Introductory Workshops
All are invited to a workshop presented by Jack Jezreel, the founder of the amazingly successful social justice, faith formation program, JustFaith. Jack is well known for his powerful and moving presentations on the Gospel call to peace and justice. This will be a wonderful opportunity both for parishioners who might be interested in participating in this program and for those who just want to be energized by what Jack has to say. Even if you've seen Jack present before, he will have new material to share!
Workshops will take place in two locations:
- Wednesday, July 29, 6:30-9:30pm at Our Lord Christ the King Church (3223 Linwood Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45226)
- In the Dayton area: Thursday, July 30, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at St. Luke Church (1449 N. Fairfield Road, Beavercreek, 45432)
- RSVP to Catholic Social Action Office is requested: 513-421-3131, ext. 2660 (Cincinnati); 937-224-3026 (Dayton).
A Note about JustFaith: JustFaith is a thirty-week, justice formation process with a focus on poverty. Meeting weekly, groups employ books, videos, lecture, discussion, prayer, retreats and hands-on experiences. The intent is to provide a tapestry of learning opportunities that emphasize and enliven the remarkable justice tradition of the Church.
The thirty-week program typically begins in the fall and runs through to spring. JustFaith can be, and typically is, facilitated by parishioners, meaning it does not create added responsibilities for parish or church staff. The program can also be adapted for use in other settings including diocesan-sponsored programs, small faith communities, and college campuses.
Foreclosure: The Crisis Next Door!
The Greater Cincinnati Parish Social Action Collaborative and the CCHD-funded non-profit, Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) have developed a new parish resource and several regional forums to provide help to those dealing with foreclosure and to educate parishioners about the foreclosure crisis. All are invited to attend one of these upcoming forums:
- Tuesday, July 28th, 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary Church - Hyde Park, (Robisch Hall- Undercroft, 2853 Erie Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45208).
- Thursday, July 30th, 7:00 p.m. at St Ann Church - Groesbeck (2900 W. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45239)
- Thursday, September 10th, 7:00 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary (Anderson Twp., 7820 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45255)
For more info....
- Download The Crisis Next Door: Foreclosure Information Packet here!
- Help distribute the flyer for the foreclosure forums!
- View the Housing Update from the Catholic Conference of Ohio regarding three legislative proposals pending in the Ohio General Assembly
Two upcoming responses to the economic crisis in Dayton
The first one is to help parishes reach out to parishioners and neighbors who are seeking work. The second action is to help Catholics have a better understanding of what our faith sees as a just reponse from our economy.
- First Action Aug. 29 — An All Parish Meeting, sponsored by the Weavers of Justice and the Catholic Social Action Office, where you can connect directly with speakers/experts who will help your parish or region present a 4-or-5 week program to develop resume, interview and job seeking strategies. This will be held at Ascension Parish from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
- Second Action: Sept. Let’s gather for a three-week study of the US Bishops’ statements Economic Justice for All and A Decade After Economic Justice for All.
- Dates: Sept. 14, 21, 28 | Time: 5:30– 7 p.m. at Trinity Center OR
- Dates: Sept. 15, 22, 29 | Time: noon—1:30 p.m.
- Light meals will be available.
- These two sessions will wrap around a Labor Day Mass being planned for the Greater Dayton area. Father Dave Brinkmoeller, Dayton’s Dean, is calling together a planning committee for this Mass.
Salt and Light Faith Formation Program
Salt and Light is a program designed adult Catholics to facilitate the integration of the Church's social mission into the life of the parish. The program, consisting of five two and a half hour sessions, focuses on Catholic social teaching, prayer, and skill development for social justice ministry. Click here to view a list of dates and locations for this program!
Climate Change Task Force:
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati helped to inaugurate the national Catholic Coalition on Climate Changes’ “St. Francis Pledge” campaign by forming an archdiocesan-wide Climate Change Task Force.
This body aims to help the Archdiocese and its parishes to fulfill the five elements of the pledge: to pray, learn, assess, advocate and act. To learn more about this nationwide intiative, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, please visit www.catholicclimatecovenant.org, where individuals, families and institutions can sign up for the pledge. To learn more about activities in our own Archdiocese, please contact Catholic Social Action.
Sr. Rosie Miller, OFM leads a workshop at the Task Force’s “Catholic Climate Symposium”, April 5 at Xavier University
Ohio Budget Advocacy! Your advocacy is needed to help ensure that our state legislators prioritize the poor in their biennial budget.
Twenty delegates from the Cincinnati Archdiocese traveled to Columbus in April to advocate on prioritizing the poor and vulnerable in the state budget. Amended Substitute HB 1 passed the Ohio House on April 29, 2009. The Senate passed its version on June 3, 2009. A Conference Committee has begun meeting to work out major differences. A balanced budget must be presented by July 1, 2009. To view the Ohio Catholic Church’s priorities for the budget and other legislative matters, visit: http://www.ohiocathconf.org/L/609legup5.pdf
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)/Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Parish Promoters
Parishioners from at least 45 parishes throughout the Archdiocese have volunteered to serve as promoters for these two wonderful programs of the U.S. Catholic Church! If your parish does not currently have a CRS/CCHD “parish promoter”, please contact Catholic Social Action to learn more about how CRS and CCHD operate in our Archdiocese and how you can help them achieve their missions to alleviate poverty locally and globally!
Operation Rice Bowl
Many thanks to all the parishes and schools that participated this Lent in Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl, the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. For more information on ORB, click here. We especially applaud those that chose to take the the ORB Challenge! To learn more about this promotional program:
Congratulations to the 2008 ORB Challenge Grant winners!
- St. Peter in Chains (Hamilton) for best new participant
- St. Margaret of York (Loveland) and Ascension (Kettering) for most “enhanced” ORB program
Human Life
Human life has been under attack through several recent policy changes from the Administration and legislative proposals in Congress. Read the U.S. Church’s response:
- Threat to Department of Health and Human Services Conscience Protection Regulation
- Executive Order on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
- Reversal of Mexico City Policy Prohibiting U.S. Funding to Organizations Performing and Promoting Abortion in Developing Nations
- Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)
- For more information on Archdiocesan Respect Life efforts
Death Penalty
Before the end of 2009, Ohio has 6 executions scheduled. Our advocacy to Governor Strickland’s office will be needed as each one approaches. To learn more about these executions and to access resources and statements on Catholic Social Teaching and the death penalty, please visit: http://www.ohiocathconf.org/I/DP/deathpenalty.htm.
The Catholic Social Action office is committed to empowering Archdiocesan parishes, schools, Rural Life conferences, and other faith communities within the diocese to bring forth the gospel call of peace and justice. We offer a wide range of workshops, training, and resources to empower the church to live out Catholic social teaching.