"Give a person a fish, they eat for a day. Help a person to fish, and they eat for a lifetime."
Such is the distinction between charity and justice. Acts of charity (giving a person fish) include providing food for the hungry, clothing for the naked and shelter for the homeless. These acts are an essential part of being Christian and are shared in great abundance at St. Thomas the Apostle.
However, these acts are only half of the full equation. If we are to live fully in the Christian way of life, we must act justly as well. Acts of justice (help a person to fish) go to the roof causes that leave people hungry, homeless and oppressed. Social justice seeks to change the structures (institutional, political, economic) responsible for oppressing God’s people.
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish has made social justice a top priority. The parish is a member of "Sowers of Justice," an archdiocesan organization designed to help Catholics work together on behalf of social justice. St. Thomas the Apostle has the largest number and highest percentage of participation in the Sowers of Justice program of any parish in the Archdiocese. For additional information about Sowers of Justice call the Parish Center at (612) 922-0041 or go to our "Links" page and click on "Sowers of Justice."
JUSTFAITH
One of the most demanding parish programs ever offered is returning to St. Thomas the Apostle this fall. JustFaith is a process for committed persons open to conversion and is based on the social justice teachings of the Church. Weekly meetings, from September thru May, feature discussion based on readings (8-10 books), hands-on experiences and two retreats.
Here's what some of last year's participants had to say about their JustFaith experience:
"I see myself as more connected to the world, more responsible for its injustices, and more capable of effecting change. I have renewed energy to participate in the work of the Gospel--with reduced ambition to see results NOW and with more understanding of the bigger picture. I am more aware of daily and world events and more readily able to see them in a Christian/social context. I still struggle with how to be most effective, but have more determination to keep going forward rather than throwing up my hands."
"JustFaith gave me the opportunity to learn the Catholic church's interpretation of social justice and how we can help social justice happen today. I also was able to develop friendships with St. Thomas parishioners I never knew before, this was an added bonus I didn't expect! The group was flexible and accommodating to new members and busy schedules. I feel JustFaith helped me grow in my spiritual journey."
“JustFaith opened my eyes to the injustices in the local and global world, as well as my capability to respond to those issues at home, church, and community.”
Weekday morning and evening groups are in the process of being formed. Call Bill Nolan at the parish center (612-922-0041) or email him at bnolan@sta-mpls.org for further information.
Visit the JustFaith website at www.justfaith.org and learn more about this process.
