| |
Peace & Social Justice Commission
Peace and Social Justice Commission of the
Whiting/Robertsdale Catholic Cluster
Peace and Social Justice Commission Purpose
Our baptism calls us to hear and proclaim the Gospels, to celebrate the sacraments, and to serve
the needs of others in the Church, in the community, and throughout the world.
In a special way, this vocation calls us to promote and defend the dignity of
each human person.
Peace and Social Justice Commission has a threefold purpose:
1) To help promote, understand, and act upon the conviction that peace and
social justice
toward others is an essential element of the Gospel message that flows
from the meaning of
Jesus Christ.
2) To help people see that the work of peace and social justice is the work
of the whole parish
family.
3) To help people see that the actions of peace and social justice must
take place locally, state
wide, nation wide and world wide.
Our responsibilities include:
- Educate the parish and commission members about the Documents of Vatican II that
pertain to peace and social justice
- Empower parishioners to be advocates for structural change
- Create awareness of the need for peace and social justice both locally and world
wide
- Network with other churches and organizations to create a greater force against
injustice
- Collaborate with other parish and Diocesan groups as needed
*****************************************************************
Monthly Flyers
We would like to publicly thank the Catholic Commission Office of Catholic Charities,
Diocese of Cleveland, for the idea of writing these flyers. They provided a model
of reflection and action for social justice based on the scriptural readings for
that day. Their Diocesan Social Action Office has many good resources: www.catholic-action.org
*Mark 9 v. 14-29 *Story about Mother Teresa
*********************************************
"Joe's Kitchen"
The Whiting United Methodist Church has launched a monthly dinner for those families
who utilize the W/R Food Pantry. The first one was held on Jan. 30, 2010. St.
John the Baptist's Pastoral Council sponsored the dinner that was held on Saturday,
March 27. Dinners are scheduled for the Saturday after the 3rd Friday of each
month, from 5 to 7 p.m.
If you would like to help, please contact the Whiting United Methodist Church.
*********************************************
It is important for us to work toward social policy changes that reflect our
Catholic Christian values, including laws that are just and fair, that protect
life from conception until natural death, and that provide for the needs of the
poor.
Contact information: [Please note that e-mail reaches our elected officials faster than standard
mail
due to security measures]
Senator Richard Lugar's e-mail address: senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov
or go to link: www.lugar.senate.gov/contact/contactform.cfm [e-mail sent from website]
call 1-202-224-4814
mailing address: 306 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-1401
Senator Evan Bayh: www.bayh.senate.gov/contact/email [e-mail is sent directly from website]
call 1-202-224-5623
mailing address: 131 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Congressman Peter Visclosky: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
call 1-202-225-2461 [e-mail is sent directly from House of Rep's
page]
mailing address: 2256 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Contact President Obama by e-mail at www.whitehouse.gov/contact (limited to 500 characters)
White House Comment line: 1-202-456-1111
mailing address: The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
*****************************
The Sanctity of Life & the Abortion Issue
In a culture which glorifies violence and irreverent behavior, we need to reverence
the precious gift of life in all its forms, especially human life. Together we
must pray that we may become a nation that reverences its unborn, its children,
its youth, and its aged. We must pray for peace and an end to abortion. Please
pray that
America
will return to its God-given principles.
Pregnant? Need Help? You have a choice!
Call Birth Choice at (219) 554-1774 or toll-free 1-800-848-LOVE (5683),
to make an appointment.
Birth Choice is located at 7127 Indianapolis Boulevard in Hammond, IN
Free pregnancy tests available.
[for those who are able to provide assistance,
Birth Choice is in need of donations
and volunteers!]
Must-See Pro-Life video! www.catholicvote.com [double-click on screen to
view
video]
40 Days for Life Campaign
"Spring" 2010 Campaign during Lent: February 17 - March 28
Consists of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion; constant, peaceful
vigil outside abortion centers and Planned Parenthood offices; and active pro-life
community outreach. It is reported that over 2,536 lives have been spared from
abortion as of 3/22/2010, during this sixth 40 Days for Life campaign. Join in
prayer and fasting with others throughout the country to work toward an end to
abortion. Include pro-life agencies and pregnancy centers like Birth Choice (see
info. above) in your almsgiving.
More information is available at www.40daysforlife.com
Information about abortion:
Video of abortion, with talk by Eduardo Verastegui, star from the Movie "Bella."
www.ObamaMustSee.com [was done pre-election, but still can be viewed]
Video: 12-year-old girl speaks out on the issue of abortion. View the speech
she gave
to her 7th grade class at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOR1wUqvJS4
Additional information, including pictures, descriptions of procedures, and video:
www.PriestsforLife.org , or www.YouTube.com , and look under "abortion,"
www.YouTube.com/frfrankpavone , and www.indianalife.org
www.unborn.info
Post-abortion help:
• www.rachelsvineyard.org Click here for flyer with local retreat information:
*Rachel's vineyard retreats or call toll-free national hotline 1-877 HOPE 4 ME
(1-877
467-3463)
• www.hopeafterabortion.com "Project Rachel"
• www.silentnomoreawareness.org for resources & to read testimonies
*Rachel's Vineyard Retreat
"Abortion touches many lives. Rachel's Vineyard, an offering of Catholic Charities,
is a weekend retreat for healing after abortion. [Their retreats] help those who
struggle with grief, guilt and pain. Come and experience the mercy, forgiveness
and healing love of God in the company of others who understand these feelings.
For more information, please call 219-558-0625. Confidentiality is strictly observed." The most recent retreat was April 16-18, 2010.
*********************************************
St. Vincent de Paul Society
reports that over 37 million people live in poverty in the
US.
View the video entitled "Poverty in America," which is just over 4 1/2 minutes, at
www.youtube.com/svdpusa#p/u/8/zaM6gUHEF5s , filmed in Chicago.
[Produced by CTI's Center for Cinema & Interactive Arts, DePaul University,
Chicago.]
For additional information about the St. Vincent de Paul Society, go to their
website at
www.svdpusa.org
***************************************************************************
Pope Benedict XVI's
June 29, 2009 encyclical:
"Caritas in Veritate" ("Charity in Truth")
can be found at:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/index_en.htm
******************************************************************************
Respect Life Sunday, 1st Sunday in October: 10/3/2010
Join us along the south side of Ridge Road at Manor Avenue to pray and offer our presence as witness, from 2 to 3 p.m. Signs will be provided
by Lake County Right to Life.
For those who would like to pray locally in community, the W/R Faith Enrichment
Committee invites you to participate in a prayer service from 2 to 3 p.m., which
includes the rosary and benediction, held at the grotto adjacent to Immaculate Conception Church on White Oak Avenue. Bring a chair. In case of inclement weather, the prayer
service will be held inside the church.
*********************************************************************
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
Chris Suarez, one of our Commission members, organizes a group to help feed
the hungry by going to the NWI Food Bank quarterly (in February, May, August,
and November). Our group of volunteers work from approximately 9 a.m. until noon
on a Saturday morning in the Food Bank warehouse sorting and repacking food that
has been donated to or purchased by the Food Bank. The food will then be distributed
to food pantries, soup kitchens, and churches that serve the needy in Lake and
Porter counties. General information about the Food Bank can be found at www.foodbanknwi.org . Or call 219-980-1777. The Food Bank is located at 2248 W. 35th Ave. in Gary.
It is affiliated with America's Second Harvest.
Look for information in the bulletin for the next volunteer morning!
Or contact them to volunteer when it is convenient for you.
The NWI Food Bank has opened a "Community Cupboard" from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
5 days a week, so that people who don't fit the criteria for free food can purchase
items at close to cost. They also have a Mobile Pantry, in which they take food
to those who live in areas where they do not have access to a local food pantry.
They also provide a "Backpack Program" in which kids are given backpacks of food
to bring home to their families. Go to their website (see link above), for more
information.
*********************************************************************
Habitat for Humanity
Our Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Day for this past year was Saturday, July 18,
2009. A heartfelt "Thank you!" to all who participated in any way, by donating
your time, talent, energy, food, drinks, etc. Your help contributed to a successful day,
which enabled a family in need to own their own home.
Go to www.nwihabitat.org for more information about our local chapter.
We will post information about next year's build date in the Spring of 2010.
*********************************************
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
POPE BENEDICT XVI
FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE
WORLD DAY OF PEACE
1 JANUARY 2009
"FIGHTING POVERTY TO BUILD PEACE"
Go to http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm and click on MESSAGE FOR PEACE 2009
*****************************************************
February 20, 2009
the first annual World Day of Social Justice,
as proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in November, 2007.
"The observance of the day should contribute to the further consolidation of the
efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, promotion of full
employment and decent work, gender equity, and access to social well-being and
justice for all." (taken from
www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/Intldays/IntlJustice/ )
*******************************************************************************
Faithful Citizenship
The Indiana Catholic Conference, which represents the Indiana bishops on public
policy matters, has added a new feature, the Legislative Action Center, on its
website, www.indianacc.org . They state in their January 2009 Newsletter:
"This online tool has an unprecedented potential
to mobilize the Catholic voice to have a significant
impact on legislation. In the Catholic Tradition
responsible citizenship is more than voting.
Everyone has a moral obligation to take an active
part in public life and to promote the common good."
Check it out and get involved!
*********************************************
Voting with Peace and Social Justice in mind:
The U.S. Bishops guide us in forming our consciences for faithful citizenship
and in applying Catholic teaching to major issues.
www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/FCStatement.pdf
www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/FCStatementES.pdf En Espanol
****************************************************
Immigration Issues: go to www.justiceforimmigrants.org
**************************************
Advent 2008
How did You Prepare for Christmas?
Truly Observing Advent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU
There is still time to make your heart ready for Jesus.
Click on our monthly flyer dated December 7th, 2008, for other thoughts on Preparing the Way of the Lord!
*******************************************
Open Letter on Darfur (written December, 2006)
The genocide continues! For current information, go to www.savedarfur.org
to help stop the atrocities.
***********************************************************************
Peace and Social Justice Commission Key Cluster Parish Contacts
|
Commission |
Rita Krilich
Chris Suarez
Gina De La Torre
|
St. John the Baptist
St. John the Baptist
Sacred Heart
Saint Adalbert
Immaculate
Conception |
Food Collection for
Easter and Thanksgiving |
Thomas Chocholek |
|
|
Respect Life |
|
|
| St. Vincent DePaul Society |
Susan Adam |
|
Peace and Social Justice Commission Programs:
Food for Friends Program
is a monthly food drive that has been in existence since 1995. Non-perishable
food items are collected monthly in each of the cluster churches. The assignment
of the churches are as follows: St. John the Baptist - 1st weekend; St. Adalbert-
2nd weekend; Immaculate Conception - 3rd weekend; Sacred Heart - 4th weekend, of
each month.* Food is delivered to agencies in need such as the Whiting-Robertsdale
Food Pantry, St. Joseph Soup Kitchen and the Greater Hammond Community Services.
The food collected at the Easter and Thanksgiving drives at SJB goes directly
to SJB parish's needy families. Volunteers sort and pack the food for distribution
after the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass just prior to that feast day. *(If there is a
5th Sunday, there is a 2nd collection, the funds of which go directly to our St.
Vincent de Paul Society, to help the poor.)
Respect Life Programs:
To sensitize the parish family to the beauty and sacredness of human life at
all stages and to encourage participation in Diocesan and Parish Respect Life
programs.
|
|
|
|
