JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ACTION MINISTRY
The Justice and Social Action ministry had its
origins in the early 1980’s. Members
of the parish noted that although
Long Beach has many affluent and middle class neighborhoods, there is
poverty which must be addressed.. For
example, the EPA
Brownsfield Job Training and Development Project
recently reported a poverty rate for Long Beach of approximately
17% (27% among minorities).
The parish could not be blind to needs in the Long
Beach community, and so the Justice and Social Action Committee mobilized.
Its contribution may be small when compared with the great need.
However, when
government, the community’s churches and non-profit organizations work
together, it makes a
difference.
The Justice and Social Action Committee sponsors
several events each year to help the needy in our community.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Each Thanksgiving, parishioners bring bags of
non-perishable food to the 9:30 Family Thanksgiving Day Mass.
The food is stacked on the steps
surrounding the sanctuary of the
church, and is offered to God for His blessing during the Eucharist.
After Mass, parishioners load the boxes and bags of food
into vans and deliver it to St. Francis Center near downtown Long
Beach. St. Francis Center
distributes the food to the poor and needy, not only on Thanksgiving Day
but throughout the year.
Aid to
the Elderly
The Justice and Social Action Committee assists elderly and disabled parishioners
when they are unable to fully meet rent, food or other bills. It
provides supplemental financial aid until other means of support can be
found.
Feed a Baby Sunday
Each January and July the Justice and
Social Action Committee sponsors Feed a Baby Sunday.
Baby food and money collected for this project are given to the
local office of Catholic Charities, which, in turn, distributes to needy
families in the community.
If
you would like to assist in the ministry of the Justice and Social
Action Committee, contact:
Fred
and Ann Hall
(562)
597-7358
E-Mail:
Social
Action
|
Links
To learn more about poverty in our community and the
Church's teachings on social justice, click on the links below.
MINISTRY GROUPS
