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 2019 Upcoming Events and Opportunities
MEETING SCHEDULE AND PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
  • Peace and Justice Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month, and as always all are welcome to attend. We meet in the lower level at St. Bartholomew.
  • Peace and Justice Newsletter will publish monthly, reflecting ministry news and reports from the meetings and presentations.
March 30th and 31st Voter Registration offered to all
  • after all Masses, in the narthex
  • See feature article below
April Fair Trade Sales April 20 and 21
  • coffee, tea, chocolate
  • after all four Masses
  • benefits after-school tutoring at St. Anne Parish, teacher salaries and snacks.
April 17 Peace & Justice general and team meetings 7 PM church lower level
  • Meetings are scheduled for Third Wednesday of the month
  • Teams: Programming, Communications, Finance and Grants
  • All are welcome to attend and become involved!
April 17 Peace & Justice Guest Speaker Ed Witulski 7 PM
  • Mr. Witowski is Mentor Match Coordinator for Trusted Mentors
  • Presentation will take place during monthly Peace and Justice Meeting for April
May 23 6:30 Tim Winn presentation, Lower Level St. Bartholomew Church
  • More information in April newsletter and church bulletin insert
  • Tim Winn will present the Catholic Social Teaching and the church's position.
  • Mr. Winn is archdiocesan Director of Immigration Legal Services with Catholic Charities
Sundays Weekly Hot Meal Site 4 - 6 pm, Meal Site Teams
Sundays Women's Jail Ministry visits 1 - 3 pm, classes 6 - 8 pm
Rights and Responsibilities by Donna Keogh
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society . “You are holy, for you are God’s temple and God dwells in you.” 1 Corinthians 3:16
The person is not only sacred but also social. “The more we strive to secure a common good corresponding to the real needs of our neighbors, the more effectively we love them” Pope Benedict XVI “Caritas in Veritate.” How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy, directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community.

The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency.

Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities–to one another, to our families, and to the larger society. “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s grace.” 1 Peter 4:10.

This month we focus on the responsibility of becoming informed, involved, and casting our vote in a democratic election process.
Ministry Spotlight on Voter Registration by Steve Heimann
What follows are the words of parishioner and judge Steve Heimann on the importance of voter registration. The primary election this spring is May 7, 2019, and the deadline to register is April 8, 2019 . If you are newly eligible to vote at 18, if you have moved or changed your name, or if you are simply not registered, it is quick and simple process to register. It is our right, responsibility, and duty to be informed and participate in the decisions that affect us all.

From Steve Heimann:
The Peace and Justice Ministry will be registering people to vote before and after all Masses on March 30 & 31. Sometimes, parishioners question whether it is even appropriate to register voters, implying it is a political action In registering voters, Peace and Justice is not advocating a political position nor endorsing certain candidates. What the ministry is doing is following the “United States Catholic Catechism for Adults.” The Catechism clearly states “Catholics have the duty to vote, to participate in the political arena, and to help shape society in light of Catholic teaching.” P. 380. The Catechism further states: “(S)ome … (believe) that religion is purely a private matter and should not exercise a public voice in debates about moral issues. That was not the intention of the founders of this nation. Catholics must participate in political life … by their voice and their vote … “ P. 501. 
 
So, while The Peace and Justice Ministry is not advocating for specific political positions or for specific candidates when they provide voter registration services, I believe that it is important to keep in mind that this ministry does stand up for JUSTICE within our society throughout the year. As a local judge for over 25 years, I felt that it was important to educate local citizens about issues relating to justice. For example, there are a great number of folks who believe that judges need to either show mercy or deliver justice in criminal cases. Many people connote “justice” with punishment. So, they believe that a judge must either punish people or show them mercy. I’ve spoken to many about the fact that justice is not simply punishment. Punishment is derived from the Latin word “paena” which is the word for ”revenge” and also the root word for “pain.” Justice is about rehabilitation, not just inflicting pain. 
 
The bottom line is that The Peace and Justice Ministry is helping to give our parishioners the opportunity to vote their consciences. It is up to the candidates to educate the voters on their positions. The above example about “justice” and “mercy” may be a small matter to some in today’s society, and there are certainly many large issues which hover around our city, our state and our country at this time. Peace and Justice is doing its part in trying to help us live up to the rules of the Catechism that clearly indicate the importance of voting. It is now up to the rest of us to support them and our parish by registering to vote, aiding others in registering to vote, then voting our conscience, and further by encouraging others to do so. 
Ministry Reports
Follow-up Blood Drive results
The recent Blood Drive was quite successful. With a goal of 38 pints, 46 were collected, potentially saving 138 lives.

The assistance of Peace & Justice Ministry and the Knights of Columbus was greatly appreciated by the Red Cross organization. The next drive will be in the fall.
Friends of Haiti News, submitted by Judy Harpenau
 
Friends of Haiti members will be serving at the K of C Fish Fry on April 12.  
 
Initial discussion took place about updating/redesigning FOH webpage to make it more user friendly. Current webpage information is lengthy and outdated.  
 
Pere Gelin is currently in New York for surgery to repair a broken arm. Pere Gelin was involved in a truck accident in late December.  
 
The February Haiti trip was cancelled due to unrest in the country. The next trip is scheduled for May 6-10. Travelers include Rosemary Hobson, Steve Heimann, Emily Van Osdol, Judy Harpenau


Indiana Abolition Coalition report, submitted by Donna Keogh
 
Recently IAC was awarded a grant by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis to educate fifteen other Episcopal churches about the use of the death penalty in Indiana.
 
Communications have been sent to all the Episcopal churches in both diocese in the state and IAC is in the process of setting up presentations where there is interest.
 
With eleven Board members, the project is daunting, but the board is committed to making this happen. They are certainly open to presenting at other churches should they request it.
Ecumenical Assembly/Love Chapel News

Mission: Christ Love in Action
Vision: To Support and Strengthen those in need through Christ’s love
Do You Ever Wonder How Your Time, Talent and Tithe Supports one of our Oldest Ministries?
 
Volunteering for 1 Hour = $20.00 of Administrative Costs
Contact: Kathy Thompson @ volunteer@columbuslovechapel.com
V olunteer Orientation:
2 nd & 4 th Monday of the Month 12:30 p.m. -1:45 p.m.
1 St Thursday of the Month 5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
812-372-9421
We Are The Peace & Justice Ministry
  • Chairperson Donna Keogh
  • Programming Team: Steve Audretch
  • Grants & Finance Team: David Harpenau
  • Communications Team: Jan Banister
  • Blood Drive: Greg Scherschel, coordinator
  • Next drive Fall 2019
  • Voter Registration: Steve Audretch coordinator
  • Next drive March 30/31 2019
  • 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 2019.
  • Bread for the World, Fr. Marty Peter, Convener
  • Second Tuesdays 7 PM at First Presbyterian Church
  • Indiana 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 14, 2019
St. 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. Info here:
Sun 5pm-6pm
  • SAINT BARTHOLOMEW CATHOLIC CHURCH
Mon 5pm-6pm
  • FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Mon 5pm-6pm
  • HOPE MORAVIAN CHURCH
Tues 5pm-6pm
  • LOVE CHAPEL FOOD PANTRY
Wed 5pm-6pm
  • LOVE CHAPEL FOOD PANTRY
Thurs 4:30pm-5pm
  • SALVATION ARMY
Fri 5pm-6pm
  • FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
4th Fri 6pm-7pm
  • COLUMBUS BAPTIST CHURCH
Sat 4pm-5pm (excluding the 3rd Sat)
  • FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2nd Sat 11:30am-12:30pm
  • OGILVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
3rd Sat 4pm-5pm
  • SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH