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
January 14, 2021

printable file for January 14 minutes

Opening Prayer:   Led by Sue McNamara
People Attending:  Joyceann Hagan; Sue McNamara; Tim Paulitz; Bill Engels; Bonita Lawhead;
Fr. Steve; Jessica Cassleman; Kat Harris; Robert Harris; Francy Bose
 
Updates:

• Family Promise of the Palouse:  Sacred Heart is responsible for meals on March 5 and 6.  Please contact Tim Paulitz to volunteer  fungustim@gmail.com  
  • Fr. Steve mentioned that Caritas would like to know if funds are needed for housing families for family promise or other organization in the area.  Francy suggested that Sojourners’ Alliance may be in need.
  • Current needs:  Toilet paper; Paper towels; Multipurpose cleaner; Lysol wipes and spray; Dish Soap and sponges; Garbage bags; First Aid Kits; Packaged socks and underwear for kids (all sizes) Packaged men’s underwear
  • Donations can be taken to Family Promise or dropped off in Family Promise collection box in church entrance. https://www.familypromisepalouse.org/
• Action Alerts:  Bill Engels reported that Action Alerts have been sent out requesting stays of execution for several people the last month. There are two people currently sending out “action alerts” on a rotation basis from four organization (Catholic Mobilization Network; USCCB; WA State Catholic Conference and Global Catholic Climate Movement).  Jessica Cassleman volunteered to join the ministry.  Bill will send her the “directions”.  She will start her three-month rotation in March. Please contact Bill Engels for more information.
• TREX plastic—Sacred Heart has received our third bench, each for the collection of 500 pounds of plastic bags in a six-month period.  He reported that the parish is well on its way to the collection of another 500 pounds and another bench.  Since our last meeting, we are still planning on donating our benches to local housing or to other churches to encourage their participation in the program.  More “bag ties” are needed.  Drop them off at the bag drop-offs at Sacred Heart.
• Helping Hands:  provided meals for two weeks to any family expressing a need. It was pointed out that Mary Sutherland notes in the bulletin that parishioners should recommend people they feel could use the service but are not willing to ask, but would accept if asked. Recipients of Helping Hands do not need to be parishioners.  It was suggested that we contact other churches in the area to see if they are interested in joining our ministry or learning how to start their own.  After checking the commitment of current members of Helping Hands, Sue McNamara will contact 5-6 local churches to determine their interest in starting a ministry at their church or if they would like to join our ministry.
• CAC Food Bank Needs:  currently include:  Dietary restricted foods such as—gluten-free; sugar-free; vegan etc.; Boxed meals (hamburger helper type; Rice-a-roni); Mac n’ Cheese. Donation can be deposited in the collection boxes at the church entrance.

• Possible people to join the Zoom meeting with Mary included:  Tim Paulitz; Bill Engels; Bonita Lawhead; Kat Harris and Francy Bose.
• Possible events/programs:  TREX; Laudate Si’ Disciples; Connections; Prayer Service on Civility;
• The plan is to have a Zoom where she can meet us and get material for a story.

• Climate Covenant:  https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/files/2020_Climate_Action_Pledges.pdf
• Resources etc. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dXf4TkVVGqE2Q5h9KZxfSalpVYoWXxmT/view?usp=sharing

• Updates on Recyclables at Pullman Disposal &Whitman Transfer Station & Landfill      on email

• JustFaith program—Bill Engels;
• PJAL—peace and justice league of Spokane—Bonita Lawhead
• NAACP—Kurtis Robinson will be presenting at 2021 Eastern WA Legislative Conference—Tim Paulitz
• DACA Immigrant Stories –Jessica Cassleman
• Speakers to address issues of Refugee Immigration:  Refugee Connection Spokane; Catholic Charities
• African Americans and African Immigrants comparison–Kat Harris
• Multi-cultural Center at WSU—Jessica Cassleman (Other concerns she mentioned)

•  List of Local; National and International Alternative Giving has been posted on the Parish Web-site. Please consider using it for alternative gifts throughout the year.

• Community Connections:   with Christmas Cards and Ornaments. Kat Harris gives a BIG THANK YOU   to everyone who contributed Christmas care cards and ornaments. Bishop Place; Regency; Circles of Caring; Avalon; and Pioneer Square are very grateful that we remembered them this Christmas season.  We delivered nearly 360 cards to the 302 residents or participants of the care facilities, with more than one going to those in most need of some extra attention during this difficult time.  Approximately 175 of the cards were accompanied with an ornament.  The Social Justice Ministry hopes to continue this tradition in the coming year in a variety of ways such as Birthdays; Easter; Spring etc.  If you have ideas to carry out this ministry, please share as you are able.

• “Beyond Words: Doing Justice” January 30, 2021; 8:50 am to 1:00 pm
• Registration paid by the Social Justice Ministry.
• To Register, Contact Francy francy@pavlasbose.com  509-332-5114  AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
• See attached agenda for details

• Posting Zoom link on “Event Announcements” on Parish Website
• Should we post the SJM minutes on the Parish Website?
• Zoom Links to SJM meeting shortly before the meeting
   

Social Justice Corner with Green Energy—Saving Tip;   Will start this month.

2021 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress event registration
This is a fantastic opportunity.  Please check it out at the website;   https://recongress.org/
l
Community Outreach Commission report:   the report to Pastoral Council’s February meeting was prepared and presented by Bill Engels

Next Meeting:   Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 pm via zoom  
Closing Prayer:  Led by Joyceann Hagen

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.