Diocesan Office of Social Justice Five Year Goals- 2007 to 2011
Work to incorporate the Church’s social justice perspective into all aspects of Catholic life in the Diocese, especially social justice formation in Parish Social Ministry.
Objectives:
1. Promote justice and peace education by offering training in Catholic Social Teaching in the diocese.
2. Offer consultation and assistance in setting up, maintaining, and networking with social ministry groups in parishes throughout the Diocese.
3. Collaborate with other Diocesan offices to achieve the goals of the Diocesan Mission Statement and to work with them in infusing Catholic Social Teaching into the work of education and liturgy.
4. Serve as a catalyst and an ongoing resource to develop Parish Social Ministry and mission efforts, particularly social action components.
5. Coordinate and stimulate legislative advocacy and networks.
6. Develop partnerships with other organizations and Churches in communities throughout the diocese to work on addressing social justice issues.
7. Work with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Relief Services, and Mandeville Sister Diocese Committee to raise money, allocate local funds, and disperse information about their various programs.
8. Collaborate with Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Conference of Kentucky, and surrounding dioceses to promote justice in the state, nation, and the world.
Parish Social Ministry Links:
Minutes
Diocesan Social Justice Committee
Minutes
November 10, 2011
Present were: Suzanne Rose, Thomas Kell and Richard Murphy
The meeting was opened with a prayer.
Minutes from the September 8, 2011 meeting minutes were reviewed and accepted as published.
Old Business
1. JustFaith and JustMatters Report
There were no known groups involved this season in JustFaith in the Diocese.a discussion was held to review what JustFaith’s aims were and there may be some consideration for the program in Cadiz.
There was a JustMatters class that was under way and they hope to complete their sessions in the near future. This was the Ursuline Sisters on Nonviolent Peacebuilding. The newest JustMatters program is one on Christian/Muslim Dialogue.
2. St. Benedict Joseph Homeless Shelter Report
The Shelter continued operating in its winter mode of providing services and its hours were from 8PM to 8AM. Students from KWC this fall have provided approximately 232 hours of service for the shelter. There was a discussion of the current functioning of the shelter.
3. Mandeville Sister Diocese /Pilgrims of Hope Reports
Bishop Neil Tiedemann, Bishop of the Diocese of Mandeville Jamaica, along with his Vicar General, Fr. Anthony Aarons, and Business Manager, Deacon Ron Hamilton visited the Diocese of Owensboro from 10-10 to 10-12-11. The Bishop and staff were in Kentucky visiting their partners in their work. They had several appointments throughout their time here and a reception was held in their honor at the CPC on the evening of 10-11-11. They left on Wednesday 10-12-11 to visit partners in the Louisville area and return to Jamaica on 10-13-11.
Suzanne Rose discussed the current operations of the Pilgrims of Hope. There are currently 12 members of the group and have been in operation since 2009. They continue to meet each second Saturday of the month in Morganfield Ky from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Their current goal is to help develop micro business in the Mandeville Diocese. They are currently working on collecting bikes to send there and are looking at assisting in developing a fair trade coffee coop.
4. Refugee Ministry Status
The International Center has had an office in Owensboro since 2010. It is currently housed in offices on the campus of Brescia University. The Committee agreed to work together for hosting a holiday dinner in one of the local parishes. There was some discussion about the time and date for the gathering. It was not clear what venue would agree to host and there was discussion of Blessed Mother being asked to serve as the gathering site.
5. Parish Social Ministry Reports
This discussion was tabled due to low turnout.
6. CRS Southeastern US Gathering
Richard discussed the recent gathering in Atlanta Ga. of the Diocesan Directors
of the SE. USA. There would be some effort to introduce the CRS program to the priests
of the Diocese of Owensboro in a future Priests Presbyteral day, likely in 2013. This
would hopefully provide them with current information about the program and what it
does to assist others around the world.
7. Recruiting New Members
It was important to recruit more members to the committee and committee members were asked to be alert to potential new members.
New Busines
1. Issues Committee Members May Wish to Raise
There were no new issues that the Committee Members wished to raise.
2. Goal Setting for the Next Three Years: 2012-2014
Information about the Diocesan Three Year Goals was shared. Committee members would be given time to look these over and consider them in setting the Committee’s own goals at the next few meetings.
3. GRABC and Free Tax Prep: Need Volunteers
The Green River Asset Building Coalition would once again have several sites in the surrounding counties where by low to moderate income families could have their taxes done free of charge. Many more volunteers were needed to assist. Committee members were asked to help spread the word about this need. Volunteers can call Richard Murphy at 270/683-1545.
4. Staff Report and Sharing of Resources
Richard shared info on the USCCB’s “Two Feet of Just in Action” and Ministry Matrix. Also shared was the “Haiti Revisited” Lecture information.
Future Meeting Schedule: 1-12-12, 3-8-12, & 5-10-12 at 5:00 at CPC
Closing Prayer and Adjourn
