Welcome to the first edition of THE CHANNEL, a quarterly publication of the St. Cletus Peace & Justice Ministry.
In the Peace Prayer of St. Francis we sing “Make me a channel of Your peace…” We hope this newsletter will be a “channel” to you to help us accomplish our Mission. Simply stated, our Mission is to promote the Principles of Catholic Social Teaching and to inspire their fulfillment within us, in our faith community, and in the wider world.
More specifically, our aim is to inform, inspire, and educate on a variety of peace and social justice issues, Nourishment of social justice awareness in our youth and young adults, Encouragement of care for our planet and all creation, and Engagement in Outreach to the marginalized in our
community.
We hope the articles in these newsletters will be not only enjoyable and informative, but also thought-provoking and stimulative of discussion, and that they will move you to join us in the quest for social justice and peace in our society.
Co-Chairs
Bill Weisrock & Jim LaVictoire
Prayer For Peace
Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:
A world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
A world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
A world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;
A world where peace is built with justice and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Did You Know?
Cletus means “one who is called”. Pope St. Cletus was the third Bishop of Rome after Peter and Linus. He formed 25 parishes in Rome for Christians and is said to have been martyred in AD 92.
Recent Activities At St. Cletus
El Salvador Mission Trip
24 missionaries from St. Cletus, many of them young adults from our Life Teen group, traveled to El Salvador in January. They spent the week working on the construction of new homes for single mothers in the village of Las Delicias, which included electrical work and the beginning of a new water system.
They also learned of the heroic struggles of many religious, including martyred Bishop St. Oscar Romero, in support of the people against the authoritarian government and the military. The missionaries also formed or renewed beautiful friendships with the Salvadoran people and got to relax on some scenic tours.
If you would like information on the upcoming 2021 mission trip, contact Ann Roussel at atroussel47@gmail.com
Click here to see a video of our El Salvador missionaries describing their trip.
Black Catholic History Month
Did you know that there are 6 African-American candidates being considered for sainthood?
They are Venerable Augustus Tolton, Sr. Thea Bowman, Pierre Toussaint, Mother Henriette Dellile, Julia Greeley, and Mother Mary Lange.
During part of November (Black Catholic History Month) the Peace & Justice Ministry set up an exhibit in the Gathering Space highlighting pictures of these worthy candidates and brief histories of their lives in service to God. In February, the exhibit was set up in the St. Cletus School for two weeks, and then to St. Margaret of Scotland parish for another two weeks.
Upcoming Peace and Justice Activities At St. Cletus
March 2020
Peace and Justice member Pam Brown distributes STOP reminder slips after Mass.
7 – 8 Collection for Room At The Inn
The St. Cletus Sharing our Table of Plenty (STOP) collection of sleepwear will benefit Room at the Inn which houses homeless women and children as part of an area-wide ministry to feed, house and welcome them as brothers and sisters in Christ. For more information, please contact Mary Howle (636-734-2119) or Jim LaVictoire (636-928-5064)
How To Get Involved
Bring Donations To Church March 7 - 8
Collecting: Overnight Kits
Pajamas - Men, Women, and Children Body Wash - Small Blankets/Throws - Zippered Totes (no drawstring totes)
By now you likely have noticed the table filled with bread and rolls in the Gathering Space each month.
Bridge Bread is a social enterprise designed to provide job opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. The goal of the program is to help the disadvantaged engage in a financially rewarding effort that enhances self-worth, promotes dignity and enables them to help themselves.
St. Cletus was one of the first Catholic churches to start sales and right now one of the longest-serving. Thousands of loaves of bread and rolls have been sold at St. Cletus over the years. All proceeds directly support the previously-homeless bakers.
Bridge Bread Bakers
Fred Dompke (3rd from left) is the founder of Bridge Bread.
A recent 11:30 mass Bridge Bread crew.
Molly LaVictoire, Willie Mergenmeier, Nick Powers, Shirley Mergenmeier, Rachael Mergenmeier, Beth Del Rosario.
Willie and Shirley lead up the Bridge Bread program at St. Cletus.
How To Get Involved
This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to help the homeless. Simply purchase a roll or loaf of bread each month or provide a donation.
Or, if you would like to help staff the Bridge Bread table, contact Shirley Mergenmeier at: wsmerg@gmail.com
Laudato Si - Care For Creation
According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.
Our Care For Creation At St. Cletus
St. Cletus Parish and School are responding to Pope Francis’ Encyclical letter “Laudato Si”- On Care for Our Common Home. The Pope is calling all people to care for our common home, Mother Earth.
St. Cletus has begun a journey to improve our care for creation by saving energy, reducing the use of Styrofoam and other non-recyclables.
In the last two years, several changes have happened at the church and school.
- LED lights have been installed in the school.
- New water fountains have been installed in the school that allows reusable water
bottles to be filled eliminating the use of plastic disposable water bottles.
- The school is collecting plastic bottle caps that are then recycled into outdoor benches.
- Styrofoam is being eliminated from use at church and school.
- At our Fish Fries, trays are being used and plastic cutlery has been replaced with silverware. Paper products are replacing Styrofoam To-Go containers.
At the church and parish hall changes are happening to decrease our “carbon footprint”.
- A new energy-efficient HVAC system has been installed in the church and parish center.
- Room at the Inn is now using Corelle dishes and silverware to serve our guests meals each month.
- A new energy-efficient dishwasher has been installed in the parish center kitchen.
- Silverware has been purchased to be used at all parish center functions, eliminating the use of plastic cutlery.
We also have made progress in educating adults about Care for Creation.
Peace and Justice Ministry sponsored Mike Roberts, former TV meteorologist, to come to St. Cletus and speak on the important issue of climate change.
Care of Our Environment
Did you know that last year was the second hottest year on record globally?
Reflection
When Did We See You Homeless
Our Sunday Visitor
We’re not saying Jesus was a plagiarist. It’s just that he emphasized some items that are also in the Old Testament.
Let’s start with Isaiah 58:6-7. The Lord says: “Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose? … Sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?”
And compare it with Matthew 25:34-36: “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'”
The second quote, as you probably know, is from “The Judgment of Nations.” The judgment of us.
The To-Do List
So! It’s right there on Jesus’ to-do list — his for us to-do list.
You know this, too. You’ve heard it countless times. Something to eat and drink. A safe place to stay. Clothes. Care. A visit.
“When did we see you, Lord?” the “goats” ask.
“Are you kidding me?!” the Lord answers. Well, not that precisely. But his point was (and is) “selective blindness” is no excuse.
“That was you, Lord? Oh my gosh, I wish you had said something.”
But, of course, he did. And we hear it time and again as a Gospel reading at Mass. Well, it’s read. Proclaimed. Listened to is another matter.
Relax. No one is calling you Grumpy Goat Man or that Ba-a-a-a-d Goat Woman. We all need reminders. We all need to stop, look and listen. (This phrase plagiarized from a longtime railroad-crossing warning.)
And it helps to hear it repackaged, as in the parable of the good Samaritan.
Wow, did that guy blaze through a number of items on the to-do list by helping the fellow who had been beaten up and robbed.
Little and Big Ways
Wow, we can do a lot by doing many little things to help those who are homeless — while also supporting the big things that help, too. This isn’t “either/or.” Not “either I help in little ways or in big ways.”
A big way would be backing appropriate, compassionate legislative action or donating to grassroots causes and organizations that are addressing the issues. You can learn more about homelessness not just in our own community but in our state and throughout the country and world. Find ways to assist the many Christ-like organizations, associations, apostolates, societies, ministries, religious orders and diocesan services helping those who have no home.
And what’s a little way?
Many of those who work in this field say handing someone money isn’t the best choice. (Among those who say that giving directly is all right is Pope Francis.) Still, coming face to face with a person asking for help on the sidewalk or outside your car at a stoplight, you want to do something. Give something.
Maybe it’s having a couple of protein bars tucked in a pocket or a few pairs of new socks with you in the car. Perhaps you could give a gift card for a local fast-food restaurant or grocery store. Create a holy moment with a smile, a nod, a wave or just a sign of recognition because you do see him or her.
Want more suggestions for helping, big or little? Just click, click, click. Go online. Begin that research. Learn from those who know — those who work with the homeless, those who have been homeless.
Don’t have Internet access? Ask a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in your parish or diocese. They know. Boy, do they know.
How To Get Involved
Saint Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry Peace & Justice has sponsored a number of efforts to aid our homeless neighbors.
Last year a STOP collection (Sharing Our Table of Plenty) was conducted for St. Joachim & Ann Care Service Street Outreach, as well as a special collection of items and cash for people made homeless during last year’s flooding.
We have funded the preparation of 20 bags of groceries for the homeless by the Life Teen group, and the assembly of 72 “blessing bags” by a high school student as part of a service project. These “bundles of necessities” were given to parishioners to hand out to the homeless on the street.
Did you know that St. Cletus has a team of homeless caseworkers who respond to emergency requests for assistance? Funding for emergency assistance is provided by our local St. Vincent de Paul Society. You can easily donate in the "poor box" at the back of the church.
You can also volunteer to serve as a caseworker. For more information contact Bill Weisrock at wweisroc@cox.net
Join Us!
The St. Cletus Peace Justice is a welcoming and active group. Please consider joining us. We meet on the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Duchesne Room.
For more information contact: Bill Weisrock at wweisroc@cox.net
Sign Up
If you like this newsletter please forward it on. If you would like to subscribe for future issuances you can do so here.
