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 isto 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 parishionersto 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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Celebrate Earth Day: Laudato Si Study |
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Themes of Catholic Social Teachings by The United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops: Care of Creation
Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home is the new appeal from Pope Francis addressed to "every person living on this planet" for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. This encyclical is written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility.
The title is taken from the first line of the encyclical, "Laudato si', mi Signore," or "Praise be to you, my Lord." In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. The encyclical is divided into six chapters which together provide a thorough analysis of human life and its three intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbor, and with the earth.
One of the Catholic Social Teachings that we are tasked to follow is Care of Creation. In this definition by the USCCB, we are asked to "show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored."
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The Laudato Si' Lenten Study group led by Dave and Suzie Shaw was small, 8-10 participants each week, but energetic. All participants were very active in the discussions, and many great thoughts and observations were shared.
The six sessions followed the book and a study guide, taking them from recognition of the earth as a common home to all, through problem identification, and to action plans. Pope Francis stressed that man’s “dominion” over the earth (as per the book of Genesis) means responsibility and stewardship, as opposed to domination for attaining one’s short term desires. He also stressed that deterioration of the environment has a much greater impact on the poor and indigenous people than those of means. For example, rising sea levels flood less desirable living areas, water pollution affects sustenance fishing, and so forth.
The sixth and final session was focused on actions, and the group identified many possible actions which might apply to individuals, St. B’s as an organization, to our community, and toward policy change. All agreed that education is the key point for action. With that in mind, “On Care For Our Common Home Corner” will begin to appear in the weekly bulletin the first of May.
“Zero Waste Challenge”, the second point of action, will be included as key subject matter in the weekly columns. There are many specific actions that might be inspired within the parish - by individuals, by groups, and the community as a whole.
If further questions, please let us know.
Thanks and regards,
Dave and Suzie Shaw
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All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
Amen
-from Laudato Si'
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We Are The Peace & Justice Ministry |
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- Chairperson Donna Keogh
- Programming Team: Steve Audretch
- Finance Team: David Harpenau
- Communications Team: Jan Banister
- Blood Drive: Greg Scherschel, coordinator
- Next drive Fall 2021
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Voter Registration: Steve Audretch coordinator
- Next drive TBD
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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
- May 2021, Mike Spencer
- Bread for the World, Fr. Marty Peter, Convener
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Second Tuesdays 7 PM at First Presbyterian Church currently remote
- Indiana Abolition Coalition: Donna Keogh, liaison
- St. Vincent de Paul: Marilyn and Jim Clerc liaisons
- Women's Jail Ministry: Nancy Audretch, liaison
- Family Self Sufficiency: Jan Banister coordinator, plans for 2021 End-Of-School Year Celebration underway
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