The work of the Peace and Justice Ministry is best described in its mission statement:
Recognizing the church as the Body of Christ, the Peace and Justice Ministry provides leadership through which all members of St. Bartholomew Parish will become active participants in witnessing the New Testament message of the Good News of Jesus Christ in local, national and global communities through education, prayer and reflection resulting in social action.
Our goal is to engage the parish and parishioners in the needs of the world and in the message of the gospel. Our work includes blood drives, the Advent Giving Tree, voter registration, education programs and support of local programs and initiatives. Peace and Justice represents the parish in its membership in Bread for the World, an ecumenical advocacy group which works for legislation that addresses the issues of hunger and poverty, and Pax Christi, the national Catholic peace organization. We have recently introduced JustFaith, a formation program which connects faith and justice.
The Peace and Justice Ministry acts in the name of the parish with financial support to Turning Point, Pro-Life, Housing Partnerships, the Ecumenical Assembly, Love Chapel, the St. Bartholomew meal site, Su Casa, the local school supply program, the ESL program, Family Self-Sufficiency, and Horizon House. Financial support is also provided for the programs of Friends of Haiti and our sister parish, Ste. Anne in Limonade, Haiti. See below for the 2008-2009 financial report.
To help the parish address the issues of globalization, the Peace and Justice Ministry developed the Equal Exchange program which commits the parish to the use of fair trade coffee. The program allows small farmers in developing areas to make a sustainable living and stay on their land. Peace and Justice sells Equal Exchange coffee, tea, chocolate and cocoa on the fourth Sunday of the month in the lower level of the church after the 8:00 and 10:30 mass.
We meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm in the lower level of the church. All parishioners are invited to be a part of our work. For more information, contact Pat Conard, 342-6954,
patwc@juno.com.
| ST. BARTHOLOMEW CATHOLIC PARISH |
| Mission through Peace and Justice Ministry |
| June 2008 - July 2009 |
| Budget Allocation |
$72,720.00 |
| Date |
Distribution List |
Totals |
| Discretionary- St.B. |
3,292.43 |
|
| Turning Point |
1,275.00 |
| Ecumenical Assembly Membership |
5,250.00 |
| Ecumenical Emerg.Assistance |
7,825.00 |
| Educational Initiatives: |
| Love Chapel Bibles |
359.40 |
| Just Faith Register/bks/videos |
973.75 |
| Just Faith Ministry |
100.00 |
| ICC Witness |
200.00 |
| Death Penalty film sponsor |
50.00 |
| Haiti |
27,825.00 |
| Housing Partnerships |
578.00 |
| Horizon House |
5,775.00 |
| Pro-Life |
4,618.28 |
| Hot Meals |
594.02 |
| Family Self-Sufficiency |
363.98 |
| School Readiness |
500.00 |
| ESL Program |
2,160.40 |
| Su Casa |
1,600.00 |
| P/J Ministry New Initiatives: |
| Just Friends Adult Day Care |
750.00 |
| American Red Cross-Barth.Co. |
750.00 |
| Catholic Relief Disaster/Emerg. |
1,000.00 |
| Eastside Community Center |
1,000.00 |
| Pregnancy Care |
500.00 |
| Kenya Mission Assistance |
300.00 |
| Haiti Hurricane Relief |
2,500.00 |
| Haiti Medika Manba (peanut butter) |
1,000.00 |
| Turning Point-Lighthouse Playgr. |
200.00 |
| Gabriel Project |
350.00 |
| Bread For World |
420.00 |
| Prison Assistance |
50.00 |
| PAX Christi membership/cards |
214.50 |
| Equal Exchange Coffee/Donut program |
140.12 |
| Misc.flyers/copies/postage/ofc.supp. |
144.25 |
| TOTAL |
$ 72,659.13 |
The Justice Prayer
Come, O Holy Spirit!
Come, open us to the wonder, beauty, and dignity of the diversity found in each culture, in each face, and in each experience we have of the other among us.
Come, fill us with generosity as we are challenged to let go and allow others to share with us the goods and beauty of the earth.
Come, heal the divisions that keep us from seeing the face of Christ in all men, women and children.
Come, free us to stand with and for those who must leave their own lands in order to find work, security, and welcome in a new land, one that has enough to share.
Come, bring us understanding, inspiration, wisdom, and the courage needed to embrace change and stay on the journey.
Come, O Holy Spirit, show us the way.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Justice for Immigrants Campaign