Peace and Justice Ministry

Our Peace & Justice Ministry meets monthly to plan parish opportunities to increase awareness of Catholic Social teaching and take action on current social issues. New members are always welcome.
Peace & Justice ‘Flocknotes’: Receive updates once or twice monthly with information about ministry activities, resources on Catholic Social Teaching and current issues, and related action alerts. Sign up for our flocknote list by emailing: [email protected].

What’s Happening?

Death Penalty

Due to the high frequency of executions, we have made the difficult decision to host death penalty prayer vigils only once each month, prior to the first execution of each month. Please pray privately about each execution and join us in the chapel at 6 PM the evening prior to the first execution each month (see bulletin or parish email for up to date details).
Advocacy alerts are shared via parish media before Florida executions. Stay informed and find current actions to advocate against the death penalty at:
Catholic Mobilizing Network
FL Conference of Catholic Bishops - Take Action
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
For Whom the Bells Toll
Death Penalty Action

Cities for Life Annual Abolition Observance

Monday, November 30, 6 PM (Begins with a candlelight procession from the courtyard after 6 PM Mass to the Church Main Entrance for a 15 minute prayer vigil. After the prayer, we will continue in the Parish Hall with a film screening of Window on Death Row (38 minutes) followed by discussion with Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Immigration

A Call For Christian Compassion And Wisdom In The Immigration Debate October 2026 Joint statement of the US Catholic Bishops & National Association of Evangelicals HERE.
Send a letter to Senators Moody & Scott supporting the Florida Bishops’ Letter ‘Support for S. 4814 to Extend Temporary Protected Status and Immigration Reforms’ FLACCB 8/5 Letter HERE
The local Faith Leaders Network of the Immigrants are Welcome Here Coalition holds regular Sunday prayer vigils and Monday solidarity events at ICE offices

World Day of the Poor (33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time)

World Day of the Poor Novena: Caritas World Day of the Poor 2026 Novena and discussion resource

Interfaith Dialogue

Nostra Aetate at 60 years - A Journey of Hope. Sixty Years of Interreligious Dialogue and Fraternity in the Light of the Conciliar Declaration Nostra Aetate (16 September 2026)
Stronger Together Community Workshop (in collaboration with Muslim Women's Organization & Peace & Justice Institute) January 26, 2027
Interfaith Lent/Ramadan Dinner with Turkish Cultural Center/Atlantic Institute (February 2027)

Recent Peace and Justice Ministry Programming

World Day of the Poor film screening: Cabrini (10/31)
World Day for Migrants and Refugees Multilanguage Rosary (9/23)
Hunger Listening Session with Bread for the World (9/3)
Noah’s Pudding, Interfaith Coffee Hour (6/28)
Magnifica Humanitas discussion (6/9)
Bread for the World, Offering of Letters on Hunger Policy (6/6-7)
Farmworker Association Tabling after Masses (5/17)
Rosary for Peace with Pope Leo’s Reflections (5/8)
Unhoused - dramatic presentation on homelessness ( 4/25)
Stations of the Cross for Immigrants (3/30)
Ecological Stations of the Cross (Mead Gardens, 3/14)
Lenten Film Series: St. Judy (3/23), In the Executioner’s Shadow (3/9), Leo from Chicago 2/23)
Interfaith Ramadan Dinners (with Atlantic Institute, 2/28 and 3/8)
Vigils Before Executions (2/9, 4/20, 5/20, 6/1, 7/13, 8/17, 9/1, 10/12, 11/4)
Guest Speakers Death Penalty Action/ Journey of Hope (2/9)
Interfaith Book Discussions (3/5, 6/23, 9/22, 12/13)

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