Social Action News and Activities

 

Social Outreach/Action - Welcome

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.. . . liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free . . ." – Luke 4:18

The U.S. Catholic Bishops state, “Our work for social justice is first and foremost a work of faith, a profoundly religious task. It is Jesus who calls us to this mission, not any political or ideological agenda. We are called to bring the healing hand of Christ to those in need; the courageous voice of the prophet to those in power; and the Gospel message of love, justice, and peace to an often suffering world,”

To accomplish this work, we are invited into a welcoming community, fed at the “Table” in the Eucharist, and sent forth to “Love and serve God and one another”. This living of the “Social Gospel” is part of our daily lives.

At the Church of St. John the Evangelist we offer ongoing education and ministry around the social dimensions of the Gospel. For more information on Social Outreach within the parish, please contact: Mary Vlazny at the Parish Center, 288-7372 ext. 16.

 

Back to TopSocial Action Structure

The Social Action Ministry sponsors educational opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy opportunities. The educational opportunities call us to look at relevant social issues with the eyes of Christ, through faith. The committee sponsors educational programs and informs the parish of current and relevant social concerns in order to assist in making informed moral and Christian decisions on social issues. Our structure is meant to involve people in areas that reveal their passions and gifts as disciples of Christ, so the areas of social concerns are varied with more activity in some areas than in others.  Our structure of social ministry invites participation at many varied levels of commitment and time.  This ministry often brings us to reflection on Jesus invitation to really participate in the relationships of the “Kingdom” right here and now as in his mission staement (Lk. 4:18), Mt.25, the Beatitudes (Mt.5:1-12a and Lk.6:20-49).

Back to TopSt. John's reads

“Caritas in Veritate:” Authentic, Integral, Human Development

“Pope Benedict’s encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Love in Truth) is an anniversary document marking the 40th anniversary of Populorum Progressio issued by Pope Paul VI in 1967. Benedict noted in an address made upon the release of his encyclical, “In a special way, it is linked to what Paul VI wrote now more than 40 years ago in Populorum Progressio, the cornerstone of the Church’s social teaching, in which the great Pontiff outlined certain decisive and ever relevant ideas for the integral development of humanity and of the modern world…”

Here is a guide, for this suggested reading,
from Education for Justice.

 

Refugee ResettlementBack to Top


Catholic Charities is in the process of helping to re- settle refugee families from Iraq. Families are being welcomed warmly by the St. John community. Please introduce yourself to any of our new Iraqi families if you see them after Mass at St. John. There will be oppportunities to help settle these families into our Rochester community. They need help in learning about our basic systems of transportation, shopping, basic services, job seeking, medical care, but most imporatnly, to be a friendly face and a welcoming conversation. A primary consideration for us, as a faith community is to help these families get to Mass on Sunday.  It is an especially important opportunity for them to meet parishioners, become acquainted with our culture and worship, and to network with each other.  If you would be open to being on a transportation list, or to offer your loving Christian Spirit in other ways, call Mary Vlazny at the Parish Center,
288-7372, ext.16. To offer donations call Catholic Charities “Refugee Resettlement” 287-2047.

Back to TopSunday Lunch Program

Sunday lunch is provided by combined efforts of all Rochester Catholic Parishes. It is held at noon each Sunday at St. Francis of Assisi 's McCarthy Hall. Volunteers usually arrive between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. and are done by 1:00 p.m. We also need dessert bakers for each time we host. St. John is responsible for the meal about every 6 weeks and some holidays. We usually need about 10 volunteers and families are welcome to serve together!

Back to Top Baking Ministry

Two months per year (March and September) we provide home baked ‘goodies’ for the Gift of Life Transplant House.  This a greatly appreciated ministry because of the care and love baked into the goodies you provide and the expansion of the capacity of the Transplant House with the opening of their added facility.

 

Back to TopInterfaith Hospitality Network

The Interfaith Hospitality Network of greater Rochester (Minnesota) is a network of volunteers from 49 churches who offer food and shelter to families who find themselves homeless.

IHN is a program that supports families experiencing a housing crisis. IHN is a collaboration of faith communities who host families (up to a total of 14 people) in need of emergency shelter at a host church. These families are given shelter, food, transportation and resource counseling while looking for work and housing.

Families are housed at the "host" church, in our case Redeemer Lutheran Church, each evening and go to a Day Center, 811 7 th St. NW, jobs or school during the daytime hours. St. John and Redeemer Lutheran host 4 times per year for one week at a time.

We will be in need of transportation, hosts, meal preparers and overnight hosts. The weekday times are primarily after 4:30 in the evening. It takes around 100 volunteers to cover the week because there needs to be someone available at all times at Redeemer when the guests are there. A volunteer training is required (about 2 hours) to begin working with IHN guests.  Trainings are provided free of charge by the IHN staff about once a month hosted by various faith communities.

St. John has opportunities for people to do the following services for our IHN guests:



Back to Top

An ADULT FORMATION PROGRAM AND SMALL
FAITH COMMUNITY

WHAT IS JUSTFAITH?

"JustFaith is a scripture-based adult formation program that looks at poverty and compassion for the poor through the lens of Catholic social teaching. Through prayer, immersion experiences, books and videos, participants encounter poverty in such a way that they experience transformation and are drawn to respond to the needs of our broken world. It is a deep spiritual journey done in the context of a small faith community."

Catholic social teaching and Scripture are significant parts of the program and, in effect, shape the entire process-content, focus, themes and experiences.

The primary focus of JustFaith is on domestic and global poverty. The intention of JustFaith is to help participants see the world with eyes wide open and recognize God's call for their lives in fresh and critical ways. To accomplish this, the foundational insights of the Bible and Catholic social teaching are incorporated throughout the program. The following themes are addressed as they relate to poverty:

The intersection of justice and spirituality, voices of the poor, human dignity.

The root causes of domestic and international poverty
The effects of the global economy, option for the poor
The relationship between violence and poverty, dignity and rights of workers
Consumerism, Care for the environment , Nonviolence, Solidarity, Simple lifestyle, Community organizing, Racism
Root causes and effects of migration, effective strategies for change (rights and responsibilities)

Opportunities for involvement in the Church's social mission.

When considering JustFaith, the question often comes up as to who benefits most from JustFaith-people who have been involved in social ministry for a long time or those newly interested. Without any hesitation, the answer is "both." Experienced folks benefit greatly from the reflections, the fresh enthusiasm and the ideas of newcomers. Newcomers benefit from the testimony of those who can speak from firsthand social ministry experience. And all participants have an opportunity to go further in their faith journeys and deeper into their spiritual development, no matter where they may be along the continuum.

The JustFaith program helps each participant re-look at these questions: What is my relationship with God? How do I live the Gospel of Jesus? What does the world today look like and why? What is my role as a Christian in the world today? What is the responsibility of Catholics toward the poor? How do we become people who really care for and act on behalf of the poor and the vulnerable?

This program focuses on poverty through the lens of Catholic social teaching and the social mission of the Church, which are core elements of our faith. Many parishioners have had little or no exposure to either of these elements.

This program helps to bridge our faith with action based on the testimony of Scripture and the call of the Gospel.

Many graduates of this program have said that this is the most transformative and important spiritual process they have ever gone through.

This is an opportunity to take a spiritual journey within the context of a small faith-based community. JustFaith is about relationships-with God, with those in your JustFaith group, and with those who live at the margins of our society.

This program is rigorous because it is an in-depth spiritual journey and a comprehensive look at our world and our personal role in this world. No previous knowledge of Catholic social teaching or involvement with social ministry is necessary.

Many couples have taken JustFaith together and have really appreciated the opportunity to share the experience.

Please check this link and read about all the opportunities that the catholic community offers you. For more information, please contact: Mary Vlazny at the Parish Center, 288-7372 ext. 16.

Other Community volunteer opportunities through United Way Volunteer Solutions.

What do you do best? We will help steward your talents and passion into a ministry of service! For more information on Social Outreach within the parish, please contact: Mary Vlazny at the Parish Center, 288-7372 ext. 16.

 

Social Action News and
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