Social Justice

Catholic social teaching reminds us we are interconnected and that even our social, political, and economic institutions have a deep effect on people's lives. Our Social Justice Ministry works with the rest of the parish to help us see and listen to our brother or sister in need. We do this through education (studying how loving our neighbor plays out in our social institutions), through advocacy (working for the poor and vulnerable in the political arena), and through direct action (organizing food drives, clothing collections, and supporting refugees and the Rice Bowl).

We meet on various days, once a month. If you would like to join the Social Justice Ministry, watch the bulletin for meeting times or call Tim Paulitz at 509-332-6184 or Francy Bose at 509-332-5114.

Social Justice Ministry Minutes
April 19, 2022

Printable minutes for April 19, 2022

Opening Prayer:  Prayer for the Homeless was prayed by Tim Paultz

People attending: Tim Paulitz; Bonita Lawhead; Bill Engels; Sue McNamara; Joyceann Hagen; Uta Hutnak; Francy Pavlas Bose

Discussion:  Afghan Refugee Resettlement Proposal Update:
Sue McNamara connected with two groups in Spokane:  International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Refugee Connection of Spokane that are assisting Afghan refugees (and Ukrainians) later and with Paul Whitney of the WSU International Office who is providing help using student housing, initially. Specific household and hygiene items, as well as some furniture, among other things, have been requested by these organization to assist refugees. Please see attached lists of the specific items. 
Currently these are some of the tasks needed to be done:

• Collect items after April 26.^.
• Sort and organize items collected in St. Charles Room.
• People will also be needed to:
  • Pick up items from people who cannot bring the items to Sacred Heart
  • Help with sorting items as they accumulate at Sacred Heart
  • Drivers to take items to locations in Pullman and Spokane where needed
  • Other (you choose!)
• Contact will be made with other local churches and Islamic Center with lists of needed items
• Tim has contacts with Justice and Witness ministry at CCUCC who is also working with Paul Whitney

• Sr. Dorothy Verna contacted Tim and cancelled her May 19 Laudato Si’ Disciples presentation.
  • Tim has not been able to contact her to reschedule on another date.
  • Francy suggest that we contact Earth Ministry to discuss an alternative on a later date.

• Bill Engels will contact Citizen’s Climate Lobby to possibly schedule an interactive presentation on the 2019 Carbon Pricing Lobby for the May 19 date.
  • Along with the presentation by CCL, updates will be made of the parish projects currently addressing climate change through:
    • The grounds
    • The church and
    •  Religious Education projects.
• Other alternatives to consider at future dates to address Laudato Si’ Disciples included
  • Invitation to Rita Waldrof of St Al’s and Joan Clovel of St. Ann’s to Share the Climate Change activities of these two parishes in Spokane
  • Just Faith program on the Care for our Common Home
  • All presentations will include an update on current personal and parish projects addressing “Caring for our Common Home”

• Fig Tree invites you to “Hope for Creation Conference” on April 22 and 23.
  • For the first time in more than 30 years, the celebrations of spring holy days of Muslims, Jews, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Hindus, Baha’is and local tribes overlap.
  • In recognition of the holy days of eight faiths, The Fig Tree is collaborating with the Hope for Creation Conference April 22 and 23, inviting local leaders of those faiths to participate in three events.  Those events are a panel discussion from 3 to 4 pm, Friday, the Healing the earth Vigil from 4:30 to 5:30 pm, also on Friday, and booths from noon to 3:30 pm during an outdoor festival on Saturday. 
  • For more information, call:  509-535-1813 or email:  news@thefigree.org

• Next steps with /Hispanic/Latinx communities:   Tim Paulitz met with CCUCC
  • • The next Installment will be in the fall and could possibly address:
      • Native American
      • LGBTQ
      • Asian
    • As an outcome of the last program, Neighbors In Dialogue, translators in schools is being addressed with the school district. Trying to make it easier, maybe have in person translators.

• Possible Book Discussion of :
  • Fr. Dan Horan’ book:  A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege
  • Bill Engels has been reading the book and has found it “eye opening”.
  • It was suggested the Webinar on the book might be used to develop a book discussion through Disciples in Dialogue in the fall.
  • Anyone wanting a copy of Fr. Dan Horan’s book, should email francy@pavlasbose.com  
  • The book is $12.50 when ordering five or more copies.

• The Easter season project provided 292 beautiful Butterfly cards which were given to:
  • Four Care Facilities: Regency; Bishop Place; Avalon; Pioneer Square and
  • Twelve homebound people
• Discussion about how to develop a list of other Care Facilities to include in future projects:
  • Places mentioned included Kenyan Houses; Circles of Caring, and Meals on Wheels
  • Council on Aging may also be a resource for learning of other care facilities
• Next projects to be announced.

• • Approximately 595 lbs was delivered to the Cougar Food Pantry over the five weeks of Lent.
  • The parish was VERY generous each week
  • The student accepting the donations at the Food Pantry thought it was spectacular according to Jim Buscher who delivered the donations each week.
  • A very big Thank You to Jim for making this a successful food drive.

• Canned Meats (tuna, salmon, chicken, etc)
• Canned Fruit
• Canned Vegetables
• Granola Bars
• Fruit Cups
• Raman Noodles
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Shampoo
• Body Wash
• Tooth Brushes

• Family Promise update:
  • Tim Paulitz reported that Pullman Presbyterian housed the families in a hotel over the Easter weekend.
  • Sacred Heart provided meals for Friday and Saturday evening by Katie Druffel and Ann Heath. 
• Action Alerts
  • Pushed the final bills in Washington via WSCCB
  • Catholic leaders urged clemency for a mother facing execution and action alerts repeated the alert this week.
  • Letters for three other executions were addressed
  • Bill reported that Michael Gonzalez was granted a stay of execution!
  • Bonita Lawhead will shadow Sue McNamara to understand the guidelines for Flocknotes and will then join the team of Action Alert providers. 
• TREX: 
  • Bill reported that there are four bags (65 pounds) ready to take to Safeway
  • Tim reported that CCUCC made their goal of 500 pounds of plastic in six months
• Helping Hands:
  • Sue reported that eight more meals (two per week) will be provided for a family through May 26
  • The family is asking for visits for April 23; May 14 and May 28
  • Contact Sue McNamara for more information or to help.  Sue.m.mcnamara@gmail.com
• PREPARES:  is looking for a mature woman to “Walk in Journey” to help a single mother of four children—a family companion.  If interested or for more information contact Sue McNamara  sue.m.mcnamara@gmail.com

• The presentation was recorded and will be presented in Fall
  • Several advances over the last two years
  • Family Promise Day Center has been transformed.
  • Storage of large items is no longer possible, but still collecting smaller things like housewares; bedding and such to help people as they leave the program and set up their new homes.
  • Look for more information to join the presentation in the fall with ways to become involved in this effort to address homelessness on the Palouse.

• With Diana Butler Bass
• Freeing Jesus in Our lives and in the Public Square
• Was excellent
• The Foley Talk is available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guDyRil9oKw

Next Meeting: May 24 via Zoom
Closing Prayer:  Prayer for Peace was prayed by Bonita Lawhead.

Printable file for March 23, 2022 minutes
Printable file for February 22, 2022 minutes
Printable file for January 25, 2022 minutes
Printable file for Nov 18 minutes
Printable file for Oct. 26 minutes
Printable File for Sept 23 minutes
Printable file for August 5 minutes
Printable file for June 24 minutes
printable file for May 13 minutes
printable file for April 7 minutes
printable file for Feb 25 minutes
printable file for January 14 minutes
printable file for Nov. 30 minutes

Sacred Heart Parish acts as a partner church when Pullman Presbyterian Church hosts homeless families through Family Promise of the Palouse. Several times a year families stay at the Presbyterian Church for a week. Sacred Heart parishioners help prepare the evening meal and stay for the evening or the night. Sacred Heart also collects items for Family Promise and participates in fundraisers. If you would like to volunteer please email Tim Paulitz or call him at 509-332-6184. 

Family Promise of the Palouse (FPP), believes that every family deserves a safe place to call home. With support from the community, 29 interfaith congregations and hundreds of volunteers, they are able to provide shelter, food and support to help families in our community that need it the most. They are committed to families having a place to call home. Their website, www.familypromisepalouse.org, shows what they are doing to make a difference in the lives of homeless children and their families.

Mindful of Jesus’ call to feed the hungry, help the poor, and welcome strangers, the Social Justice Ministry of Sacred Heart, in conjunction with the Spokane-based Refugee Connection, is offering assistance to refugees.

As refugees learn English, find jobs, and adjust to a new culture, the Social Justice Ministry wants to offer them friendship, financial assistance, and moral support. We invite any interested members of the parish to join us in this endeavor.

Donations to the “Refugee Relief Fund” can be made to Sacred Heart Parish, with “Refugee Fund” noted in the memo line. Please direct questions or comments to either: Francy Bose  509-332-5114, Tim Paulitz 509-332-6184.

For more than 70 years, the Catholic Diocese of Spokane and its parishes have supported the Diocese of Solola in Guatemala. Donations from Sacred Heart Parish, Pullman support Nawal Estereo, a radio station broadcast to the residents in the Highlands of Solola, which provides religious and educational support. Nawal Estereo serves an essential role for the impoverished people of northern Guatemala. The station is staffed by local men and women, and operates with a board of directors. It is self-supporting through payments for broadcasting, advertising, and donations from organizations such as ours. Please note "Spokane mission radio school" on the memo line of any contribution you make for this worthy cause, and put it in the weekend collection or mail it to the parish office.

For additional information about the Guatemala Mission, please visit: https://dioceseofspokane.org/diocese-of-solola

Click here for December 2020 report from the radio station

For more than forty years, Meals on Wheels has provided a nutrititional and social lifeline for elderly and disabled homebound seniors in the Pullman area. With the help of 14 Pullman churches and three businesses, the organization has served thousands of meals to those in need. Your financial donation goes directly to providing a hot, nutritious meal to our area seniors.

To volunteer, please email the Sacred Heart Parish Meals on Wheels coordinator, Lorie Druffel, or call 509-330-0324. For additional information, please visit the website for the Pullman Community Council on Aging: http://www.pullmanccoa.org.

Since 1988, The Community Action Center has been a vital resource for thousands of needy families in Whitman County. This past year, Sacred Heart Parish, Pullman donated approximately 1600 pounds of food to people living in poverty in our area. These food donations provided nutritional meals for more than 230 families each month. For more information or to volunteer: https://www.cacwhitman.org.