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Winter Edition - January 3, 2022
From The Heart
John Feldt - Channel Editor
St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry
I'm sure that you have noticed the increasing number of people seeking donations on many of our streets.
Occasionally, my first thought is often along the lines of, "they look healthy enough so why don't they have a job?"
A recent study indicated that many people only associate with people "similar" to them, especially within economic classes.
A well-off family might send their children and spend their time in a private school, clubs, and activities and rarely run into someone outside this social circle. The poor rarely, if ever, interact with this group. Of course, there are exceptions.
Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. How can one understand the situation of the disadvantaged unless, in some way, one actually associates with them? And, it takes significant time and effort to understand how and why others unlike us feel and act the way they do.
In our family, our daughter became a single mother several years ago. We have personally seen the financial and emotional challenges she experiences. She has provided us with first-hand insight into the plight of low-income single households.
Likewise, my homeless ministry work has helped me more clearly understand the complex issues the poor deal with on a daily basis.
While it is a work in progress, now, when I see a homeless person on the street I try to judge less. I urge you to find a way to interact more with those unlike you, the poor, disabled, a different race, or the LGBTQ community.
The St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about, and perhaps interact with, those "unlike us."
Congratulations Bill Weisrock
Besides his role as co-chair of St. Cletus' Peace & Justice Ministry and his work on multiple social justice initiatives across the archdiocese, Bill Weisrock also is highly involved in the Community Council and recently received the Community Council’s Frank Martinez Legacy Award.
TheFrank Martinez Legacy Award (Community Volunteerism) is presented to a volunteer that has made a positive impact and contributed to the well-being of our community through their ongoing service to community organizations and initiatives. Special consideration will be given to individuals who share in Frank Martinez's love of service in the following areas: military, the church, nonprofits and advocacy for children.
Blessing Bags
Jean Weber - St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry
Whatsoever You Do…
In 2019 the Peace & Justice Ministry sponsored a young man in the parish on a service project to assemble bags containing items that would be useful to a homeless person living on the streets. During this successful project, we came to call these “Blessing Bags”.
This year we decided to repeat this, but with wider ministry participation. We reached out to 8th grade and PSR Confirmation students to help with assembling the bags. In addition, we approached Stitches for Life Ministry about sewing the 100 bags needed and they graciously accepted the project.
Over 80 parishioners signed up to take a bag to give to a homeless person, heeding Matthew’s call…“Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto Me.” (Matthew: 25).
Peace & Justice purchased the necessary items such as snacks, sanitizer, socks, beanies, gloves, ponchos, blankets, and hand warmers through the Ministry’s homeless endowment grant. The 100-bag assembly was completed by the 8th grade and PSR Confirmation students, who also prepared handwritten letters of love and encouragement to include in the bags.
The completed bags were then blessed by Fr. Benz and Fr. Mark at the Masses the weekend before Thanksgiving, and parish members picked them up to keep in their cars and hand out when the occasion arises. This joint effort of several parish Ministries truly exemplifies St. Cletus's desire to care for the marginalized and respect the life and dignity of every person.
An October St. Cletus STOP collection filled up two cars with food supplies for the Agape Food Pantry.
AGAPE serves more than 3,000 families in Warrenton County, Missouri with a variety of programs. The primary service is providing food to individuals and families who are facing food insecurity.
Many of their clients do not know where their next meal is coming from and face the harsh reality of not being able to provide enough food for their children.
Secondary programs include emergency financial aid, diapers, work readiness, school supplies, Thanksgiving meals, Christmas assistance, and a number of other services to help support income-eligible residents.
Over the last several years AGAPE has fed more than 45,000 people with nearly 500,000 pounds of food and disbursed more than $225,000 in direct aid. Currently, they are providing food and clothing to about 1,200 people every month. Approximately 15% of our clients are elderly and 50% are children.
Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell
with them and they will be his people (Revelation 21:3)
Who has lived on the land where your home now sits? Before statehood in 1821? Before the Louisiana Purchase in 1803? Before European colonization in 1673? The history of Missouri really began with the settlement by indigenous people during the Paleo-Indian period beginning about 12,000 BC. Most of the indigenous people who once inhabited this land in Missouri were forced to leave and resettle in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Kansas) during the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
How outraged would we be if the land our home is on is taken from us because it was decided we were less important than those who wanted the land?
Yes, we (or our landlord) carry “title” to the plot where we reside but it is important to acknowledge the people who cared for and lived on this land before it was taken from them. The American Indian Tribes have a deep connection to Mother Earth and know the sacredness of the land. They practiced ecology before it became a word.
Saint Frances of Assisi (1226) also understood the sacredness and interconnection of man and the earth. St. Francis understood the infusion of the Divine in everything, animate and inanimate in the universe.
Remember those who originally lived on this land and offer prayers of gratitude for their care and understanding of our connectedness with the land.
A Proclamation on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, 2022
The White House 10/7/22
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the sovereignty, resilience, and immense contributions that Native Americans have made to the world; and we recommit to upholding our solemn trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations, strengthening our Nation-to-Nation ties.
For centuries, Indigenous Peoples were forcibly removed from ancestral lands, displaced, assimilated, and banned from worshiping or performing many sacred ceremonies. Yet today, they remain some of our greatest environmental stewards. They maintain strong religious beliefs that still feed the soul of our Nation. And they have chosen to serve in the United States Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other group. Native peoples challenge us to confront our past and do better, and their contributions to scholarship, law, the arts, public service, and more continue to guide us forward.
Trail of Tears
The arrival of Europeans in North America had a devastating impact on the tribes of early Missouri. Their story continues, from the mid-16th century advent of Hernando de Soto’s conquistadors to the presidentially mandated mass expulsion of the 19th century that resulted in the infamous Trail of Tears.
The Missouria Indian tribe, a Siouan tribe lived in and gave their name to the state of Missouri. Before the Indian Removal Act there were nine tribes in Missouri. However, other tribes inhabited and have connections to the land of Missouri. These include Chickasaw, Delaware, Illini, Kanza, Ioway, Otoe-Missourian, Osage, Quapaw, Sac and Fox, and Shawnee.
Celebrating Black Catholic History Month
The St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry celebrated Black Catholic History Month in November.
First, a display of prominent Black Catholics complete with pictures and biographical text was featured in the church Gathering Space over two weekends and was then set up at St. Cletus Grade School.
These included Sr. Barbara Moore, Civil War hero Andre Cailloux, St. Martin de Porres, Pierre Toussaint, Mother Theresa Maxis Duchemin, singer Mary Lou Williams, and St. Josephine Bakhita.
The Music Director featured Black hymns and spirituals during several of the Masses, and our pastor Fr. Benz included links to his parish emails to a series of videos by Gloria Purvis on Racism, Dignity, and the Catholic Church.
Weekly bulletin inserts on Black Catholic history were distributed. A link to one of these is here
Finally, a Prayer Service for Racial Healing was held at St. Cletus. The presider was Fr. Steve Robeson of St. Ignatius of Loyola parish in Marthasville, MO, a spell-binding speaker on racial justice. Gospel music was provided by the Phil Woodmore Singers, a nationally recognized singing group.
The Peace and Justice Ministry felt that it was extremely important to allow our predominantly white parish to see and hear the rich history of our Black Catholic sisters and brothers and to recognize their struggles for equality across the centuries, even to the present.
Prayer Service for Racial Healing
The Phil Woodmore Singers, a nationally recognized singing group, presented at a service for Racial Healing.
Death Penalty Abolition
Donna Walmsley
St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry
I wrote this piece in December, shortly before the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. By the time you read this in January, the minutes of daylight have begun to increase daily.
Two days after the new church liturgical year began in late November, the darkness of the state murder of Kevin Johnson on November 29 violated the dignity and humanity, not only of Mr. Johnson, his daughter, grandson, family, and friends but of all of us. Vengeance replaced justice. Darkness overcame light.
This act of vengeance created additional victims, adding to the toll of family members suffering the loss of a loved one. The family and friends of the murder victim, St. Louis County police Sgt. William McEntee, still continue to suffer their great loss. The family and friends of Kevin Johnson also suffer his loss. More darkness. More violence. More vengeance.
Missouri has executions scheduled for January 3 (Amber McLaughlin) and February 7 (Leonard Raheem Taylor). I hope and pray that Amber McLaughlin was not deliberately murdered in our names on January 3.
As long as we uphold capital punishment as state law, we will continue to murder our fellow Missourians. Their blood is on our hands. We, as citizens of Missouri, become the perpetrators of more violence, more darkness, and more vengeance.
These executions will not make us safer. They are not restorative justice. Executions create more victims and more suffering. Pope Francis has called our Catholic faith community to be a field hospital, a triage center for our world paralyzed with fear and the love of power, especially political power. We are supposed to be the healers, not the perpetrators.
We continue to relish the profound beauty and hope of the Christmas Season and the daily injections of a little more daylight now that January has arrived. The work of healing our society, of bringing the light of life to overcome the darkness of the death penalty is upon us in this new year of sacred seasons and calendar time. We can be bearers of light as we take effective action to stop the state of Missouri from killing in our names.
One prescription for societal healing is to sign a petition to Gov. Parson for clemency for Leonard Raheem Taylor, who has a credible innocence claim. This petition can be found at the Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty website www.madpmo.org. This website provides background information on those sentenced to death as well as updated information on the death penalty and ongoing action. Catholic Mobilizing Network (catholicsmobilizing.org) also offers petitions to sign and opportunities to participate in monthly online prayer services for those scheduled to be executed and their victims.
The light of our actions has the power to extinguish the darkness of the societal evil of the death penalty in Missouri.
The Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty held a peaceful protest to the formal sentencing of Richard Darren Emery who was convicted of capital murder in St. Charles County in October by a unanimous jury.
While Missouri is one of only a handful of executing states, St. Louis County and City are in the top 10 executing counties in the nation. 29 people were sentenced to death by former prosecutor Bob McCulloch.
Affordable....attainable....however we define, housing that neighbors can afford is becoming harder and harder to find. This crisis is beyond just our neighbors who are unhoused or experiencing a housing crisis, many families are finding the same challenges.
We have completed the data pull for the 3rd quarter Coordinated Entry (CE) community update and it shows some staggering results. The CE Team took the largest amount of household assessments in the 3rd quarter of 2022 since CE began in January of 2018 which is 559 families or 2,414 individuals.
Of those households, 251 were added to the Housing Prioritization List (HPL) which is the second-highest amount since January of 2018. These are the families who are looking to move into affordable/attainable housing with support on their life journey.
The most concerning (crisis) data item is that only 51 households (2nd lowest housing rate since January 2018) were able to find housing, that is only 21% which is the lowest housing rate since CE started.
Homeless Program Meeting
Did you know that there are four St. Cletus parishioners who serve as homeless caseworkers?
Caseworkers from across the SVdP NW District recently met at St. Cletus.
When someone becomes homeless, they often dial 211 (the United Way) for emergency assistance.
211 will refer some of these cases to St. Vincent de Paul caseworkers who assess the client's needs and provide emergency assistance as appropriate.
After years of fundraising and federal grants, a shelter dedicated solely to men is opening in St. Charles County. Founders said it’s the first of its kind over the Missouri River off Interstate 70 and Mid Rivers Mall.
“There are places for women, children, and families to assist them and give them places to stay. I think at times, homeless men is a group that sometimes gets overlooked,” Dareth Jeffers said.
The executive director, Dareth Jeffers, states that the new shelter will open soon on Mexico Road in St. Peters.
Faith Haven House is intended to act as transitional living for men from the streets to a more permanent space.
Vincentian Chris Schieffer, of Sacred Heart in Troy, has been working with Lincoln County officials in the development of a new homeless shelter.
The Bridge of Hope partners with civil, faith, and nonprofit organizations to equip Lincoln County individuals and families with resources and hope. Work to build the facility is scheduled one early 2023.
St. Charles Homeless Shelter News
The City of St. Charles Council supported a bill that would allow the City of St. Charles to write a grant in the amount of $10M - $12M of State ARPA funds supporting the acquisition and renovation of a homeless shelter location.
This is to support the goals and outcomes that the Short/Long Term Housing Task Force has been working on for the past 3 years.
The resolution was passed by a vote of 7 in favor with 1 abstention.
Pope Francis recently unveiled a new sculpture in St. Peter’s Square dedicated to the homeless.
It’s a life-size bronze statue titled "Sheltering" by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, known especially for his “Angels Unawares” sculpture of migrants and refugees installed in a corner of the square.
The new sculpture depicts a homeless person being covered by a blanket pulled over him by a flying dove.
Shirley Mergenmeier - St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry
Ten Schnucks locations in St. Louis City and County are now carrying Bridge Bread scones! The stores are Lindell, Richmond Heights, Webster Groves, Kirkwood, Arsenal, Hampton Village, Des Peres, Ballwin, Twin Oaks, and Loughborough
Mike Heeley is the newest Bridge Bread baker.
He brings years of retail experience, and his plans to help us streamline our distribution processes will allow us to serve more unhoused employees and further our mission of Hope in the Baking.
So far, Mike has solidified himself as a great manager to the kitchen staff and a thoughtful collaborator for administration and missions.
Help Support Bridge Bread at St. Cletus
Purchase a bakery item or make a donation during our monthly sales event.
Volunteer to staff the Bridge Bread sales table.
For more information on Bridge Bread at St. Cletus,
contact Shirley Mergenmeier at: wsmerg@gmail.com
Bonnie Dilliard - St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry
People think their efforts to recycle plastic are helping and that recyclable plastics are OK--mostly wrong. Only ten percent is getting recycled.
This is a worldwide crisis of the first order -- most plastic is winding up in the ocean, on beaches, in our water, soil, and food.
Consumer reports estimate that we are consuming a nickel's size weight in micron plastics each week.
Millions of ocean and land animals are being killed by plastic.
John Feldt, Pam Brown - St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry
Join Us
We Would Love To Meet You!
The St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry meet on the third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Center. We would love to have you join us.
For more information contact: Jim LaVictoire at: jimlavictoire@gmail.com
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Feedback on St. Cletus Peace and Justice Ministry's Channel newsletter is always welcome. You can send your thoughts to the editor, John Feldt, at: jjfeldt@gmail.com
The St. Cletus Parish Peace & Justice Ministry (St. Charles MO) was formed in 2005 to explore Catholic Social Teaching and promote its tenets to better serve our parish, our community, and beyond. We strive to address and heal social injustices, and to provide experiences for our members, and the wider parish, to be Christ’s hands and feet and His voice in ministry to the under-served and under-represented. Our current focus is on outreach to youth, racial justice, Care for Creation, LGBTQ equality, and parish education and communication.
