Social Justice
Social Justice Committee
The Social Justice Committee provides opportunities for parishioners to learn about justice issues and participate in local and global charity projects, advocate for particular issues that support justice here and abroad, and raise money for those in need. Our Vision Statement reads: It is the vision of the Social Justice Committee to empower members of Corpus Christi parish to change hearts and change structures to create a society that more closely reflects the teachings of Jesus and God’s kingdom.
We participate in many projects throughout the year. Some are ongoing, while others are seasonal. If you are interested in participating in the Social Justice Committee, or any of these areas, please contact us at 651.639.8888.
Ongoing Projects Include:
Keystone Community Services
Each month, Corpus Christi offers one weekend’s loose change and bills from the collection to support Keystone Community Services, as well as collecting food and personal care products each week. Keystone provides local assistance for those in need. Each Tuesday Keystone’s Food Shelf at the Fairview Community Center is open from 6-9 p.m., staffed by Corpus Christi and St. Rose of Lima parishioners. Whether once a month or once a year, assistance is welcome.
Dorothy Day Loaves & Fishes Dinner Preparation and Service
Every second Tuesday of the month, Corpus Christi parishioners prepare and serve dinner to the homeless guests at Catholic Charities’ Dorothy Day shelter across from the Xcel Center in downtown St. Paul. Helpers gather at 3:30 p.m. and conclude with dinner at 5:30 p.m.
Karen Families
Corpus Christi parishioners have adopted a Karen refugee family from Burma, near Thailand. Families need help orienting to their new home in Roseville, MN. Tasks include transportation for errands, reading daily mail, explain bills, practicing English, and exploring shopping venues.
Throughout the year we also do many charitable drives to help the less fortunate in our community. These include: the Back-to-school Backpack Drive in July and August, Warm Winter Hearts, a new and gently used winter clothes collection, in October, the Giving Tree during Advent to help provide Christmas presents for those in need, and new this year, a gently used children’s book drive that benefits youngsters in the Roseville Area Schools who might otherwise not have access to their own books. During Lent, we raise awareness of the lack of clean water throughout the world as we participate in the Water Project, giving up all beverages except for water for two weeks. The money saved by drinking only water is then donated to help build water projects in Kitui, Kenya.
While we excel at charity, we also work toward justice in an attempt to transform our society so we have less need for charity. During the month of August, parishioners help welcome homeless families at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in St. Anthony Park for Project Home, an overflow shelter for homeless families in our community. Guidance is provided. Grace is abundant. During October we seek to raise awareness about the respect and dignity of every human life, born and unborn. We also strive to educate parishioners on what is happening at the state legislature and ask for their advocacy on behalf of the poor, sick and disenfranchised. We also participate in the Bread for the World Offering of Letters, bringing the letter writing to parishioners. One weekend is dedicated to writing letters to representatives in Congress in the Gathering Area, asking them to change policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist. Bread for the World is a Christian organization that encourages the United States to make decisions that will end hunger here and abroad. We also participate with a consortium of 13 area churches called Holy Hammers in building a home through Habitat for Humanity.
The Social Justice Committee welcomes all who are interested in living out gospel and being salt and light to the world. To quote Pope John Paul II: If you want peace, seek justice. For more information, please see the Social Justice Calendar in the Resources section of our web site.