Social Justice and Charity is important to St. Edward's Parish as a means of following in the footsteps of Jesus and reaching out to our neighbors in compassion and good will.
We have many groups of committed people working to implement the social teachings of the Catholic church through both social action and charity.
Our parish is committed to uphold these principles:
- The Life and Dignity of ALL Human Persons - the Call to Family, Community and Active Participation by ALL - the Rights and Responsibilities of ALL people - the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable - the Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers - SOLIDARITY with the human family in all walks of life and all over the world - Care for God's Creation
Social Justice Commission - Meets every other month, the first Mon., starting in August, to discuss what is happening with the 'Big Picture' of St. Edward's Social Justice and Charity Ministries, to learn more together about issues affecting all of church social ministry, and to insure that St. Edwards is truly reaching out to the parish and the greater community to build awareness about Catholic SocialTeaching and related issues, and to involve parishioners in actively meeting the needs of God's people everywhere. Made up of representatives from various outreach ministries, plus a few 'at-large' members. Inquiries about visiting or participating welcomed.
Tithing Committee - Meets every third month, (quarterly), the last Mon., starting in August, to discuss how to disperse the Tithing Money - 10% of our collections. Members read through Tithing requests provided 2 weeks before each meeting to learn about and discern which requests to honor, based on the criteria of Catholic Social Teaching. Members are also encouraged to hand deliver Tithing disbursements, in order to learn firsthand about the receiving organization Membership changes periodically & is generally for a period of 2-3 years. Inquiries about visiting or participating welcomed.
Sister Parish Committee- Meets generally every other month, Thurs. nights, starting in August, to discuss the support of and interactions with our various 'partner' relationships - with Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Jinotega, Nicaraua; Sagrado Corazon parish in Minneapolis; Teresa Toda Hogar - Home for disadvantaged girls in Azua, Dominican Republic. Currently seeking interested people to participate! No need to actually travel to our partner locations, (but welcomed to), but emphasis on visioning about how best we can support these partnerships, not only with money, but with projects and interactions. Liaison to our Sagrado Corazon parish in Mpls. especially needed! Inquiries about visiting or participating welcomed. *See separate "Sister Parish."
Loaves & Fishes- Opportunities to serve dinner to families in need every First Tuesday at St. Stephen's Church in Mpls. and every Fourth Thursday at Creekside in Bloomington. People needed each month to both cook and to serve. Inquiries about visiting or participating welcomed. ***Currently seeking MANY MORE interested people to participate at ST. STEPHEN's in Mpls.! *See separate "Loaves & Fishes." Sowers of Justice- Takes the form of various ACTION TEAMS - some with people from the whole archdiocese, some within our parish only, at this point. Currently seeking interested people to participate! These are people interested in working with others to try to influence change in public policies and practice to bring more justice to a particular issue. The issues that our parish have begun working on are: Health Care Action team - working to bring about changes in policy to allow more Minnesotans to benefit from the most basic need of Health Insurance; New Opportunity - Environment Action Team for St. Ed's - to try to raise awareness on what the average person can do fairly easily to help the environment, as well as to assess St. Ed's for its 'environmental friendliness,'and encourage this church to lead by its own example. Inquiries about visiting or participating welcomed.
Families Moving Forward- 2 - 3 different weeks out of every year St. Ed's hosts homeless families overnight, as part of an organization that enlists churches to become an alternative form of "Shelter" for homeless families. It is not an ideal living situation for families as they must move their whole family weekly to a different part of the Twin Cities, but it IS safe and welcoming. Currently seeking interested people to participate! Christ said we are to feed the hungry and shelter the poor. You'll never find an easier way to fulfill this directive of our Lord's, than to minister to his 'poor" when they come right to our own door. Let us provide this wonderful, convenient opportunity for you to serve, for as little as 2 - 3 hours at a shot, and you help us to make this a truly welcoming and non-stressful time for these families whose lives are already upside down by volunteering. There is a "Sign Up" Board for you in the Foyer in advance of these hosting weeks. Special Service Role Coordinators needed! Inquiries about visiting or participating welcomed. *See separate "Families Moving Forward" (FMF)
A Community Caring For Life- is a ministry that provides opportunities for parishioners to expand their awareness of key issues regarding the sacredness of all life and its stages, as well as to participate in Short -Term or Long-term Project Teams that offer parishioners opportunites to giveto collections and such that benefit the promotion of life's sacredness within people's real lives. Short-Term Project Teams include October "Respect Life" month planning, October Maternity & Baby Shower (Gifts for New Life), January "Right to Life" Rally at the Captiol & Prayer Service at the Cathedral, Mother's Day Corsage Sale & Gifts for New Life Drive. Long-Term Project Teams could include (but are not limited to) interst groups around the issue of Capital Punishment & the Death Penalty, Victims of Abuse & Violence, Respect for people with Disabilities or for the Rights of the Elderly, End of Life Issues, and more. Also possible is to participate in a crisis-reaction team to help mothers in need that we hear about & screen, with preparing for their babies. Currently seeking interested people to participate! Inquiries about visiting or participating welcomed. *See separate "A Community Caring for Life" (ACCL).
Other Outreaches available for participation - St. Ed's also has people involved with Bridging, VEAP, Meals on Wheels, Branch III (lunch-prep group), GLFF ( Gay Lesbian Family & Friends). Currently seeking interested people to participate! Inquiries about visiting or participating welcomed.
HELP NEEDED!
- for the following Social Justice & Charity Ministries:
Families Moving Forward - Coordinator for Room Set-Up & Take-Down - on the first Sunday & last Sunday mornings of our FMF Hosting weeks
JUST FAITH - Find out more about being a co-leader for a “Just Faith” adult study group, reading about, seeing films & discussing our Catholic Social Teaching.
