July 2022 Upcoming Events and Opportunities |
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MEETING SCHEDULE AND PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
- Peace and Justice Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month except November/December combined meeting, and as always all are welcome to attend.
- Peace and Justice Newsletter will be published monthly, reflecting ministry news and reports from meetings and presentations.
July 20 Peace & Justice general meeting 7 PM
- Via: In person church lower level meeting room #1
- Teams: Programming, Communications, and Finance
- All are welcome to attend and become involved!
July 30 Hotter than Haiti Ride benefit bike ride in the evening. See brochure below for more information
Sundays Weekly Hot Meal Site 4 - 6 pm, Meal Site Teams - volunteers welcome and alternate teams needed
Sundays Women's Jail Ministry visits are being planned; no visits are currently permitted on Sundays
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Themes of Catholic Social Teaching by The United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops: Rights and Responsibilities
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So many good deeds, good works, missions, and service to others taking pace in our midst. So many in our parish and community are willing to sacrifice for the good of others. There are too many to mention, however Peace and Justice Ministry’s supported organizations such as Ecumenical Assembly, Love Chapel, Parish Outreach through The St. Vincent DePaul Conference, Brighter Days shelter, Turning Point domestic violence shelter, Horizon House, Hot Meal Site, Haiti support for nutrition, education and health, Latino Scholarships, Su Casa, to name a few, are at the forefront of our responsibilities to the common good.
These are polarizing times. Currently there are congressional hearings regarding the security of our elections and the future of our democracy. We may take comfort in The Catholic Social Teaching tradition, demonstrating that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
“Finally, the common good calls for social peace, the stability and security provided by a certain order which cannot be achieved without particular concern for distributive justice; whenever this is violated, violence always ensues. Society as a whole, and the state in particular, are obliged to defend and promote the common good.”
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A polarized Church. A divided nation. Pope Francis calls for “a better kind of politics.” How will we respond? There are common sense and civilized ways to communicate and join together for a common purpose.
Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics is a nonpartisan initiative from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that seeks to assist Catholics to counter polarization and division in Church and society by following the example of the Good Samaritan, who challenges us to “become neighbors to all” (Fratelli Tutti).
As Catholics, we take to heart Jesus’ invitation to follow the example of the Good Samaritan. As a Church and a nation, we are polarized and divided. But as Pope Francis writes in Fratelli Tutti, we can seek “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good”. We can see ourselves as members of one family. We can seek to encounter and to grow. We can identify common values. We can listen to understand. We can seek the truth together. We can jointly come up with creative solutions to the problems that face our world.
Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics is a response to Pope Francis’ invitation. Join with Civilize It to model this “better kind of politics.” The pledge below commits each of us to seeking the truth, building bridges, and finding solutions together that promote the common good. Individuals, families, and communities can participate.
I PLEDGE:
Charity
- To affirm through my words and actions the dignity of every person, each made in God’s image. Even those with whom I disagree are made in his image.
- To respectfully listen in order to understand experiences different from my own.
Clarity
- To engage in critical examination to ensure that my perspectives are rooted in truth, that my sources of information are unbiased, and that I do not open myself to manipulation by partisan interests.
- To form my conscience through prayerful reflection, study of scripture and Church teaching, and guidance from reputable experts.
- To reflect on my own values and seek, with others, to identify shared values.
- To be open to the process of dialogue that can require change of perspective—my own and others’—in service to the inviolable dignity of all and the common good.
Creativity
- To be a bridgebuilder who participates in constructive dialogue based in shared values, a mutual exchange of gifts, and the humility to together seek the good.
- To see differences in perspective as opportunities for creative tension which can yield solutions for the common good.
- To work with others in order to identify creative solutions rooted in our shared values.
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Prayer for Civility
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where uncivil words prevail, show me how to model love.
Help me remember the God-given dignity of all and invite others to do the same.
Show me how to build bridges and not walls and see first what unites us rather than how we diverge.
Let me seek to understand before asking to be understood.
Give me a listening heart filled with empathy and compassion.
May I be clear in sharing my own position and respectful and civil in describing those of others.
Let me never tolerate hateful ideas.
May I invite all to charity and love.
Lord, help me to imitate your compassion and mercy.
Make me an instrument of your peace.
Amen.
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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.
VISION STATEMENT
Integrate Gospel values into our lives as disciples of Christ through Outreach, Justice, and Spirituality.
Our Challenge and Goal:
Assisting parishioners to align faith with daily life.
To live differently in society as a reflection of our faith.
Responsibilities
Advocacy: Advocate for social mission (Outreach, Justice, and Spirituality) within the Parish.
Volunteerism, Personal Involvement: Be a model of social mission and faith in action within the Parish.
Education: Assist in the development, implementation, and recruitment of program initiatives.
Outreach: Discern and provide leadership for parish involvement in local, national, and global justice outreach.
Financial Support: Assist with determination and allocation of monetary stewardship for parish justice outreach and other initiatives. Along with other members, ensure that funds are being used responsibly and as intended.
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We Are The Peace & Justice Ministry |
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- Chairperson David Harpenau (interim)
- Programming Team: Steve Audretch
- Finance Team: David Harpenau
- Communications Team: Jan Banister
- Blood Drive: Greg Scherschel, coordinator
- Next drive fall 2022
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Voter Registration: Steve Audretch coordinator
- Next drive fall 2022
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Ecumenical Assembly: Shireman Brown
- Pro-Life: Kelley Snoddy
- Giving Tree: Theresa Westerfeld, coordinator
- Meal Site: Susan Chandler,
- Sundays 4-6 PM
- Volunteers always welcome!
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- Friends of Haiti: Judy Harpenau, liaison
- Bread for the World Offering of Letters
- Spring 2023, Mike Spencer
- Bread for the World, Fr. Marty Peter, Convener
- Meetings TBA
- St. Vincent de Paul: Marilyn and Jim Clerc liaisons
- Care for Our Common Home: Dave & Suzie Shaw liaisons
- Women's Jail Ministry: Nancy Audretch, liaison
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