“If you want peace, work for justice.”
~Pope Paul VI

St. Blase Justice and Peace Committee
The Committee consists of a group of concerned parishioners that meet to explore the realities of violence and injustice in our world and discuss possible responses in the light of Catholic social teaching, individually and collectively, to these realities. The Committee also provides parishioners with information concerning opportunities for involvement in advocacy for non-violence and societal structural changes that address peace and justice issues locally, and throughout the world. Contact Karyn Rudzinski through the Parish Office at (586) 268-2244.

The St. Blase Justice and Peace Committee was formed February (2004) by a group of parishioners who strongly believe that peace in our troubled world can only be achieved through social and economic justice.

Mission
As Catholics, we are guided by the beautiful traditions of Catholic Social Teaching, the expansive collection of teachings on how people are to relate to each other and to the Earth. These teachings break down social justice into two areas where Catholics can work for a more just world. The “two feet” supporting social justice are Charity (Direct Service) and Justice (Social Change).

St. Blase has always demonstrated a strong commitment to Charity. From hosting MCREST and traveling to Haiti, to sponsoring food and clothing drives, we have found many worthwhile ways to help those in crisis, those with immediate needs that must be met.

However, charitable acts often provide only a temporary solution to the greater problems, problems that are created by the injustices in our society. Once MCREST has moved on, once the food pantry has been stocked – have the root problems that cause hunger and homelessness to exist been addressed? This is where the concept of Justice comes in. The St. Blase Justice and Peace Committee will focus on Justice, inspired by the words of Pope Paul VI, “If you want peace, work for justice.”

Our goal is to work for justice by following the “pray, study, act” model developed by Pax Christi, an international Catholic peace movement. We will pray for people who are oppressed and suffering because of injustice, and for Jesus to guide us in our attempts to promote justice. We will study the current issues that allow injustice to flourish, and provide opportunities to educate the parish about Catholic Social Teaching. Finally, we will act, by providing opportunities for parish members to get personally involved in creating a more just world.

Justice & Peace Column


Often the Justice & Peace Committee writes a column in "The Flame."

Catholic Social Teaching It has been called "the best kept secret" in the Catholic Church - but the St. Blase Justice and Peace Committee is about to spill the beans! The "secret" is Catholic Social Teaching, an integral part of our faith that is relatively unknown. You may know the Rosary, the parts of the Mass, the Sacraments, and the Creed - but you probably cannot name the major themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

Why is Catholic Social Teaching so important? While we can and should read the Bible, Catholic Social Teaching tells us how to translate our faith into action in our modern world - how to really LIVE our faith. What does the Church say about poverty, hunger, war, abortion, labor unions, immigration, global warming, the death penalty, government, taxes - and a thousand other controversial topics? The answers can ll be found in this fascinating collection of documents.

The Justice and Peace Committee will be discussing the major themes of Catholic Social Teaching. We also hope to take on some of those controversial topics, one at a time, and give you actual quotes from the official statements discussing each topic.

In our lives we are constantly making decisions about who will get our money, our time, our talent, our passion, our loyalty, our votes. It is our hope that Catholic Social Teaching will help us make those decisions in a way that is worthy of true followers of Jesus Christ.

To read more visit the Justice & Peace page on Catholic Social Teaching...

Fair-Trade Coffee

The Justice and Peace Committee sponsors Equal Exchange Fair Trade Coffee on the first Sunday of each month. We serve Fair Trade coffee at the Fellowship gatherings after the 8, 10 , & 12:00 masses and will have coffee available for purchase. Please stop in by to check out the goods!

For more on free trade coffee visit our Charity Boutique page...

Fair Trade Shopping!

The next time that you are out shopping, think about where your purchases (food, clothing, or whatever) came from. Co-op America is an organization that tries to use economic strategies to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. They publish information about various companies and their labor practices so that consumers can be more informed about where they spend their money. You can find more information at www.coopamerica.org or by calling (800) 584-7336. Visit our Fair Trade page to learn more....

Food for thought...

"You my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature: rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command:"Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." ~Galatians 5:13-15

If the earth's population were made up of 100 people, it would look something like this. There would be:

Therefore, if you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.

Peace on Film

Peace films recount the efforts of individuals and groups who believe that conflicts can be settled bloodlessly through moral force, truth force, resistance force, education force, and spiritual force. Visit your neighborhood video store and check out one of these films that offer an alternative to violence.

• Starting Out Right: Peace in the Preschools
• Folktales of Peace
• I to I: Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of peace
• Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story
• Making A Difference: Changes in Attitudes and Behavior
• Waging Peace in Our Schools
• Stop the Bombs: Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance

Remember back in the day when mom and dad would check out the Catholic rating on a movie before sending us on our way? It's easier than ever for us to do that for our children now. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has a website (www.usccb.org/movies/videoall.htm) to help us when making that all important decision of what to take the kids to see.

CALL of the Catholic Caucus

“To whom do all these riches belong/"

Today's Gospel is probably one of the most challenging to hear. In our society where we judge one another by the size of our houses and our cars, by the last electronic gadgets we have been able to purchase, we hear the parable of Luke's Gospel: "There was a rich man...". He had acquires all the skills necessary in a capitalistic system...and he was rich...immensely rich...He had just forgotten one thing: All his riches did not belong to him, but were to have been used for all: for the common good.

Today where most media remind us that the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer (37 million people live below the official federal poverty level - a 26% increase since year 2000, 45 million people without health insurance ...and the Dow Jones reaching the 14,000 level) the question of Jesus to us remains the same "To whom do all these riches belong?". the answer is clear: they belong to all, so that we can make this world a better, a more just place. Have a safe and justice-filled summer!

CATHOLIC CAUCUS MEETING: Catholic Caucus will now meet at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 13500 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park, Mchigan Next Meetings: Monday, September 17, October 22, December 10th, January 14th You can email us at: catholiccaucus@yahoo.com Visit us at www.catholiccaucus.org/index.html

“I am only one; but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something. I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” ~Helen Keller

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