Justice Matters
Mission Statement:
Our ministry works towards the goals of Catholic Social Teaching which call us, as a faith community, to advocate for justice and to compassionately lift up the life and dignity of God’s creation.
Scheduled Meetings of 2023 -2024 (Justice Matters)
Here is the schedule as we have it now, with adjusted dates and subjects:
August 21: Overview of JM
September 18: Season of Creation (Eco Spirituality)
October 16: Respect Life
November 20: Gun Violence Prevention
December: (No meeting but we will support the Sandy Hook Vigil)
January 29: Peacemakers for Racial Justice
February 26: All groups participate in a Lenten activity
March 18: Immigration
April 15: Eco Spirituality – Earth Day
May 20: Good news – Resurrection stories of Justice
Eco Spirituality
Eco Spirituality
For more information please contact: Liz Dixon – DenverDixons@gmail.com, Jeanine Garcia – JeanineMGarcia@outlook.com
Eco Justice Ministry (formerly Creation Care) works to
cultivate a love for and understanding of nature and our impact on it,
educate parishioners about the critical bond between humans and the natural world and the effect that this has on climate change,
promote intentional actions that take the needs of nature and the needs of the socially disadvantaged into consideration, and
promote the implementation of sustainable practices in our homes, our parish and our country.
Laudato Si’ is foundational to our understanding and workPope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ provides an explanation of the various ecologies (environmental, social, cultural) and how they all require our consideration as we work toward a healthy relationship with “our common home” and all who live in/on it.The Laudato Si’ text is available at tinyurl.com/mpblaudatosi. All Are Welcome
Eco Justice meets monthly at the parish center and/or via Zoom in connection with Justice Matters Ministry on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm.
Video: The Letter, a Laudato Si Film theletterfilm.org/watch/
Gun Violence Prevention ministry
As followers of Jesus, we work to end violence in our world, particularly violence caused by firearms. We work for healing and wellbeing for all people affected by gun violence, through prayer, action and advocacy.
When you meet and where
We meet with Justice Matters in person during their regularly scheduled meetings and on opposite months on zoom. Our next meeting is: Wednesday June 28 at p.m. on Zoom: Zoom link for our meetings is: Gun Violence Prevention Ministry Zoom Link We will be planning events for our upcoming year at MPB.
Resources
Turning semi-automatics into mattocks: How faith communities in Colorado are fighting gun violence. (This article references our event at MPB.)
57 Firearms Dismantled in Honor of Audra (This blog is about our April 15. Guns to Gardens event, from Guns to Gardens Denver)
Guns to garden tools: Colorado group seeks change, healing (This is an article about Guns to Gardens from February 2022.)
Guns to Gardens Denver (Find out more information about Guns to Gardens events here. Members of MPB are a part of this group.)
Guns to Gardens National Webpage (Sign up here for Guns to Gardens Action Circle Training. Guns to Gardens national organization is sponsored byPresbyterian Peace Fellowship.)
Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence (Most Precious Blood is a member of this organization.)
GVPedia (This website provides information in the way that “wikipedia” does, but specifically around gun violence.)
A Conversation with Kelly Latimore (Use Passcode: 8&1DazS@) This is a recording of the zoom evening with Kelly Latimore who painted the icon “ChristBreaks the Rifle”
Contact: Rita Niblack – RaNiblack@icloud.com
Immigration
Contact: Theresa Cramer – TwCramer5@gmail.com
Peacemakers for Racial Equity
Peacemakers for Racial Equity is a subgroup of Justice Matters at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church.
As Peacemakers, we dedicate ourselves to work toward racial equity by acknowledging the harm that our society has done and continues to do, educating ourselves and others about the racial experience in America, and taking active steps to dismantle systems of oppression and promote equity in our daily lives.
Our mission is to accomplish this through relationship, foremost with Christ our Lord, and from that foundation with all humanity.
We commit to:
Acknowledge the truths about American racism in all its current forms.
Take responsibility as Americans and Catholics for our historical and ongoing role in perpetuating unjust systems.
Educate ourselves about the experiences and perspectives of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, including the history and ongoing impact of systemic oppression.
Seek the Third Way, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us, transforming our hearts and giving us the power to overcome racism through the redeeming blood of Jesus.
Foster open and honest communication, actively listen to and learn from others.
Speak out against racism and prejudice in our daily lives.
Take action wherever peaceful, positive, and consistent work is needed to dismantle systems of oppression.
Promote equity of opportunity for those people who have been unfairly marginalized due to their race or ethnicity.
Continuously reflect on our own beliefs and privilege and strive to do better in our everyday practices and interactions with others.
Support and uplift the voices and experiences of people from marginalized communities to better understand their perspectives.
For additional information please contact: John Bickham – PeaceMakersRE@Yahoo.com
Links:
PRE Resource List tinyurl.com/4tk89a4a
Respect Life
Ministry Interest Form
Interested in a ministry? Fill out the form below and the right person will get in touch with you to answer your questions.