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.

Cultural Heritage Celebration – January 26
Cultural Heritage Celebration (formerly Immigration Sunday) is coming January 26. We will be featuring music and classical dance of the Tamil culture from the country of India. Minnesota's Governor, Tim Walz, has proclaimed January as "Tamil Heritage Month". How appropriate that our focus this year is on this same culture.  On Sunday, the 26th, you are welcome to wear clothing representing YOUR country of origin and asked to bring a dish to share for our Cultural Banquet in St. Joseph's Hall.  Any person or family who wishes to participate in our flag procession at the commencement of the Mass, are asked to meet up in social hall at 9:30 A.M. 

Mobile Hope is offering an opportunity for long-term mission work, right here in your backyard! We have a program to help kids with their homework on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:15-6:15. Dr. James Comer says "no significant learning occurs without a significant relationship". Can you spare two hours a week to make a difference empowering others? Teens, come join other teens who are already serving! Together let us delight in God's work helping the families of the Dayton Mobile Home Park. Contact Cathy Walter to schedule a short orientation or for additional questions. 612-306-6943 or Cathy@mobilehopemn.org

CROSS is in need of volunteers for a special project.
CROSS has many Gaylords of non-perishable food that needs to be sorted into boxes of like kinds of items. High school age students and up are encouraged to volunteer, but individuals must be able to go up and down stairs. For more information or to volunteer, contact Pat Schwalbe, Director of Volunteers & Community Engagement at Pat@CROSSservices.org


Restortative Justice – Naming the Harm
“WHY can’t they just get over it? ”
Understanding the effects of trauma and abuse
Monday, February 10, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. • St. Odilia Church • 3495 Victoria St. N., Shoreview

Many do not have an understanding of the effects of trauma and abuse on a person and they say, “Why can’t they just get over it and move on?” This presentation will help the audience understand why someone can’t just move on after suffering abuse or trauma of any kind. In the midst of the clergy sex abuse crisis, we hear many ask this question and this will be the focus of this presentation. Laura Harder, a compassion fatigue therapist who has done work previously with the Archdiocese around the effects of trauma, will be presenting on this topic.

Are you interested in putting your faith into action in a new way in 2020? St. Joseph the Worker can connect you to volunteer opportunities within the parish and in the local community. If your New Year’s resolution is to get more involved at Church or in the community, please contact Alex Blechle, Director of Social Justice at alex@sjtw.net.

This year as a parish, we collected 17 large industrial sized bags full of toys. 12 of these went to CROSS  and 5 were sent to Caring and Sharing Hands in Minneapolis. Your generosity will help ensure that many children and teens in our community will have the joy of opening presents on Christmas Day. A little over $4,000 in gift cards were collected and distributed along with generous amounts of food to parishioners in need, as well. Thank you to everyone who participated in this ministry, especially our Junior High Faith Formation students, Monica Liebel, and our Christmas Coordinators, Amy and Stacy.

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

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.