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
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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
(9/7/08) *Mark 9 v. 14-29 *Story about Mother Teresa
(3/06/11) *Facts on global hunger *Hechos acerca del hambre mundial
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As we prepare for Thanksgiving, let us consider the USCCB’s
First Fridays for Food Security.
This campaign promotes the idea of eating meals
“that cost only as much as is allotted for a family of your size
by the USDA Modified Thrifty Food Plan,”
on every First Friday.
Figure the weekly “allotment” for a family of your size for a week
(and divide by seven for the daily allotment) at
www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/FoodPlans/
2011/CostofFoodSep2011.pdf
This is the amount that is used for Food Stamps,
which is now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The “cutting back that will likely be required in order to stay “in budget”
can be considered a form of fasting. (www.usccb.org)
Why Fast?
“Voluntary fasting from food creates in us a greater openness to God’s Spirit
and deepens our compassion for those who are forced to go without food.
The discomfort brought about by fasting
unites us to the sufferings of Christ.
Fasting should bring to mind the sufferings
of all those for whom Christ suffered.”
(United States Catholic Bishops,
Penitential Practices for Today’s Catholics, 2000)
Participating in this fast can help you to be open to the Holy Spirit
and walk in solidarity with all those
for whom access to adequate,
nutritious food is difficult.
(www.usccb.org/about/justice-peace-and-human-development/
upload/Fasting-Resource-December-2.pdf )
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Voices for Peace in the Holy Land
a Speaker Event sponsored by
Catholic Relief Services
Come and hear personal stories
from Israelis and Palestinians
who have lost loved ones
due to violence in the Holy Land
and how they work together
for peace.
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
2:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart Rose Room
1723 LaPorte Avenue
Whiting, IN
Read CRS's Action Alert and see how you can help!
http://www.crs.org/globalpoverty Click on Action Alerts, then choose
President Obama: Press for two-state peace agreement in the Holy Land
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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
St. Vincent de Paul Society is hosted their annual
"The Friends of the Poor Walk" on September 24th, 2011 at Lemon Lake County Park, 6322 W. 133rd Avenue in Crown Point, beginning at
8:30 a.m for registration. The walk began at 10:00 a.m. This fourth annunal, nation-wide
SVDP event raised money for needy families in our local communities. This event
unifies the members of the Society and our friends and supporters of our Ministry
to the poor. This Walk helps to build the awareness of the plight of the poor,
particularly in these difficult economic times. To register, call Diane McKern
at 219-845-7531. There is a Fellowship Picnic and Barbecue following the Walk.
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Respect Life Sunday, 1st Sunday in October: 10/7/2012
Join us !
either
along the south side of Ridge Road at Manor Avenue
to pray and offer our presence as witness, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Signs will be provided by Lake County Right to Life.
Feel free to bring a chair.
OR,
at the grotto adjacent to Immaculate Conception Church
on White Oak Avenue, in a prayer service from 2 to 3 p.m.
which includes the rosary and benediction,
led by the W/R Faith Enrichment Committee.
Bring a chair. In case of inclement weather,
the prayer service will be held inside the church.
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY DAY PHOTO ALBUM
Habitat for Humanity
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Volunteer Day
for Habitat for Humanity's
2011 build in East Chicago.
Skilled labor is not required.
Volunteers have to be at least 18 years old.
All that is needed is a desire to help and to learn!
If you are interested in participating,
or need additional information,
please call Chris Suarez at 313-3580.
Go to www.nwihabitat.org for more information about our local chapter.
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"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.
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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 Dan Coats: www.coats.senate.gov/contact/ [e-mail is sent directly from website]
call 1-202-224-5623 (Washington, D.C.) or 1-317-554-0750 (Indianapolis)
office locations:Washington, D.C. Office:
United States Senate SR-493
Washington, D.C. 20510
Indianapolis Office:
10 West Market St. , Suite 1650
Indianapolis, IN 46204
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
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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
Fall 2011 Campaign: September 28 - November 6
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 was reported that approx. 4,313 lives have been spared
from abortion as of the end of the eighth (Spring 2011) 40 Days for Life campaign.
Many blessings have been obtained, including 14 abortion centers closing their
doors during or after these prayer vigils. 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 http://40daysforlife.com (the location is listed as Lake County, Indiana) or go to www.lakecortl.org and click on 40 Days For Life.
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 next retreat will be held October 21-23, 2011.
To find other retreats at earlier times or other locations in Indiana or Illinois,
go to http://rachelsvineyard.org/weekend/retreats-by-location-usa.htm
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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
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Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
Chris Suarez, one of our Commission members, organizes a group to help feed
the hungry by assisting the NWI Food Bank with their Mobile Pantry, about four
or five times a year (see below). Our group of volunteers work from approximately 9 a.m. until noon on a Saturday
morning.
General information about the Food Bank can be found at the website listed
below, 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. Volunteer
opportunities are also available at the warehouse.
About the Food Bank's Mobile Pantry:
"The Mobile Pantry is another way for us to get out and directly interact with
those in need. It is another newer program that started in October of 2007. We
load up our truck with goods and go to different distressed communities throughout
Lake and Porter Counties that do not have access to a traditional food pantry
to distribute free food. We have many volunteers who assist us in setting up and
passing out the food as well as cleaning up afterwords. Like with the Community
Cupboard, clients get to choose what items they want since we do not pre-bag anything.
The Mobile Pantry is usually held on Saturdays between 9:30 a.m. and noon." Find
out more at: http://foodbanknwi.org
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 have a Mobile Pantry, as noted above, and 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.
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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
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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/ )
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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!
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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
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Immigration Issues: go to www.justiceforimmigrants.org
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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!
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Open Letter on Darfur (written December, 2006)
The genocide continues! For current information, go to www.savedarfur.org
to help stop the atrocities.
savedarfur.org has recently merged with the Genocide Intervention Network. For
more info, please visit endgenocide.org.
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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.
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