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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August 2020 Upcoming Events and Opportunities
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Please watch for announcements at this time regarding public meetings. All dates and meetings are currently subject to change. Be safe and be well!
MEETING SCHEDULE AND PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
- Peace and Justice Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month, and as always all are welcome to attend. Currently meetings are via Zoom.
- Peace and Justice Newsletter will be published monthly, reflecting ministry news and reports from the meetings and presentations.
August 19 Peace & Justice general and team meetings 7 PM
via ZOOM meeting
- St. Bartholomew Church currently via Zoom.
- Meetings are otherwise scheduled for Third Wednesday of the month
- Teams: Programming, Communications, Finance and Grants
- All are welcome to attend and become involved!
August 22/23 Fair Trade Sales
temporarily suspended, refer to electronic church bulletin
- coffee, tea, chocolate
- after all four Masses
- benefits after-school tutoring at St. Anne Parish, teacher salaries and snacks.
Virtual Hotter Than Haiti Ride continues through August
Sundays Weekly Hot Meal Site 4 - 6 pm, Meal Site Teams -
meals are grab-and-go, volunteers needed
Sundays Women's Jail Ministry visits 1 - 3 pm, classes 6 - 8 pm
currently suspended due to COVID-19
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Themes of Catholic Social Teachings by The United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops
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Option for the Poor and Vulnerable by Donna Keogh
The way we treat others has a dimension beyond our earthly lives. According to two gospel writers, Matthew and Luke, “The measure you give will be the measure you get” Matthew 7:2, and “Give and it will be given to you.” Luke 6:38. Therefore, it is an absolute priority for us to care for the poor in our community.
Those who created and guide our Catholic church have taught us that we are morally bound to come to the aid of the poor. “Feed the people dying of hunger because if you do not feed them you are killing them.” –
Second Vatican Council, The Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes, no. 69.
We have an opportunity in August to live those words and come to the aid of the poor and vulnerable among us. Contributing to the second collection for Love Chapel helps us to live the Gospel which tells us to “Put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.”-Matthew 25:36
Please read the article below by Theresa Baugh, the Peace and Justice liaison to the Ecumenical Assembly of Churches and Love Chapel, to see why the needs are greater than ever in this time.
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Second collection for Love Chapel August 2020, by Theresa Baugh
Brothers and Sisters in the body of Christ, do you know someone that has been affected by COVID 19- physically, emotionally, spiritually or financially? Most of us can answer yes to this question.
Social media and news outlets have been flooded with information regarding unemployment, business and church closings, numbers of people infected with this virus. This pandemic has really exposed how vulnerable our society is and how much we need to depend on each other and God for survival.
Along with upsetting and sometimes depressing news there have been many awesome demonstrations of Christ’s love for us being brought about by faithful humanitarian brothers and sisters. I have found these stories to be helpful and uplifting during these challenging times. I have prayed for the holy spirit to help me see the ways I can use my gifts to help my fellow man/woman.
One organization that has been a constant resource in
our
community during these challenging times, and even when times are not so challenging for most, is Love Chapel.
- They quickly adapted to the changes brought about by the pandemic and continued to provide food via the food pantry, hot meal sites, and mobile pantries.
- Recognizing an increased need they developed weekly care packages to provide even more assistance.
- They provided resources for rent and utility bills.
- They quickly realized a need among individuals and families that might not usually utilize these services and began coordinating with other agencies to be sure there was a safety net for all of our community.
Now is it our turn to be warriors for Christ, to care for our fellow human beings.
I ask you to prayerfully consider generously giving to the second collection in August for support of Love Chapel.
Many of their usual fund-raisers will be canceled or altered due to restrictions. Please help to support this very worthy organization in our community’s time of great need.
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An opportunity to help locally
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The annual second collection for Love Chapel will take place at all Masses on August 29 and 30. Make plans to contribute at Mass, or send your envelope in to the church office.
This is the perfect opportunity to assist local families and individuals during very challenging times. Your generous donation goes a long way toward food security and case management at Love Chapel.
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TOP TEN ACTIONS IN SUPPORT OF LOVE CHAPEL
DURING THE PANDEMIC CRISIS
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- Prayers and daily intentions truly do help! Thank you!
- A friendly phone call to those in need, and those who are alone, can make a big difference in someone's life in isolation.
- Contribute food at the Pantry location.
- Volunteer to pack food boxes inside Love Chapel, daily shifts available.
- Volunteer to make home deliveries to the shut-ins.
- Contribute to the special collection being gathered daily at the St. Bartholomew Church Office.
- Help The Hungry – One Meal at a Time by donating to Love Chapel
- Contribute staple foods and needed cleaning supplies to The Blessings Box, a donation station located at First Christian Church Youth Center.
- Step up, go above and beyond, when the second collection in August is intended for Ecumenical Assembly and Love Chapel. The need will extend for many months, and their reserves will need to be replenished.
- And importantly, engage your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors in this all-important work to support our whole community.
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Peace and Justice Ministry Presents: JustFaith Faith and Racial Equity
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Do you want to talk about racial privilege in your faith community, but you don’t know where to begin?
This eight-session program awakens participants to the economic systems, public policies, cultural norms, and hidden biases that empower some and oppress others.
Faith and Racial Equity
books/resources include:
- I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- 40 Days of Prayer by Cheri Mills
Those within our church or in any other faith tradition with an interest in justice should consider participation in this timely program. Details of dates and times, as well as registration information, will be announced as soon as they are available. The group is generally limited to 15 to encourage small group interaction and a plan for action and response upon conclusion. Past programs have included economic justice, immigration reform, incarceration reform, and Christian/Muslim dialog and immersion.
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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 Fall 2020
- Voter Registration: Steve Audretch coordinator
- Next drive late Fall 2020 TBD
- Ecumenical Assembly: Theresa Baugh
- Pro-Life: Kelley Snoddy
- Giving Tree: Theresa Westerfeld, coordinator
- Meal Site: Susan Chandler,
- Sundays 4-6 PM
- Friends of Haiti: Judy Harpenau, liaison
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- Bread for the World Offering of Letters: Rachel Rice coordinator
- Next campaign 2020 TBD.
- 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: Nancy Audretch, liaison
- Family Self Sufficiency: Jan Banister coordinator, plans for 2020 underway
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St. Bartholomew Hot Meal Site
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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:
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Sun 5pm-6pm
- SAINT BARTHOLOMEW CATHOLIC CHURCH
Mon 5pm-6pm
- FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Mon 5pm-6pm
Tues 5pm-6pm
Wed 5pm-6pm
- COLUMBUS FREE METHODIST – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Wed.
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4th Wed 6-7 PM
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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