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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November December 2018 Events and Opportunities
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MEETING SCHEDULE AND PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
- Peace and Justice Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month, and as always all are welcome to attend. December 5 is combined November/December meeting.
- Peace and Justice Newsletter will publish monthly, reflecting ministry news and reports from the meetings and presentations.
November Fair Trade Sales
November 17 and 18
December Fair Trade Sales December 15 and 16
- coffee, tea, chocolate
- after all four Masses
- benefits after-school tutoring at St. Anne Parish, teacher salaries and snacks.
- December next sale: December 15 and 16
December 5, November and December combined Peace & Justice general and team meetings
7 PM church lower level Room 2
- Meetings are scheduled for Third Wednesday of the month
- Teams: Programming, Communications, Finance and Grants
- All are welcome to attend and become involved!
Sundays Weekly Hot Meal Site 4 - 6 pm, Meal Site Teams
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Solidarity, by Rachel Rice
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Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is an active component of our Catholic faith. The most basic concept of the social teachings of the Church is Solidarity. Solidarity is standing up for and with our fellow human beings in the search for peace and justice.
The CST principle of Solidarity is one that is outwardly visible in many of our Scripture readings (“Blessed are the peacemakers, they will be called children of God” -Matthew 5:9; “Living rightly means to love one another” –Romans 13:8-10; “Be reconciled to one another before coming to the altar” -Matthew 5:21-24). It can also be seen in our everyday lives, giving thought to our Spotlight Ministry this month, Friends of Haiti Alternative Gift Certificates.
Solidarity at its most basic level is a bond between people, and a bond that should know no national, racial, ethnic, economic or ideological boundaries. With that in mind, our spotlight ministry for this month, Friends of Haiti Alternative Gift Certificates, ideally shows that Solidarity is alive in our Church Community. The Haiti Gift Certificates program for the purchase of goats, milk, safe water, S.O.I.L. (in home sanitation), tutoring, laptops for sponsored university students and more in Haiti, provides us with a very clear picture of how we, as a church community, are standing with our sister parish in Haiti through these purchases. By purchasing the Alternative Gift Certificates, we are also living out the social responsibility to make moral choices, even when making purchases in our daily lives. The alternative gift certificates that are available not only to promote solidarity with those in Haiti, but also creates an opportunity to give a very unique gift to someone this holiday season.
“It is good for people to realize that purchasing is always a moral — and not simply economic — act. Hence the consumer has a specific social responsibility, which goes hand-in- hand with the social responsibility of the enterprise. Consumers should be continually educated regarding their daily role, which can be exercised with respect for moral principles without diminishing the intrinsic economic rationality of the act of purchasing… It can be helpful to promote new ways of marketing products from deprived areas of the world, so as to guarantee their producers a decent return. (Pope Benedict XVI,
Charity in Truth
[Caritas in Veritate. . . ], no. 66)”
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Ministry Spotlight on
Friends of Haiti- Alternative Gift Certificates by Judy Harpenau
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Friends of Haiti will once again have
Alternative Gift Certificates
available for purchase this holiday season. Purchase of certificates support programs and projects which benefit hundreds of children and adults at our twin parish, St. Anne, in Limonade, Haiti. If you are looking for a gift for someone who "has everything" and one that will also benefit those in need, Alternative Gift Certificates are the perfect gift. Gift certificates also make great stocking stuffers!
Certificates will be sold following weekend Masses in November and December. Check the bulletin for details. Alternative Gift Certificates is Lily Meyercord's senior project.
Certificates available for purchase include:
MILK ($10)
This certificate will provide milk for approximately 75 malnourished children in nutrition centers located in Limonade and Jede, providing them with vital nutrients needed for growth and development. Milk is purchased from local farmers and is produced at a facility in Limonade. Peasant farmers and the local economy also benefit.
TUTORING ($20)
After-school tutoring provides educational assistance beyond the classroom to children in grades 1-6. Teachers also assist the children with completing necessary homework. Children attending receive a snack of crackers and juice.
FAMILIES IN NEED ($30)
This certificate will provide for daily necessities such as food and medical care to single mothers raising children or grandparents who are raising orphaned grandchildren.
SOIL ($60)
In Haiti, where the majority of the population does not have access to a toilet, this certificate will provide a family with in home sanitation provided by SOIL (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livlihoods). Included with the service are rental costs of the Ecosan toilet, installation, training, and weekly waste collection.
WATER WITH BLESSINGS FILTER ($80)
A Water With Blessings filter will supply 4 households with safe water for a lifetime. The SawyerPointONE filter removes 99.9999% of biological contaminants from unsafe water. Health is significantly improved, and many lives are saved.
ALFA ($25-$100)
Alfa (from alfabetizasyon, Creole for literacy) includes hundreds of market women and peasant farmers in the Limonade area as they become literate, learn basic math and much more. In class, they also discuss history, civics, public health, and environmental issues. Alfa is transforming their lives.
GOATS ($110
) A female goat will be purchased for a women's cooperative. Women who receive goats agree to return the first two offspring to the herd so that other women can receive goats and benefit from this self-sustaining project. Participants receive training from a veterinarian prior to receiving the goats. The vet also provides initial and follow-up care for the goats. Profit realized from this project has enabled women to send their children to school, receive medical care, and even build a small house.
LAPTOP FOR SECONDARY OR UNIVERSITY STUDENT ($100-$400)
A gift of $100-$400 will assist in providing a laptop for a secondary or university student in need. Having a laptop is essential for the educational success of a student.
"Education is the most powerful weapon on which you can change the world." Nelson Mandela
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ALFA Literacy Class at Limonade, Haiti is transforming the lives of market women and peasant farmers by teaching reading, math,
history, civics, public health, and environmental issues.
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The Polidor 5K Run/Walk 2018
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Join Friends of Haiti for The Polidor 5K Run/Walk 2018 for literacy in Limonade, Haiti on Saturday. November 10.
Join our Polidor Crew and register today!
ALFA, an extensive adult literacy program, is a project of Friends of Haiti at St. Bartholomew Church, in partnership with the parishes of St. Anne and St. Isidore in Limonade. This year, we celebrate 16 years of literacy and continued support of seven literacy class locations in the Limonade area.
For this 5k event, we will walk/run in solidarity with all the market women and peasant farmers in Limonade who like Polidor (an ALFA student), are struggling to become literate. At carnival time, participants in our literacy program undertake a cross country walk. They celebrate literacy, recruit more learners and dance and sing through rural communities. Ours will be a companion event to help raise funds for basic class supplies and teacher stipends.
Polidor Course:
Certified 5k course through the Donner Park area, beginning and ending at St. Bartholomew Church. There is ample parking on campus and at surrounding schools. Support volunteers are positioned at intersections. A water station is located at the half way point.
Check in and same day registration is from 6:30-8:30 on event day.
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Eduardo Martinez, the President of the Su Casa Board of Directors, presented the work of Su Casa, its mission and work with the Latino population of Bartholomew County to Peace and Justice and guests. Compelling data regarding the growth of the Latino population, employment opportunities and educational performance and attainment were highlighted, as well as personal stories of successes and opportunities.
Su Casa is in need of support through tutoring and mentoring in the schools as well as adult mentors for resume writing and mock job interviews.
Please contact Su Casa at
sucasa@sucasacolumbus.com
Main Phone: 812-375-9370
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We Are The Peace & Justice Ministry
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- Chairperson Donna Keogh
- Programming Team: Steve Audretch
- Grants & Finance Team: David Harpenau
- Communications Team: Jan Banister
- Blood Drive: Greg Scherschel, coordinator
- Next drive Spring 2019
- Voter Registration: Steve Audretch coordinator
- Next drive Spring 2019
- 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
- Next campaign April/May 2019.
- 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
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Peace & Justice Ministry Reports
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Saint Bartholomew Hot Meal Site
There is a hot meal provided in our community through Ecumenical Assembly each evening. On Sunday evenings the meal site is Saint Bartholomew School cafeteria.
The meal site coordinator for our parish, Susan Chandler, is hopeful that more teams and individuals will consider assisting with meals this fall. Info here:
Sun 5pm-6pm
- SAINT BARTHOLOMEW CATHOLIC CHURCH
Mon 5pm-6pm
- FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Mon 5pm-6pm
Tues 5pm-6pm
Wed 5pm-6pm
Thurs 4:30pm-5pm
Fri 5pm-6pm
- FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
4th Fri 6pm-7pm
Sat 4pm-5pm (excluding the 3rd Sat)
2nd Sat 11:30am-12:30pm
- OGILVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
3rd Sat 4pm-5pm
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