Social Justice News

Social Justice invites us to live the call of Catholic Social Teaching for further engagement as community to live out our faith.

This year, we were able to provide Thanksgiving meals for 42 families with the help and support of our generous parish community.  A special thank you to the following people: • Parish families for monetary, nonperishable food and frozen turkey donations. • Faith Formation classes for collecting food and assembling baskets. • Volunteers who helped distribute and deliver meals to families. • Knights of Columbus for monetary donation.With your contributions, we were able to make this Thanksgiving holiday special for many families.  Thank you for all your help!
Karen Solberg and Tammy Skaja

Engage in civil dialogue. Join Civilize It: Dignity beyond the debate 
As Catholics, we have a long tradition of engagement in the political process as a means of putting our faith into action. Today, however, vitriolic rhetoric fills the public square. Join fellow Catholics in calling for all people to honor each other’s dignity by engaging in respectful dialogue. Take the pledge and find helpful resources at CivlizeIt.org.

The IGNATION VOLUNTEER CORPS (IVC) is offering an opportunity for semi-retired or retired men and women to share their skills, wisdom and life experience in direct service to those who are poor. In return for a commitment of 1- 2 days a week with a local service site, the IVC provides guidance for personal reflection and prayerful conversation with other IVC volunteers monthly.  Together, we hope to see God in all things and grow in our faith.  For additional information, please call Kathleen Groh at (651)777-0991 or e-mail kgroh@ivcusa.org. Check out our national website at www.ivcusa.org. IVC – the benefits are priceless!

Dear SJTW Parishioners,

I am truly grateful for the warm welcome that has been extended to me by so many of you since the beginning of my transition as the new Director of Social Justice. I am a recent graduate of St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary with a Masters of Theological Studies in Systematic Theology. While pursuing my degree at St. John’s, I also served for the past year as the Director of Social Outreach at St. John’s Campus Ministry. Before moving to Minnesota, I completed my undergraduate degree in Theological Research and Bible & Leadership at Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kansas. I spent the last two years at MCC working as a Pastoral Ministry intern at St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center, which is the University Parish for Kansas State University. Social Justice has been one of my passions since my high school years back home in Missouri, and has shaped and formed the way in which I do theology and ministry. I am committed to working with other faith leaders to advocate for and serve those who are on the margins, especially the young and most vulnerable. I look forward to working alongside you, and building upon the well-established, robust Social Justice program at SJTW.
Outside of the office I enjoy reading, cooking, and spending time with friends and loved ones, especially my fiancé, Maria.
If you have any questions about Social Justice or how you could get involved in the parish, I invite you to send me an email alex@SJTW.net or schedule a meeting with me. I would be glad to meet you.

Peace to you, Alex Blechle

Roxanne Smith Director of Social Justice at SJTW is retiring after more than 30 years of work for the parish.  She began shortly after the parish began to do some of the work in this field.  It was probably more pastoral ministry in terms of taking care of the needs to parishioners.  She has grown the program to where we now are engaged in changing social structures so folks will not fall into those situations where they need our help is immediate needs.  Roxanne has become well known in the city of Maple Grove, within the Archdiocese, and at the State level of government.  Because of her great work in galvanizing voters in the area, when she speaks, people listen.  She has done outstanding work in education, housing, just wages and many others.  She cannot be replaced.  We are losing an efficient, articulate, and a well-respected voice for the parish but especially for those who need to be heard.  We are celebrating her decision to retire NEXT Sunday between the 8:30 and 10:30 Masses so folks from both Masses can attend.  Please stop in Fellowship Hall and thank her for years of dedicated service, and for many more years of enjoyed retirement.  

Fr. Mike

Fair Trade Coffee 
We have added decaffeinated 1 pound French Roast Decaf – Ground, French Roast Decaf – Whole bean, Peru Decaf and Peru Decaf – Whole bean. We still have fair trade coffee from San Lucas Mission. It is available in the social hall for $10.00/lb. This is an opportunity act on our Catholic Social Teaching by being in solidarity with our Peruvian and Guatemala brothers and sisters. It provides a fair consistent wage for more than 950 families and allows only the highest quality of beans to be produced.