Many Holy Name Province ministries engage in justice education programs as a means to further the work of Jesus and the “coming of the Kingdom.” Below are some of the programs being offered throughout the province.
To add to the list, contact Fran Eskin-Royer in Holy Name Province’s Office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.
JUSTFAITH MINISTRIES
One of the Province’s most popular justice education sources is JustFaith Ministries. JustFaith Ministries offers many robust programs that provide opportunities for individuals to study and be formed by the justice tradition articulated by the Scriptures, the Church’s historical witness, theological inquiry and Church social teaching. JustFaith Ministries programs motivate through a “conversion” experience that integrates personal spirituality with social engagement. Participants are empowered to develop a passion and thirst for justice, and to live out this commitment through concrete acts of social ministry in their parish or church and in the community at large.
To learn more, visit the national website for JustFaith Ministries at www.justfaith.org.
JUSTFAITH
The original program, JustFaith, which has enjoyed widespread use, is a 30-week process that prepares participants for the work of social ministry. JustFaith focuses on discipleship — engagement in the life of Jesus — and the call to embody God’s dream of justice and compassion in a world scarred by poverty. Meeting weekly, small groups of 10 to 15 people engage the process through books, videos, discussion, prayer, retreats and hands-on experiences. The intent is to provide a variety of learning opportunities that emphasize and enliven the healing work of God’s compassion found in scripture, church history and teaching, and faithful witnesses.
Participants not only are exposed to a substantive and demanding course of study, but also are afforded the privilege of fostering community with other participants and sharing a spiritual journey of faith and compassion that is both life-giving and challenging.
Take a look at the many HNP ministries that have offered this stimulating and engaging program; consider contacting them to learn their experience of the program:
JUSTFAITH
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Triangle, Va.
Past offering.
Contact: Fr. John O’Connor, OFM
JUSTFAITH
Immaculate Conception Parish
Durham, N.C.
The parish offers the program in even-numbered years.
Contact: Maryann Crea
JUSTFAITH
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Raleigh, N.C.
JustFaith focuses on discipleship of Jesus and God’s call to live with justice and compassion in a world scarred by the domestic and global crisis called poverty. Participants are invited to a lively and challenging process of spiritual transformation through books, videos, discussion, prayer, retreats and meetings with people experiencing poverty and injustice.
Contact: Trevor Thompson
JUSTFAITH
St. Anthony of Padua Parish
Greenville, S.C.
Past offering.
Contact: Ken Christy
JUSTFAITH
St. Bonaventure Parish
Paterson, N.J.
Past offering.
Contact: Fr. Daniel Grigassy, OFM
JUSTFAITH
St. Camillus Parish
Silver Spring, Md.
JustFaith has been offered each year since 2003, with graduates going on to greater involvement in the ministry. For testimonials from St. Camillus participants, click here.
Contact: Karen Simon
JUSTFAITH
Catholic Center at University of Georgia
Athens, Ga.
Past offering.
Contact:
JUSTFAITH in 4 Weeks
St. Mary’s Parish
Pompton Lakes, N.J.
Usually held during Lent, this program offers a sampling of the longer, 30-week version of JustFaith. The group focuses on one or two current issues, is introduced to Catholic Social Teaching (CST), and has a border crossing experience. The purpose is to begin to form Catholics in the social justice tradition, and provide such an opportunity to those who cannot commit to the longer program. For more about St. Mary’s JustFaith promotion, click here.
Contact:
GOOD NEWS PEOPLE
A new program from JustFaith, Good News People is meant to inspire, engage, and educate parishioners with the goal of mobilizing thousands of Catholics to become Good News People to the world.
GOOD NEWS PEOPLE
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Triangle, Va.
JustFaith Ministries selected St. Francis of Assisi Parish in 2012 to be one of 25 parishes in the country to help launch its new Good News People program. Good News People is an engaging small group, parish-based program inviting people to new ways of understanding their faith, themselves, and the needs of the world around them. The intent is to familiarize participants with the biblical witness of Jesus, awaken the call to discipleship that resounds within each participant, and explore the richness of the Catholic faith to inspire new passion for and engagement in the Church’s mission. It’s a 14-week program (seven sessions in the fall and seven sessions in the spring) designed for small groups (10 groups of 10 participants). Central to the program is an immersion experience, which ranges from hands-on involvement in a parish or community ministry to a new and innovative project.
Contact: Lisa Ostendorf
JUSTICEWALKING
JusticeWalking or J-Walking, a JustFaith Ministries program crafted for older high school students and their mentors, is a 12-session process that engages participants in a spiritual journey and exploration of the radical call of the Gospel. Key to this process are the relationships created within each J-Walking community and exchanges between participants and those they encounter at the margins of our society. Through prayer, retreats, reading, dialogue, and encounters, J-Walkers broaden their circle of awareness and expose their lives to the compassionate spirit of Gospel justice.
To learn more about JusticeWalking, contact justicewalking@justfaith.org or (502) 429-0865, or a Holy Name Province ministry familiar with the program:
JUSTICE WALKING
St. Mary’s Parish
Pompton Lakes, N.J.
Two ministries, Youth Ministry and Social Justice Ministry, collaborate to offer this two-month program annually in the parish. High school students participate with adult social justice ministers guiding the process. The program is based on the adult JustFaith model. To learn more about St. Mary’s J-walking efforts, click here.
Contact:
JUSTMATTERS
JustMatters is an expanding series of formation materials from JustFaith Ministries. JustMatters allows participants to focus on a particular current social justice topic. The general format for these topic-focused modules is prayer, readings, videos, speakers and dialogue.
JustMatters allows a group of 8 to 15 people to give sustained attention to a specific area of social concern or social ministry (some with special emphasis on Catholic social teaching) and culminating in a call to engaged action. The group generally meets for six to eight 2-hour sessions.
JustFaith graduates will find these resources particularly useful in engaging other parishioners in the study of current issues and effective action strategies. In addition, participants in JustMatters may find this experience to be a compelling springboard into the JustFaith program. For more information, visit the JustFaith site, or connect with a Holy Name Province ministry contact who has run one of the modules:
JUSTMATTERS/CROSSING BORDERS
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Triangle, Va.
Past offering
Contact: Fr. John O’Connor, OFM
CROSSING BORDERS: MIGRATION, THEOLOGY, AND
THE HUMAN JOURNEY
St. Camillus Parish
Silver Spring, Md.
This JustFaith module provides participants with a chance to find out about the Church’s position today on the complex and often divisive issue of immigration and to find common ground with people of different political persuasions. The course consists of eight 2½-hour sessions to allow the participants to engage in dialogue.
This 8-week module was offered at St. Camillus Church Wednesday evenings from 7 p,m. to 9:30 p.m. in the St. Francis Room, from September 21, 2011 through November 9, 2011. The group was limited to 12 persons seriously committed to attending all 8 weeks. Books are in English so it is necessary to be fluent in English to participate. The cost of the books is $50.00. PRE-REGISTRATION is required so that books can be ordered in advance of the first session.
Contact: Karen Simon
ENGAGING SPIRITUALITY
JustFaith Ministries also offers a spiritual deepening process that invites small groups of adult Christians to explore the intersection between contemplative presence and social action, as it is lived out in their own lives. Through the Engaging Spirituality program, participants practice “the undivided life” of Christian discipleship—engaging in contemplation while immersing themselves in the heart of our fragmented world.
ENGAGING SPIRITUALITY
Immaculate Conception Parish
Durham, N.C.
The program, offered odd-numbered years, provides a process to look at the intersection of contemplative presence and social action.
Contact: Maryann Crea
Inspired by the JustFaith’s Engaging Spirituality and drawing from the parish’s long experience with JustFaith programs, the social justice minister in Pompton Lakes, N.J. put together a program for St. Mary’s JustFaith graduates – JustFaith 202:
JUSTFAITH 202 SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM
St. Mary’s Parish
Pompton Lakes, N.J.
Group members commit to participate in the one-year program that meets monthly and is framed by an opening and closing retreat. Monthly meetings include meditation, reflection and study.
Contact:
OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED AT HNP MINISTRIES
FRIENDS OF ST. FRANCIS
Immaculate Conception Parish
Durham, N.C.
A small faith community of JustFaith graduates that meets monthly for fellowship and to study complex social justice issues.
Contact: Maryann Crea
ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE
St. Mary’s Parish
Pompton Lakes, N.J.
This group evolved out of a five-year group called “People of Peace.” The group’s first activity was the “JustFaith in 4 Weeks” program offered in Lent 2014. Having broadened its scope to include social justice issues other than peace-related ones, the group organized a parish-wide Environmental Fair on St. Francis’ Feast Day on October 4, 2014. Group members study and reflect to determine their next area of education and thoughtful action. They plan to offer another 4-week study series during Lent 2015.
Contact:
FOOD FOR THE SOUL
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Raleigh, N.C.
St. Francis’s Justice and Peace Office offers a 5-week program that introduces parishioners to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching through book discussion, films, immersion experiences, and guest speakers. This effort is seen as a recruitment tool for the parish’s JustFaith program and a stand-alone program as well.
Contact: Trevor Thompson
FRANCISCAN ADULT SCHOOL
St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center
Boston, Mass.
Contact: Fr. Tony Lagolbo, OFM
JPIC CORNER
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Long Beach Township, N.J.
St. Francis provides continuing education on the Church’s social justice issues through its weekly piece in the bulletin, the “JPIC Corner.” The short article, based on quotes from Church documents and Scripture, addresses relevant issues of the day.
Contact:
JUSTICE & PEACE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE –
WORKSHOPS ON CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
St. Francis Springs Prayer Center
Stoneville, N.C.
Contact:
APPLYING CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING – ONE DAY RETREATS: POVERTY
St. Francis Springs Prayer Center
Stoneville, N.C.
Contact: