Resources for doing Parish Social Ministry

1. Session V
The Two Feet of Justice: Resources and Advocacy

2.  Prayer
 Review and questions from last session
 The Two Feet of Justice: Exploring the relationship
between direct service and social justice
 Direct Services: Resources, Referrals and Client
Advocacy
◦ Collecting, utilizing and organizing resources
◦ Some useful resources, an alphabet soup
◦ Case studies & brainstorming resources
 Social Justice: Legislative advocacy and community
organizing
◦ Involve the Pastor and parish community, establish a
process
◦ Catholic and community resources
◦ Case studies & brainstorming resources

3. JUSTICE AND CHARITY, A PARABLE

4. The Two Feet of Justice
 Service and action,
charity and justice are
complementary
components of parish
social ministry. A parish
serious about social
ministry will offer
opportunities to serve
those in need and to
advocate for justice
and peace.
- USCCB “Communities of Salt and
Light”
For a free facilitator’s guide visit: http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/
catholic-social-teaching/two-feet-of-love-in-action.cfm

5. “THE SPECIAL PLACE OF THE POOR IN
GOD’S PEOPLE”– POPE FRANCIS
 Our commitment does not consist exclusively in activities
or programs of promotion and assistance; what the Holy
Spirit mobi l izes is not an unruly activism, but above al l an
attentiveness which considers the other ‘ i n a cer tain sense
as one with ourselves. ’ This loving attentiveness is the
beginning of a true concern for their person which inspires
me ef fectively to seek their good. This entai ls appreciating
the poor in their goodness, in their experience of l ife, in
their culture, and in their ways of l iving the faith. EG #199

6. RESOURCES
FOR CHARITY
 Parishes are called to reach out to
the hurting, the poor, and the
vulnerable in our midst in concrete
acts of charity. …This is an area of
creativity and initiative with a wide
array of programs, partnerships
with Catholic Charities, and
common effort with other churches.
Thousands of food pantries;
hundreds of shelters; and
uncounted outreach programs for
poor families, refugees, the elderly,
and others in need are an integral
part of parish life. The parish is the
most significant place where new
immigrants and refugees are
welcomed into our Church and
community.

7. Preparation for Using Resources
 Listen to the Story
 Ask for documentation
 Get permission from client to advocate
 Use chain of command in an agency; identify
the department of an agency that would be
the appropriate contact
 Get names and numbers of all people with
whom you speak
 Be polite, but persistent

8. Collecting Resources
 Catholic Charities Directory
 Internet
 Seminars
 Newspapers
 Deanery Meetings/Local Coordinators
 Other local agencies
 Health fairs; MD office, etc.

9. Organizing Resources
 Consistent
 Easily accessible
 Binder
 Rolodex
 File Cabinet
 Resource Manual
 Policy and Procedure Manual
 Coordinator and volunteers should be on the same
page with regard to method of resource
management

10. Organizing
 Remember what Mom said;
“A place for everything,
and everything in
its’ place.”

11. Maintaining Resources
 How are resources organized in your office
 How has this system evolved
 How is the information maintained and
updated
 Is there a method to the maintenance
 How is new information gathered
 By whom
 How are resources shared

12. Some Useful Resources
 DSS
 Nassau / Suffolk Law Services
 Local Legislators
 211LI.org
 Other favorites
 USCCB.org
 PSEG and other utility companies
 Other non-profits

13. Community Resources
 “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know!”
 The importance of networking
 Community people
*Lions Club
*Boy/Girl Scouts
*Rotary Club
*Local Grocers
*Local MD’s, Dentists, Car Repair
*Local service people, drug store
 Parish Knights of Columbus
 Legislators: federal, state, county, town
 Other local non-profits
 Area DSS
 You add your ideas!

14. Brainstorming Resources
 Where to start once the intake and interview
has taken place
 Case Studies
 Break into groups and review a case
 Share with larger group where to start
 What are some resources that might be
helpful

15. RESOURCES
FOR JUSTICE
 The voices of parishioners need
to be heard on behalf of
vulnerable children-born and
unborn-on behalf of those who
suffer discrimination and
injustice, on behalf of those
without health care or housing,
on behalf of our land and water,
our communities and
neighborhoods. Parishioners
need to bring our values and
vision into the debates about a
changing world and shifting
national priorities.

16.  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
the Rights of Workers
 Solidarity
 Care for God’s Creation

17.  Rule #1: Know what you are getting into. If you are being invited to be
part of a campaign or to distribute resources make sure you know who
the members are and what the material is. Also make sure that the issue
is clear and that no other underlying issue is being presented.
 Rule #2: INVOLVE THE PASTOR: Justice involves legislative advocacy
and community organizing, these are public forums for the parish where
policies are promoted and stances are taken, the Pastor must be
involved, fully aware and supportive of any initiative
 Rule #3: “Realities are greater than ideas,” (Pope Francis) always link the
experience of outreach with the social issue that the parish is willing to
address.
 Rule #4: develop a parish process for engaging on an issue:
 Have a PSM Social Justice committee to both
▪ educate the parish on social issues and to…
▪ initiate and sustain any parish social campaign,
▪ involve a member of the pastoral council to be part of this committee
 Always invite the Pastor to address the concern with the parish.

18.  Diocesan Public Policy Advisory Committee:
 The Diocese PPAC organizes the Catholics at the Capitol training and
event.
 DPPAC hopes to have a website with diocesan public policy info.
 Catholic Legislative Action Alerts:
 USCCB action center: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/take-action-
now/capwiz/
 NYSCC Catholic Action Network:
https://ssl.capwiz.com/nyscatholicconference/mlm/verify/
 Catholic Charities USA: http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/get-involved/
washington-weekly/
 Your Catholic Charities PSM Developer Special Projects: John
Gonzalez

19.  Events:
 Annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering:
▪ Sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and held the second
weekend in February in Washington DC
 Annual Catholics at the Capitol:
▪ Sponsored by the New York State Catholic Conference and held in Albany the second
Wednesday in March
 Campaigns:
 Respect Life Program: http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/respect-life-
program/index.cfm
 Poverty USA Campaign: http://www.povertyusa.org/
 Justice for Immigrants: http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/
 Catholic Climate Covenant: http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/
 Catholic Mobilizing Network: http://catholicsmobilizing.org/
 Catholics Confront Global Poverty: http://www.confrontglobalpoverty.org/
 Catholic Rural Life: http://www.ncrlc.com/

20.  Neighborhood Interfaith/Ecumenical Clergy
Association
 Neighborhood Community Groups or
Coalitions
 Regional Community Organizing:
 Micah/Island Harvest
 Long Island Congregations, Associations and
Neighborhoods (LICAN)
 Sustainable Long Island
 Long Island Index

21.  “The belief that those who are
directly affected by unjust
systems and structures have
the best insight into knowing
how to change them is central
to CCHD. CCHD works to break
the cycle of poverty by helping
low-income people participate
in decisions that affect their
lives, families and
communities. CCHD offers a
hand up, not a hand out.”
 PLEASE NOTE: If your parish
is engaged or planning on
engaging in a social or
economic development
project in the local
community please reach out
to John Gonzalez at Catholic
Charities to discuss the
possibility of obtaining a
CCHD grant.

22.  Case Studies
 Break into groups and
review a case
 Share with larger
group where to start
 What are some other
resources that might
be helpful

23. MOTHER TERESA
“There is always the danger that we may
just do the work for the sake of the work.
This is where the respect and the devotion
come in ~ that we do it to God, to Christ
and that’s why we try to do it as
beautifully as possible.”