Use these opportunities to live out your faith in action.
Office for Social Concerns
Catholic Diocese of Columbus

I nformation and Response NETWORK 

Latest Updates
Office for Social Concerns

Opportunities to live out your faith in action.
Upcoming Events
Advent 2019
 
The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. USCCB's online Advent calendar has daily prayers, reflections, and suggested actions in light of Catholic social teaching.
This Advent, take time to strengthen your relationship with God and your neighbor.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT


Martin de Porres Center Presents

Joy to the World
with Urban Strings Youth Orchestra

Sunday, December 15, 2019
 
The Martin de Porres Center (2330 Airport Dr., Columbus) invites you to enjoy a musical reflection of the Season on Sunday, December 15 at 2:00pm with an ensemble from the Urban Strings Youth Orchestra. This orchestra, who will present a “Joy to the World” themed concert, empowers Central Ohio youth through music and fellowship. Free and open to the public, although donations will be accepted. Contact (614) 416-1910 or martindeporres@oppeace.org with questions. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/536851287103449/


Christmas Catholic Charities Collection
Please give generously.

This annual collection allows the diocese to meet a variety of basic needs directly and through diocesan agencies and organizations including J.O.I.N. (Joint Organization for Inner-City Needs), St. Stephen’s Community House, Catholic Social Services, St. Francis Center, St. Lawrence Haven, St. Vincent Family Center, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. You can help share in this important work by generously supporting the Catholic Charities collection this year. 


Christmas Help

Can you help out this Christmas? This resource listing of our diocesan sponsored Catholic charities and items needed to help their clients. The people who they serve need the basics: food, clothing, personal hygiene products, and household items. They also need volunteers. 
World Day of Peace

January 1, 2020

January 1 is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and World Peace Day. Pope Francis will deliver a World Day of Peace Message. For updates visit, the USCCB World Day of Peace Page .

January is Poverty Awareness Month

January is Poverty Awareness Month!  Encounter, Learn, Act. Visit the USCCB's Poverty USA website and learn how you can make a difference.

More than 40 million Americans
live in poverty.
National Migration Week

Promoting a Church and a World for All

January 5-11, 2020 

This week National Migration Week is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and survivors of human trafficking. This year’s theme “Promoting a Church and a World for All” draws attention to the fact that each of our families have a migration story, some recent and others in the distant past. Regardless of where we are and where we came from, we remain part of the human family and are called to live in solidarity with one another. 

Respect Life Mass

January 22, 2020

10:30 a.m.
St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Bishop Robert J. Brennan, main celebrant

Join us for the annual Respect Life Mass on Wednesday, January 22, 2020,10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral, 212 E. Broad Street, Columbus. Bishop Robert J. Brennan will serve as celebrant. On this day of the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision, our diocese will join all dioceses of the United States in observing a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. All are invited. For more information contact, contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org or 614-241-2540.Visit our Respect Life Program Page for ways to promote the dignity of the human person in all stages.



Roe Remembrance at the Ohio Statehouse

January 22, 2020

Greater Columbus Right to Life will sponsor this event on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, noon to 1 p.m., at the Ohio Statehouse following the 10:30 a.m. Respect Life Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. The program will be held in the Statehouse Atrium. Please allow extra time for Statehouse security measures. Stickers, signs, and weapons are not permitted inside. For additional information, visit www.gcrtl.org/roe.html . 


Have a Bus Going to the March for Life in Washington, DC?

If you have a bus going to the March for Life in Washington, DC, and still need seats to fill, please contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns. People call our office asking for available trips.

Get the January 2020 Respect Life Action Guide and other Respect Life materials.

ARCH Ministry
You can accompany returning citizens with hope!

Want to make a difference in the lives of returning citizens, the formerly incarcerated? Are you called to be a mentor? Learn more at www.svdpcolumbus.org/arch.



LEAF Ministry
Minister to families of the Incarcerated.

LEAF (Listening, Encouraging, and Accompanying Families of the Incarcerated) is a resource and referral ministry that offers a community, compassion, caring, and support to families and loved ones of the incarcerated. Need LEAF or interested in starting a LEAF support group? Visit www.svdpcolumbus.org/leaf_ministry or call 614-241-2540.

Thank you to The Catholic Foundation for their generous support of the ARCH program. The Catholic Foundation provided grant funding this past year to help make ARCH possible.
Did You Know?
We're doing transformative work caring for God's creation with our partner The Ohio State University. Dr. Greg Hitzhusen of Ohio State who has worked in our office this semester recently presented to the Ohio Catholic school superintendents and staff about our work empowering diocesan offices, parishes, and schools to care for God's creation and the poor. Later in the evening Dr. Hitzhusen showcased our diocesan Creation Care Team's efforts at a public lecture cosponsored by Ohio State.

Thank you to The Catholic Foundation for their generous support of our Diocesan Creation Care Project: Building Capacity to Respond to Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' On Care for Our Common Home. The Catholic Foundation awarded the Office for Social Concerns grant funding this to help make this work possible.

Looking for ideas to care for God's creation at your home, parish, or school? Visit our our Care for Creation webpage.
Advocacy, Upcoming Events, Resources


For online resources, visit our website at

Wishing you all the best this Advent Season.
Sent by
Jerry Freewalt
Office for Social Concerns
Catholic Diocese of Columbus
197 E. Gay Street
Columbus, Ohio  43215
614-241-2540
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The Office for Social Concerns is the central diocesan resource for Catholic Social Teaching, reaching out through prayer, education, service, and advocacy.