JUSTICE AND PEACE MINUTES April 7, MEETING
ST. STAN’S PARISH
Call to Order: Mary Ann Krems
Prayer: shared. Marilyn will provide prayer in May
Present: Marcy Ferriter, Beth Mortensen, Karen Clifford, Marilyn Slusarski, Mary Ann Krems
Excused: Becky Lee
Guests: Mary Ann Powell, Avis Pings and Dwaine Habrat
Updates:
1. Food collection for Salvation Army was coordinated by Becky Lee for April. Krems family will do the May one for St. Vincent de Paul, which will be the week-end of May 1,2.
2. Joint Justice and Peace Meeting: Scheduled for May 6 at the Newman Center. Fr. Tom Lindner will present on his faith journey to Guatemala. Several people who grew up with Br. James Miller will be present and his family in Polonia will be invited. Press releases will be issued to the papers and sent to the deanery secretary.
3. Update on Parish Missions Donations…Justice and Peace committee was able to award donations from the Thanksgiving Collection to the Nicarauga Project (200), Sr. Catherine Kielizewski’s mission (200), Miguel’s mission near Sr. Catherine (200) and the Quito Boys Working center in Ecuador (200). 100 dollars was donated to the St. Bron’s Mission Project and will be used to cover the cost of suitcases filled with goods to take down this summer. Dwaine reported that 1/3 of the Good Friday collection will come to Justice and Peace so in May we will decide to where to share that.
4. Pat Boylan will join our committee in the fall and serve as secretary.
New Business:
1 House of Peace Meal: Becky reported via email she is still trying to set up a meal but has yet to hear. She will inform us via email if it will be doable and when.
2.Personal Care Shower: Marilyn has graciously agreed to coordinate. Dwaine will prepare announcement to the parish with information sent to him by the committee. Items will be listed in the bulletin of May ½ and the announcement will be given at the Masses for the collections on May 8/9 and May 15/16. Mary Ann will forward the material on the Personal Care shower to Marilyn. Mary Ann will speak at 8:00 and Marilyn will speak at 10:30 on May 9. Announcer is still needed for 4:30 on May 8 (contact Mary Ann if you can do it.)
3. Discussion on committee’s role and collaboration of Right to Life Coordinators.
a. Mary Ann Powell and Avis Pings are the coordinators for the parish Right to life efforts. They have been asked to work with the Justice and Peace Committee. They welcomed the collaboration and have been given to the option to choose what justice and peace actions we do in which they would be involved. Their role as Right to Life representatives is to take information received from the diocese and share with the parish through the bulletin. b. Discussion revolved on request of diocese to name two social concerns coordinators in each parish. Since our committee already does that, Mary Ann is asked to submit in a week two names and emails to Dwaine of who will help. It would involve receiving emails and sharing them..
c. Discussion followed on the name of our committee. The consensus was that the committee would consider the options, read an article shared with by Dwaine and make a decision at the May meeting. The committee has had the mantra of “If you want peace, work for justice,” and Pope Benedict in the encyclical “Caritas in Veritate” stated, “Justice is inseparable from charity and is intrinsic to it..” Two views were shared….”Justice is the “umbrella over which all acts of charity and service operate,” and “Social Concerns is the “umbrella that incorporates all acts of charity and service in justice.” Options for name change include: 1. Keeping Justice and Peace name, 2. Becoming a Social Concerns Committee,” OR how about 3. Social Justice (found other dioceses are using that term.) Determination will be made at May meeting.
d. The role of Network was discussed. Our committee has used its information in forming their views on advocating in public policy and as a Catholic Social Justice lobby, they have used the encyclicals and church teaching in their strategies. Their support of the current Health Care Bill realizes it is not a perfect bill and needs continued work, but due to the executive order removing funding for abortion, they agreed to support the bill that was passed. Mary Ann will share Network information with Christopher Ruff.
e. End of the Year Potluck: Karen Clifford will host the party at her home. The middle of June is looked at as a possibility. Karen will share details at May meeting.
Next Meeting: Date will need to be considered as Becky is unable to attend Wednesday meetings. Please let Mary Ann know what dates in the first week of May work and it will be forwarded.
Respectfully submitted by Mary Ann Krems, Liason