Peace and Justice Ministry

Peace & Justice ‘Flocknote’ Email List
We send a monthly parish update with information about our ministry events and activities, as well as occasional social justice action alerts on issues involving our social teaching. Sign up for our flocknote list by emailing a request to: [email protected].

Lent 2026

Lenten Film Series

“You have in your hands a very great task, to accompany those who need a sign that God never abandons anyone—not the smallest, not the poorest, not the foreigner, not anyone.” (Pope Leo XIV, 2025) Join our Peace & Justice Ministry for films that invite us to deeper consideration of how we live out our call to protect the vulnerable and advance human dignity.

St. Judy Monday, March 23, 6:30 PM (Parish Hall)This biographical drama tells the story of Judy Wood, the immigration attorney whose work changed U.S. asylum law to protect the lives of vulnerable women.

Stations of the Cross for Immigrants Monday, March 30, 6PM (Church) The U.S. Catholic Bishops recently launched the You are Not Alone initiative to assure migrants and their families that the Church stands with them. We will gather to pray the Stations of the Cross with a special focus on migrants with reflections drawing on Pope Leo’s Exhortation Dilexi te, which calls us to see Christ in the "suffering flesh" of the poor.

Recent Peace and Justice Ministry Programming

Programs planned and executed during 2025 include:

World Day of the Poor theater field trip - unhoused/homefree (November; 13 participants)
The Seamless Garment & Consistent Ethic of Life discussion (October)
World Day for Migrants and Refugees multilanguage Rosary & guest speaker on immigration (September)
The Dignity of Work & Rerum Novarum Discussion (September)
Vigils Before Executions (February 12, April 24, April 30, May 30, July 14, August 18, September16, October 13, November 10, December 7th)
Noah’s Pudding Interfaith Panel/coffee hour (July)
From Changing Diapers to Changing the World - Bread for the World Advocacy and hunger policy Guest speaker & letter writing (April)
Interfaith Ramadan/Lent dinner (March, collaboration with Turkish Atlantic Institute Community)
Totus, Totus, Totus: Catholic Social Teaching in Lent Lenten Film/discussion series showing Backs Against the Wall: The Howard Thurman Story & Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion and Sensitivity (April)
Ecological Stations of the Cross (April)
Interfaith Book Discussion (quarterly zoom group, met February, May, September, December)
Support/participate in local Faith Leaders Network, Immigrants are Welcome Here Coalition events, including Holy Thursday Footwashing at Immigration Courtyard and occasional chaplaincy tables offering prayer, snacks, and other support (eg, portable printer access) at ICE/ERO check in office site.

The mission of the Peace and Justice Ministry is to:

Provide educational opportunities for the parish to increase parishioners’ awareness of Catholic social teaching in the context of real-world issues.
Research real world peace and justice issues. Identify concerns for possible action by the parish community.
Present potential actions or programs to the parish community.
Provide structure and opportunity for parishioners to become involved with peace and justice issues.
Collaborate with other parish ministries and staff to coordinate joint offerings and content addressing social issues.

We welcome new members!

Please attend a meeting if you’d like to learn more. Meetings are typically on the first or second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM with time for socializing beginning at 6:00 PM

Upcoming meetings are scheduled: April 14th, May 5th and June 9th. For more information & to confirm our next meeting time/location, contact Meghan at [email protected].

7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

As stated by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, “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 a modern society.” We focus our efforts on the 7 themes found in the papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents that articulate modern Catholic social teaching:

Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Rights and Responsibilities
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
The Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
Solidarity
Care for God’s Creation

Learn more: Catholic Social Teaching - Justice Peace and Human Development | USCCB

Focus Issues

Climate change, sustainable lifestyles, and environmental issues
Migrants and Refugees
Building a Just Society
Advocacy and Faithful Citizenship
Interfaith Dialogue
Death Penalty
Poverty
Racism

Typical Offerings

Guest speakers
Movie nights
Prayer services
Advocacy opportunities
Networking with local agencies addressing social issues
Prepare educational/advocacy content about current social issues for parish media