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
November 15, 2022
Printable file for November 15
Opening Prayer: “Grant Us the Grace” was prayed by Francy Pavlas Bose

People Attending: Francy Bose, Bonita Lawhead, Sue McNamara

Update of Refugee Resettlement in Pullman for Afghans and Ukrainians: Sue

• Second family is still to arrive. Reason given by IRC is paperwork is not 100% correct yet and is not considered unusual.
• Sue & Francy moved items collected at Sacred Heart to the Simpson United Methodist Church basement so an inventory can be made of available items (for future families).  Will continue to do so.
• Sue is connecting the family who is donating the bikes, pump, lock, & ‘child chariot’ to the Pullman Community group, so items are readily available when the family arrives.
• Financial report: General Refugee Fund:  $153.65; Local Refugee Resettlement:  $1,415.41; Total:  $1,569.06

• The Fossil Free WSU group rallied on the WSU campus and then marched to President Schulz’s office downtown on October 27.  There were 20-30 participants. 
• A student member met with President Schulz on November 10, and he agreed to allow representation of the group on his newly created WSU Environmental Sustainability Task Force, which is working on the project for implementing alternative socially and environmentally responsible investing at WSU.
• Bill and the student from the Fossil Free WSU student group are at the meeting tonight with a representative of President of WSU for next steps.
• Bill also requested that we start thinking about the next Laudato Si’ meeting by providing updates on the three possibilities discussed in past meetings.  Those next meeting proposed possibility updates are:

• Neighbors in Dialogue plan is to have a program in the Spring with the Native Community
• Will start planning soon.
• Volunteers welcome…. Contact Tim Paulitz  [email protected]

• Ordering MORE BOOKS as free picked up (only 1 left!)
  •  Francy & Sue will contact Ave Maria Press & others for best price & will order ~ 20 more after the new year.
• Current number of copies in parish:  35 copies
• It was pointed out that providing more copies of Fr. Horan’s book is another way to get the message into the parish.
• Disciples in Dialogue: Thursdays, February 2; 9; 16 using Fr. Horan’s Study Journal
• Next Planning Meeting:  Wednesday, November 16 (tomorrow) at 2 pm in Social Hall
• The follow- up meeting will be December 7 at 2 pm in the social hall.  All welcome, even if haven’t been able to attend previously.

• For Bishop Place; Regency; Circles of Caring; Avalon; and Pioneer Square plus homebound
  • Francy will get numbers from Mary Sutherland/Jim Evermann
• Francy will get update from Kat Harris

• All Welcome
• Host sign-up needed!  Contact L Heidenreich or Francy Bose for details & to sign-up to help with hosting,

• Flyers distributed 10--15/16;
• Approximately 355 pounds of foods were donated by the parishioners
• Also turkeys; hams; and roasting chickens were purchased

• Current donations by parishioners:  Food Drive and Monetary contributions for turkeys $555.00 This donation covered 2/3 of the cost of the turkeys; chickens and hams. 

• Dates are December 23 and 24
• Families will be housed in hotel, most likely the Best Western
• Tim will check whether they are looking for donations to cover cost of hotels
•  Tim will clarify that we can pay for meal vouchers for those days so they can eat in the hotel

• • Stop execution letters were urged via Catholic Mobilizing Network: 2 in TX (1 man executed on Nov. 9), 1 in AL,1 in OK, 1 in AZ, & 1 in MO
• TREX:     Jessica Cassleman will be bagging the plastic
• Helping Hands:   Sue reported that the Social Justice Ministry members have provided 4 meals starting Nov. 8 for post-surgery – 3 more will be provided.

• Closed Oct. 31
• Several applicants applied
• Mayor will review and make a selection & city council will confirm or deny

• The Letter:  Laudato Si Film Trailer:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3EBHebH17Y
• Eastern WA Legislative Conference: Saturday, January 21, 2023 8:30 am to 1:30 pm more details to come

Next Meeting:  The Social Justice Ministry will not meet in December, but will plan to meet, possibly by Zoom, the week of January 15  
Meanwhile look for more information in the Fig Tree regarding the Eastern Washington Legislative Conference on Saturday, January 21.

Closing Prayer:  ‘Prayer of Gratitude’ - Sue

Printable file for October 19, 2022
Printable file for September 15, 2022
Printable file for August 24, 2022
Printable file for June 14, 2022 minutes
Printable file for May 24, 2022 minutes
Printable file for April 19, 2022
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.