Contact Information:
- FYI:
Please see more program resources beneath "About the Program"
- Phone:
(585) 546-7220 x6202
- Email:
Social Ministry and Thought Leadership
Parish Social Ministry Collaborating with parishes to support their ministries
About the Program
Catholic Family Center is committed to collaborating with parishes to support their ministries to the poor and vulnerable, encourage community engagement and educate parishioners about the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching. We:
- Convene parish social ministers and provide training and information on social justice principles and issues,
- Provide timely information on resources, events and issues to parish staff, social ministers and other subscribers through the weekly e-mail newsletter, Salt & Light, and the Diocesan monthly, Justice, Peace and Life, and
- Serve as the local conduit for Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Campaign for Human Development programs and grants.
What the Program Offers
Catholic Family Center is committed to collaborating with parishes to support their ministries to the poor and vulnerable, encourage community engagement and educate parishioners about the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching. We convene parish social ministers and provide training and information on social justice principles and issues. Timely information on resources, events and issues is relayed to parish staff, social ministers and any other subscribers through the weekly e-mail newsletter, Salt & Light, and the Diocesan monthly, Justice, Peace and Life. We also serve as the local conduit for Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Campaign for Human Development programs and grants.
The U.S. Bishops articulate the importance of this work in their 1993 document, "Communities of Salt and Light."
Resources
- Salt & Light newsletter
- JustFaith
- CRS Rice Bowl
- Contact Diocesan CRS Coordinator Kathy Dubel with questions or to order CRS Rice Bowl materials: kdubel@dor.org or 607-734-9784 ext. 2135
- Public Policy Weekend and the Diocesan Public Policy Committee
- Catholic Social Teaching
- Life issues
- For assistance contact Diocesan Life Issues Coordinator Suzanne Stack, sstack@dor.org or 585-328-3210 ext. 1304, Marcus Ebenhoe, mebenhoe@cfcrochester.org or (585) 546-7220 x6202.
- Parish Social Ministry Planning Calendar
- Top Ten Reasons You're Having Trouble Recruiting New Volunteers
- Creating and Sustaining a Vibrant Social Justice Ministry
Catholic Social Teaching What are the themes of Catholic social teaching?
Contact Information:
- FYI:
Please see more program resources beneath "About the Program"
- Address:
87 N Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14604
- Phone:
(585) 546-7220
About the Program
Following our mission, founded on Catholic principles that call us to respect and preserve the dignity of all people, Catholic Family Center serves all who need our services without discrimination. Those principles are expressed in writings from popes and bishops' conferences and create a foundation for our work of advocacy and outreach.
What the Program Offers
The website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has many resources on Catholic Social Teaching including:
- Key documents of the U.S. Bishops and the Vatican
- Resources, tools and activities
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has a webpage with Catholic social teaching quotes on a variety of themes
Major Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
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Overview of Catholic Charities
- Life And Dignity Of The Human Person
- "Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching." Every person is created in the image of God. Every person is precious. All social laws, practices, and institutions must protect, not undermine, human life and human dignity-from conception through natural death.
- "Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching." Every person is created in the image of God. Every person is precious. All social laws, practices, and institutions must protect, not undermine, human life and human dignity-from conception through natural death.
- Call To Family, Community, and Participation
- "How we organize our society-in economics and politics, in law and policy-directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community." We are social beings. We realize our dignity and human potential in our families and communities. The family is the basic cell of society; it must be supported. Government has the mission of protecting human life, promoting the common good of all persons, and defending the right and duty of all to participate in social life.
- "How we organize our society-in economics and politics, in law and policy-directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community." We are social beings. We realize our dignity and human potential in our families and communities. The family is the basic cell of society; it must be supported. Government has the mission of protecting human life, promoting the common good of all persons, and defending the right and duty of all to participate in social life.
- Rights And Responsibilities
- "The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met." The Church upholds both personal responsibility and social rights. The right to life is fundamental and includes a right to food, clothing, shelter, rest, medical care, and essential social services. Every person has the right to raise a family and the duty to support them. Human dignity demands religious and political freedom and the duty to exercise these rights for the common good of all persons.
- "The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met." The Church upholds both personal responsibility and social rights. The right to life is fundamental and includes a right to food, clothing, shelter, rest, medical care, and essential social services. Every person has the right to raise a family and the duty to support them. Human dignity demands religious and political freedom and the duty to exercise these rights for the common good of all persons.
- Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
- "Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring." The Church does not pit one social group against another but instead follows the example of our Lord, who identified himself with the poor and the vulnerable (d. Mt 25:31-46). Giving priority concern to the poor and the vulnerable strengthens the health of the whole society. The human life and dignity of the poor are most at risk. The poor have the first claim on our personal and social resources.
- "Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring." The Church does not pit one social group against another but instead follows the example of our Lord, who identified himself with the poor and the vulnerable (d. Mt 25:31-46). Giving priority concern to the poor and the vulnerable strengthens the health of the whole society. The human life and dignity of the poor are most at risk. The poor have the first claim on our personal and social resources.
- The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
- "Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation." Workers have rights to decent work, just wages, safe working conditions, unionization, disability protection, retirement security, and economic initiative. The economy exists for the human person; the human person does not exist for the economy. Labor has priority over capital.
- "Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation." Workers have rights to decent work, just wages, safe working conditions, unionization, disability protection, retirement security, and economic initiative. The economy exists for the human person; the human person does not exist for the economy. Labor has priority over capital.
- Solidarity
- "We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences." The Church speaks of a "universal" common good that reaches beyond our nation's borders to the global community. Solidarity recognizes that the fates of the peoples of the earth are linked. Solidarity requires richer nations to aid poorer ones, commands respect for different cultures, demands justice in international relationships, and calls on all nations to live in peace with one another.
- "We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences." The Church speaks of a "universal" common good that reaches beyond our nation's borders to the global community. Solidarity recognizes that the fates of the peoples of the earth are linked. Solidarity requires richer nations to aid poorer ones, commands respect for different cultures, demands justice in international relationships, and calls on all nations to live in peace with one another.
- Care for God's Creation
- "We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation." Good stewardship of the earth and of all its creatures (including human beings) is a complex challenge. Humans are part of creation itself, and whatever we do to the earth we ultimately do to ourselves. We must live in harmony with the rest of creation and preserve it for future generations.
Who is CFC
A quick overview of Catholic Family Center
500+
Employees & Volunteers
60+
Programs
19
Locations
1
Mission
Providing the most vulnerable with hope