . . "Those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a preferential love on the part of the Church which, since her origin and in spite of the failings of many of her members, has not ceased to work for their relief, defense, and liberation." (Catechism of the Catholic Church. . . , nos. 2444, 2448, quoting Centisimus annus, no. 57, and Libertatis conscientia, no. 68)
- Who are the most vulnerable in my community?
- Do I put the needs of the poor above the wants of the rich?
- Do I stand up for poor and vulnerable when the rest of society is against them?
- How can I make a greater impact on the lives of the poor and vulnerable in my community?
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Ministry Spotlight on Voter Registration
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It has long been one of the stated annual goals of The Peace & Justice Ministry to provide an opportunity for all citizens to access their voting rights by providing a registration point. The intention is to organize registration for primaries and for elections whenever it is needed. In the mission statement, "
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."
Voter registration will take place in the narthex before and after all Masses on March 3 and 4. We welcome
all
to make sure they are currently franchised for this important citizen obligation, Latinos who are eligible
to vote, those who have moved or changed legal names who need to update registration and of course young men and women who are eligible to vote for
the first time.
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Voter registration deadline for the May 8 Primary Election is on April 9, 2018. Voting is a right that we feel should be exercised to voice our concern for the common good of all of our citizens, and especially for the common good of all who enjoy our freedom.
"By reason of his need to live in society and to have authority and government man is obliged to contribute what he can in the affairs affecting the whole. All authority comes from God and according to the more common theory, He gives it to the people, who in turn entrust it to those whom they choose to rule and to legislate. Members of the government are custodians of the law; any laws they enact must conform to the natural law; they may not violate this higher law or ignore the dignity of man."
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Important Voter Registration Dates
- April 9, 2018 Voter Registration Ends
- May 8, 2018 Primary Election Day
- May 22, 2018 Voter Registration Begins
- NOTE: Certain military and overseas voters have extended registration periods.
- Mail-in voter registration applications must be postmarked on or before the above registration deadlines.
You have the right to vote in Indiana if:
- You are both a U.S. citizen and a resident of Indiana; and
- You will be at least 18 years of age on or before the next General or Municipal Election, and
- You are not currently in prison after being convicted of a crime; and
- You have lived in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election; and
- You are registered to vote.
- Indiana Voter Portal for information
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We Are The Peace & Justice Ministry
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- 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 March 11, 2018
- Voter Registration: Steve Audretch coordinator
- Next drive March 3-4, 2018
- Ecumenical Assembly: Rebecca Reeck
- Pro-Life: Kelley Snoddy
- Giving Tree: Theresa Westerfeld, coordinator
- Meal Site: Susan Chandler,
- Sundays 4-6 PM
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- Friends of Haiti: Judy Harpenau, liaison
- Bread for the World Offering of Letters: Rachel Rice coordinator
- Completed May 2017, organizational meeting February 2018.
- Bread for the World, Fr. Marty Peter, Convener
- Second Tuesdays 7 PM at First Presbyterian
- Abolition Coalition: Donna Keogh, liaison
- St. Vincent de Paul: David and Hilary Baker, liaison
- Women's Jail Ministry: Sevy Badgley, liasion
- Family Self Sufficiency: Jan Banister coordinator, December 8, 2018
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Peace & Justice Ministry Reports
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Friends of Haiti Ministry Report for
February 2018
Alternative Gift Certificate sales during the holidays totaled $11,275.
Eight secondary and university students received new laptops and 2 days of training on the use and care of the laptops during the month of December. Thanks to Steve Audretch for his valuable assistance with this project once again.
Shoebox gifts arrived in January and were distributed to sponsored students and children of the Nutrition Centers.
Funds were provided to replace the roof of the chapel at Pister. Youth will install reflective insulation in the ceiling of the chapel during the summer youth trip.
Lenten Milk Cartons will be distributed on Ash Wednesday and the 1st Sunday of Lent. New this year is the use of a Lenten calendar designed to give more meaning and purpose to the Lenten Carton project.
Our next trip to Haiti will be March 23-28.
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St. Vincent de Paul Ministry Report
By the numbers:
Nineteen boxes of good quality coats were collected in a recent coat drive,
150 to 200 coats, variety of sizes and evenly split for men and women were greatly appreciated by recipients at Love Chapel
and Brighter Days.
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Celebrate Life: Alternatives to the
Death Penalty
Annual Celebration of Life at Statehouse
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Annual Celebration of Life at Statehouse will be February 28
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4:30 to 6:30, at the Indiana Statehouse,
Featured Speakers:
Indiana Deputy State Public Defender Steve Schutte, "We're Better Than This: The history of the death penalty in Indiana," and Indiana Abolitionist of the Year: Matthew Ellis.
The annual Celebrate Life event marks the anniversary of the day (March 1 is the actual date) in 1847 on which
the State of Michigan officially became the first English-speaking territory in the world to abolish the death penalty. It is a day for intensified education and legislative action for alternatives to the death penalty. Refreshments will
be provided.
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