Social Concerns Ministry
MISSION
The mission of this ministry is: the ongoing formation of the baptized in the Social Teachings of the Church, communication of opportunities for service to the poor or vulnerable and action on their behalf, stewardship of God's creation, and action for justice and peace.
MEMBERSHIP
All are invited to join in this ministry program. Typically, meetings include prayer, reflection on scripture and Catholic Social Teaching, recent social justice news from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the California Catholic Conference, and the Diocese of Oakland, a discussion of local needs, and planning.
GOALS
- Inform parishioners about Catholic Church positions on global, national and state-wide issues
- Inform parishioners about specific volunteer opportunities in our community
- Raise awareness of the Social Teachings of the Catholic Church
Debbie Post
has a blog for Social Concerns for late-breaking news or details that will not fit into the bulletin. Check it outUNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS WEBSITES
Visit these sites for information and specific action that you can take regarding the injustices and poverty in our nation and the world.
- Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD): http://www.usccb.org/cchd/
- Catholic Charities USA: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
- Catholic Relief Services: http://www.crs.org/
- Justice for Immigrants Campaign: http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/
- Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/globalpoverty/
SOCIAL JUSTICE RESOURCES OF THE DIOCESE OF OAKLAND
Social Justice News: Monthly e-newsletter from John Watkins, Social Justice Coordinator, Diocese of Oakland. Email him and request to be put on the distribution list: jwatkins@oakdiocese.org
Social Justice Resources website: http://www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/SocialJustice/
A wealth of information on social justice issues, including educational materials and recommendations for action.
THE SEVEN THEMES OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. In the brief reflections at the website below, please read highlights of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition. http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/excerpt.shtml
FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP: CATHOLIC VOTERS NEEDED TO TAKE ACTION
Several times a year, our bishops need all Catholic voters to email, write or call their legislators regarding pending legislation with moral implications. The websites below explain the issues and make it extremely easy for you to email your legislators with a few clicks of the mouse.
Catholic Bishops of California State Websites:
California Catholic Conference: http://www.cacatholic.org/
Read what our California bishops have to say on the latest pending legislation. Write to your legislator. Be an informed voter. Sign up for Catholic Lobby Day in Sacramento each April.
Catholic Legislative Network: http://capwiz.com/cacatholic/mlm/signup/
Sign up to receive a regular e-newsletter discussing current issues and to receive Action Alerts about pending legislation: several times a year, our bishops need all registered voters to email, write or phone our representatives.
National Catholic Websites:
Justice, Peace and Human Development Action Alerts: When legislation is pending in Congress, our bishops need all of us to write, email, or phone our Congressional representatives. It's easy to do at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/takeaction.shtml
The Justice, Peace and Human Development Mailing List
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/subform.shtml
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development: http://www.usccb.org/cchd/
In partnership with the poor to help them find their own solutions (subsidiarity).
Catholic Charities USA: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org
Our outreach to the USA. Website includes Action Alerts for pending legislation in the US Congress.
THINGS YOU CAN DO LOCALLY
Open Heart Kitchen needs YOU to feed the hungry in Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin.
You don’t need to know how to cook to serve hot, nourishing meals to those in need in our community. Open Heart Kitchen serves about 3,500 meals every week at locations throughout the Tri-Valley. Volunteers are needed to serve one meal a month; or provide the groceries and supplies for that meal; or provide everyday necessities; or provide drivers for deliveries. Find out more at: http://www.openheartkitchen.org/, or phone 925-580-1619.
Purchase Fair Trade Coffee, Tea, Gifts.
The Coalition for Fair Trade in the Diocese of Oakland tells us that fair trade supports artisans and farmers around the world by ensuring disadvantaged producers earn a fair price for their labor, get access to credit and training, and develop mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with organizations dedicated to the principles of human dignity and economic justice. In Livermore, Fair Trade certified coffee and tea have been seen at Trader Joe’s, Costco, Safeway, Target and Peet’s Coffee. For more information on fair trade products and where to buy them, see:
- TransFair USA: www.transfairusa.org
- Global Exchange: www.globalexchange.org
- Catholic Relief Services: http://www.crsfairtrade.org/
Monterey Bay Aquarium helps safeguard oceans.
The aquarium has programs to help safeguard the oceans and ocean wildlife, promoting sustainable seafood, creating marine protected areas, and protecting California’s threatened sea otters. Find out more at www.oceanaction.org. As consumers, we can help by buying ocean-friendly seafood, i.e. abundant, well managed, and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. Learn more at www.seafoodwatch.org.
Support Our Havens and Shelters
Tri-Valley Haven and Shepherd’s Gate not only provide shelter for women in crisis, but also provide counseling, addiction recovery, and other programs to help a woman get back on her feet. These shelters help women and their children right here in the Livermore Valley. They have need of toiletries, clothing, etc., as well as money. Visit their websites for details:
Tri-Valley Haven – Together We Build a World Without Violence
http://www.trivalleyhaven.org/
Shepherd’s Gate – Rebuilding Shattered Lives
http://shepherdsgate.org/
THINGS YOU CAN DO NATIONALLY
Immigration Reform Needs You:
Please regularly check the United States Bishop’s website for their Justice for Immigrants Campaign to learn about opportunities to pray for immigration reform, and to easily write your representatives in Congress. A form letter is provided, so this only takes a few minutes of your time: www.justiceforimmigrants.org
Cut the U.S. poverty rate in half by 2020.
Catholic Charities USA has a “Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America”. The campaign urges Congress and the Administration to give a much higher priority to the needs of the 37 million Americans living in poverty in budget and policy decisions on issues such as health care, housing, nutrition, and economic security. In addition, the campaign seeks to partner with a wide range of social service agencies, the faith community, and other groups. Learn more at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/globalpoverty/
Faithful Citizenship:
For Catholics, public virtue is as important as private virtue in building up the common good. In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. Every believer is called to faithful citizenship, to become an informed, active, and responsible participant in the political process. www.nccbuscc.org/faithfulcitizenship/index.htm
What can you do about the death penalty?
Pray for victims of crime and their families, those who have been wrongly convicted, and those awaiting execution. Learn about Catholic social teaching, criminal justice policies, and California policies. Educate others. Advocate by contacting your elected officials, and urge them to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment without parole. For more information, go to the website of the Catholic Campaign to End the Death Penalty: www.ccedp.org
THINGS YOU CAN DO GLOBALLY
Heifer International: Do you want to give a gift that keeps on giving?
How about a goat? Or a nice sheep, a healthy heifer, or a water buffalo? Heifer International’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. They promote the simple idea of giving families a source of food and income, not just a handout. For example, a goat is robust, eats just about anything, and provides protein rich milk for children. Heifer International is involved in communities, providing training and working with recipients to share the animals’ offspring with others – along with their knowledge, resources and skills – building self reliance, hope and dignity. Learn more at www.heifer.org and be sure to visit Heifer’s online gift catalog.
You Can Help Stop Sweatshops:
The International Labor Organization estimates that one in seven of the world’s children are engaged in some form of labor, with 126 million working in hazardous jobs. Millions more adults, mostly women, face long work hours, substandard conditions, no health coverage and poor wages. For information on companies paying just wages, visit www.fairtradefederation.org or www.coopamerica.org/programs/sweatshops/resources.cfm
Malaria No More:
Looking for a way to make a difference in the world? How about buying a mosquito net? They cost about $10 each, and they protect children, especially in Africa. For more information, visit: http://www.malarianomore.org/
PLEASE CONTACT US
Have questions or comments? Want to get involved but don’t know where to start?
CONTACT: Joanne Angvick joangvick@sbcglobal.net
origin: 11/03/2007, updated 6/26/2010
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