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Diocese of Fall River
In an effort to incorporate Catholic social teaching into Catholic educational programs, a Conference on Social Ministry is planned for April 10, 1999. For more information you contact Catholic Social Services, P.O. Box M-So. Station, Fall River, MA 02724, 508-674-4781 fax 508-765-2224.
Parish Services at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Philadelphia, PA has developed a 9-month adult education program to study Catholic social teaching. A wide variety of materials will be used, including encyclicals, bishops' statements, etc. There'll be two sessions on "Biblical Roots, continuing with a look at "Life and Death", "Social Relations", "Economics", "War and Peace" and "Racial Justice." For more information contact Richard K. Taylor, 109 E. Price Street, Philadelphia, PA 19144, 215-438-2925, Fax 215-439-4856.
Diocese of Scranton
A course in Catholic social teaching is now being offered as part of an adult education program in Pastoral Ministry. The course "Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching" gives a brief background to the theology, spirituality and scriptural basis to Catholic social thought; and also practical guides on how to strengthen a parish social concerns committee. Interested parties can contact the Social Concerns Office, 300 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, 717-346-8969, fax 717-346-8993.
Diocese of Tucson
Several things are happening in the diocese to promote Catholic Social Teaching. Introduction of a degree or certification in Social Ministry at the Kino Institute in Phoenix is being studied; the diocesan catechetical program, and the Catholic schools and high schools include aspects and classes in Social Mission.
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Educational resources are being developed at the requests of Bishops. Some titles are: Land Use: Rights and Responsibilities of Land Ownership Through the Prism of Catholic Social Teaching; The Cultures of Agriculture and Church's Social and Environmental Teaching; The Vatican and USDA Call for Agrarian Reform; A Catholic Rural Ethic for Agriculture, the Environment, Food and Land (also in Spanish); The Jubilee Faith: A Rural Ethic for the Millennium. For more information you can contact the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, 4625 Beaver Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310-2199, 515-270-2634, fax 515-270-9447, e-mail: ncrlc@aol.com
Catholic Campaign for Human Development
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development has published a booklet entitled, Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice. This document has been developed to assist parishioners in their understanding of the faith.. For more information on other resources from CCHD, please contact Catholic Campaign for Human Development, U.S. Catholic Conference, 3211 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20017, 202-541-3210, fax 202-541-3329, website www.usccb.org/cchd
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
The Office for Social Justice and Catholic Education and Formation Ministries publishes a newsletter entitled, Catholic Justice Network. The purpose of this publication is to highlight the ongoing efforts of teachers to integrate Catholic social teaching into schools and religious education programs of the Archdiocese. You can contact them at 328 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55102, 651-291-4477, Internet: http://www.osjspm.org
Diocese of Yakima
Catholic social teaching is being utilized in many areas. Presentations organized for the Catholic Advocacy Network; workshops at the annual Diocesan Religious Education and Youth Ministry Conference, the Diocesan Evangelization Conference; Educational sessions organized by the Office of Social Justice. Certification , Religious Education, Catholic Schools and RCIA programs has included Catholic social teaching in their curriculum.
Center of Concern has just published a workbook entitled, Catholic Social Teaching and Human Rights. This workbook explores basic human rights including the rights to food and to work; the rights of children and women; environmental rights; the rights of refugees and immigrants; and civil and political rights at home and abroad in the context of Catholic Social Teaching and in the spirit of justice and Jubilee. To order a copy, write to Center of Concern, 1225 Otis Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017, or call 202-635-2757, fax 202-832-9494 e-mail: coc@coc.org
Center for Ministry Development, Diocese of Hartford has developed two resources to introduce youth to a Catholic approach in dealing with social issues. Young Neighbors in Action is an exciting integrated service-learning experience for parish and school teams of older youth and adults. For more information call 888-723-2433 to receive and Orientation Packet; any questions about YNIA, call Thomas Bright at 203-723-1622 or visit CMD website at http://cmnonline.com/cmd/home.htm. Evaluating Youth Service Programming form can serve as a tool for evaluating current service programming and planning for future involvement.
The Catholic Schools Office has offered initiatives for incorporating Catholic social teaching into Catholic educational programs. 1) On the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the schools were given resources and encouragement to integrate education on human rights as part of the celebration. 2) The Stand Against Violence materials were disseminated to each school challenging them to implement education on nonviolence . 3) A workshop was presented for teachers on the Church's teaching on the care of immigrants and refugees. 4) One of the fourteen classes for prospective Catholic administrators is on the topic of "Peace and Justice Education". For more information you contact Sr. Barbara Neist, SSND, Associate Superintendent, Catholic Schools Office, 210-734-2620, Fax 210-734-9112, E-Mail: asacatschoff@impresso.com
Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Michigan Catholic Conference has instituted a statewide task force, which will be reviewing text books. The MCC Board asked Bishop Rose to convene the task force , and to ask each ordinary to appoint a person from diocesan offices for education, justice and formation. They will meet in April, May, June and September, 1999. A report to Bishop Rose is due in October for implementation in 2000. For more information you can contact Mary Haarman at 616-243-0491, Fax 616-243-1442.
Minnesota Catholic Conference
Excerpts from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching were shared with 1800 Catholic educators who attended the bi-annual Minnesota Catholic Education Association convention. In September Dr. Len DeFiore of NCEA gave a presentation on the document to the MCC Board of Directors and members of both the Education and Social Concerns Departments. A mailing was sent out to priests in November encouraging them to use the document with various groups meeting in their parishes. In September 1999 there will be a preaching workshop which is aimed at priests and deacons in the state. A statement on social justice issues is being prepared this year for government officials and elected legislators which will include material from the seven principles described in Sharing Catholic Social Teaching. A "holy card" will also be attached noting only the principles. For more information you contact MCC at 651-227-8777, Fax 612-277-2675, E-Mail: mmmm@connectinc.com
Diocese of Greensburg
The Office of Parish Social Ministry co-sponsored "The Joy and the Hope: A Youth Institute on Catholic Social Teaching." The focus of the Institute was to teach the youth about the social mission of the church, so when they return to their parishes they can work for justice and peace in their local communities. Please contact Catholic Charities at 724-837-1840, Fax 724-837-4077 for more information.
Diocese of Phoenix
The Office of Peace and Justice has used excerpts from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching in their newsletter, Framework. This is mailed to 2,700 people in the diocese - Catholic schools, parish personnel, community groups. A comprehensive packet entitled, "Reflections, Resources and Suggested Activities for 1999" was prepared by the office. It contains Jubilee themes and excerpts from John Paul II's On the Coming of the Third Millennium. This section is part of a larger Diocesan Millennium packet which focuses on Reconciliation and Penance. For more information you can contact the Office of Peace and Justice, 1610 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85015, 602-285-1999, ext. 3640, Fax: 602-285-0311, E-Mail: cferrante@css.cathdioc.org
Diocese of Toledo - Catholic Youth and School Services
A series of required workshops has been developed for teacher-ministers in the diocese. One of the workshops is entitled "Teacher As Educator for Justice" and addresses Catholic Social Teaching. There's also an Infusion Workshop which is offered twice a year for teachers which helps them to infuse justice and peace principles into the curriculum of subjects taught daily. Another program is the annual "Walk a Day in My Shoes" offered by Catholic Youth and School Services staff. The purpose of the day is to help teachers put themselves in the shoes of the poor, tour soup kitchens, and get information on social services in the area. An additional day entitled, "Walk a Day in My Shoes - Justice and Advocacy" is also offered annually.
Many school programs have been put in place. The Rural Life Ministry Office designed a program for elementary schools - "Project Farm Hands." Resource packets addressing "Confronting A Culture of Violence" are prepared annually and distributed to all schools in the diocese. Teachers are informed of nationally prepared peace and justice programs to integrate into their curricula. The CYSS staff has prepared an educational guide for understanding and welcoming immigrants. Also they have assembled a "Cultural Diversity Kit for Primary Grades" to aid primary teachers to teach respect for human dignity. For more information on any of these programs you can contact CYSS on 419-244-6711; Fax: 419-255-8269; Internet E-Mail: ToledoCYSS@Impresso.com; Web Page: http//www.toledopcyss.k12.oh.us
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend - Catholic Charities
Sean Wendlinder, Coordinator, Salt and Light - West Region, has developed an outline for an adult education tool for sharing Catholic Social Teaching. He also has a proposal for exploring God's vision of justice through vespers. He hopes to share this with the various parishes they serve. For more information you can contact him at 219-234-3111, Fax: 219-289-1034.
Maryknoll Fathers Justice and Peace Office
In 1997 Rev. Peter Ruggere presented a paper entitled "Globalization and The Catholic Contribution to the New World Order" to the Catholic Press Association Eastern Regional Convention. This paper attempts to broaden the Catholic social perspective. For more information please call 202-832-1780, Fax 202-832-5195, E-mail pruggere@igc.org
St. Irene Church, Warrenville, IL
Justice awareness is being taught at the primary grade level using materials from the Columban Fathers entitled "Come and See," which teach social difference awareness from other parts of the world. This series goes from K to 6th grades. When did we see You? by Phyllis Vos Wezeman and Colleen Aalsburg Wiessner is an excellent resource for activities dealing with justice. It is targeted for fourth to eighth grade children. Some other resources which can be used at the Middle grades and High School levels are Columban Fathers material entitled, "Challenged and Empowered." There is a four book series from the Center for Learning entitled, Christian Service, Prayer and Worship, Faith and Beliefs, and Justice and Peace. Several videos are available of which portions can be used for instruction on poverty, immigrants, and injustice. They include Banking on Life & Debt; and The Ties That Bind: Stories behind the Immigration Controversy produced by Maryknoll World Productions as well as Children on the Edge by Compassion International. For more ways on how this material can be used, please contact Roger R. Schmith, St. Irene Parish, 630-393-2400 ext22, E-mail: Justrog@aol.com
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
On the Opinion page, December 31, 1998 in the archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Spirit, Father John Forliti's article, Catholic Social Principles Unchanging, quoted Archbishop Roach's pastoral letter "Reviving the Common Good" in which he named six of the basic principles most central to the Catholic Church's social doctrine. Fr. Forliti also quoted from St. Paul's letter to the Philippians which invites us to work for and build up the common good. He concluded his article by saying "systems may vary; principles remain the same."
NB The Office for Social Justice in the archdiocese has changed its internet address. It is now: http//www.osjspm.org