Are you a JustFaith graduate? If so, please visit our JustFaith graduate page.
Over 200 adults in 14 parishes throughout the Diocese of Rochester have completed the JustFaith justice formation program. By their own accounts, it has changed lives. One participant described her experience this way: "We do not feel helpless or powerless because we have a community who is praying for us and with us as we step up with compassion."
Others report: "We have food for thought so we can attempt to change some things that are not right." "I sense God saying to me, 'You can ease their pain.'" And "This process has given us the courage and the knowledge to speak up. Our resolve is strengthened;"
The impact of the JustFaith program is visible: women from a wealthy suburban parish traveling to an inner-city homeless shelter to teach parenting classes; a "timid" person volunteering to testify at a County Legislature hearing on behalf of poor families; a former lawyer helping to start a micro enterprise project in a blighted urban area; a cardiologist, a Sierra Club member, and a Xerox manager working together to initiate Environmental Justice ministries in their separate parishes.
The JustFaith program has created a cadre of Catholics trained in Catholic Social Teaching. Many of these individuals are leaders now, initiating new ministries in their parishes and communities, volunteering with Catholic Charities programs, and living out their faith in many other ways.
The Church's history shines with examples of the courage and commitment of those who dedicated themselves to the needs of their most desperate sisters and brothers. The JustFaith Program is helping ordinary people become shining examples of this vision within their own communities, and helping faith communities become shining examples of this vision to the world.
The commitment to this vision and to JustFaith requires hard work, and reaps great rewards. Group members meet weekly, sharing conversation and prayer about issues that are raised in the books they read, the videos and speakers they learn from together, and their own life experiences and spiritual journeys.
To learn about programs sponsored by JustFaith Ministries throughout the country, visit www.justfaith.org
To locate a group near you, contact Brigit Hurley at (585) 262-7099 or bhurley@cfcrochester.org.
In addition to the 30-week formation program, JustFaith Ministries now offers several other options (see below). For more information on any of these options, contact Brigit and/or visit www.justfaith.org.
Heard about JustFaith but not sure if your parish is ready for its full 30-week program? Have you completed the 30-week program and are ready for more? Consider taking advantage of their 6-8 week modules, JustMatters.
There are currently two modules available:
God's Creation Cries for Justice
This module, developed in conjunction with the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, explores the principles of prudence, poverty and the common good, as well as Catholic Social Teaching. It has a strong emphasis on how climate change will impact the poor at home and abroad.
The eight week program draws out other arguments for and against action and to demonstrate, in a faithful and scientific way, the hazards to poor people of doing nothing.
This module includes action items for stopping further global warming (mitigation) and what is needed to help the poor who are impacted by climate change.
Prison Reform: Church of the Second Chance
This curriculum consists of six sessions, although groups are encouraged to add an immersion experience as a seventh session. Each session is 2.5 hours in length.
This module was designed and written by someone on the "inside" and does not try to soften the gritty truth of prison reality. Author Jens Soering introduces the "radical" Christian principle of restorative justice, points out the critical need for comprehensive prison reform, and provides a strong criticism of the U.S. prison system. At the same time, Soering focuses throughout the module on the power of centering prayer and the Christian messages of reconciliation and redemption.
The module, while focusing on the factual background for prison reform, is grounded in a deep spirituality and sense of humanity. It highlights interviews with long-term inmates and ministers from the "outside."
Living Solidarity: Government, the Federal Budget and the Common Good
Crossing Borders: Migration, Theology, and the Human Journey
For more information, see the JustMatters module brochure." ---
click here to download PDF brochure
The Engaging Spirituality program is being piloted in the Rochester diocese during the 2008-09 program year.
The Engaging Spirituality program is . . .
- Small-group focused - 8-12 individuals, registered in parishes
- Grass-roots led - co-facilitated by two trained participants
- An extended commitment - 21 weekly (2.5 hr) sessions over 6 months
- Multi-dimensional - 2 retreats, 2 immersion experiences, journalkeeping, prayer, contemplative dialogue, spiritual reading, "sacred listening"
- Intensive and resource-full - reading 8 texts, video presentations, exposure to applied wisdom from Catholic traditions and contemporary teachers
- An integrated process - spiritual practices, lifestyle challenges and engagement at the margins
- An opportunity to receive and reflect - on a weekly letter from a contemporary spiritual teacher, contemplative or activist. These are commissioned specifically forEngaging Spirituality and are called BEARINGS, since contributors bear witness to their personal, practical struggle to live an authentic Christian life amid the complexities of our world.
Contributers include:- Jean Vanier
- Ron Rolheiser
- Dianna Ortiz,
- Kathy Kelly
- Richard Rohr
- Ched Myers
- Ray East
- Shelley Douglass
- Arthur Simon.
The JusticeWalking program is designed for high school juniors and seniors.
Looking to enliven and invigorate your parish's social justice efforts?
JustSkills is a new 20-week program targeted to building skills for parish social ministry. It can easily be done in two 10 week blocks, giving participants a long break for the fall and winter holidays
The JustSkills program provides user friendly content for implementing the social ministry vision presented in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' document Communities of Salt and Light, Reflections on the Social Mission of the Church.
JustSkills helps those interested in social ministry identify and form leaders to assist with and engage in all kinds of peace and justice efforts in the parish and the diocese.
