Local News

Sept. 21, 2006

Parishes embark on empowering journey to justice

By Ambria Hammel
The Catholic Sun

Teens at three parishes began “J-Walking” for the first time in the Phoenix Diocese this month. Young Catholics from other parishes and schools might join them.

They embarked on an in-depth study and application of social justice issues in their own communities. The key to it — referred to as JusticeWalking — is learning how to respond in faith.

JustFaith Ministries is a national organization with education programs for teens and adults. It works with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services.

Tricia Hoyt, director of the Office of Peace and Justice, said JustFaith formed out of a need for adults to rekindle the fire they once had for their faith. The founder put sole emphasis on creating a conversion of heart around social justice issues.

Both programs show Catholics how to be aware of and solve such problems through teaching and experience. Parish volunteers lead each justice education process.

Participants go on two retreats, read selections from books and engage in prayer, hands-on experience and dialogue. They study racism, the causes of poverty and the effect their environmental and consumer choices have on the world, especially those on the margins of society.

JustFaith

This month, adult Catholics at 14 parishes in the diocese committed themselves to JustFaith, a 30-week study and application of social justice issues. The figure doubled from last year.

“Adults are hungry for this,” said Joe Grant, a national coordinator with JustFaith Ministries.

The adult group learns about social injustices by reading selections of 12 books, watching DVDs, engaging in dialogue with each other and listening to guest speakers. The presenters come from agencies in the community whose work helps those suffering from social injustices.

The adults also have an immersion experience where they get to know those living in poverty. Roxanne Rix had experiences with social issues before going through JustFaith at St. Jerome Parish last year, but still found herself naive to the complete picture of injustice.

“The challenge with this: now we can no longer be blind,” she said.

Rix is one of 12 graduates from last year. All reportedly expanded their ministry or began new ones as a result of their JustFaith experience and are now in the second level of the program.

Diana Stickney, a fellow graduate, agreed. She can no longer claim to be “powerless” against an injustice.

“My actions as an individual are important and essential. I really can no longer say ‘the problems are too big. There’s nothing I can do,’” she said.

Hoyt’s experience with the Office of Peace and Justice tells her Stickney’s reaction is typical. She said graduates see the world with a new lens.

“This is what I hear from Catholics all the time,” she said.

“How is it that I have been a Catholic all these years and I never understood all the things that the Catholic Church has to say about social injustices? How is it that I never knew what the possibilities are for engagement with these people?” Hoyt constantly hears such questions from graduates.

Monica Dorsey’s experience with JustFaith in Texas led her to form a social justice committee when she moved to the Valley and joined Santa Teresita Parish in El Mirage. The members share social teaching and help develop leaders within the parish.

Jozef De Groot learned of the responsibility to be stewards of the environment through JustFaith. He facilitated last year’s group at St. Patrick Parish in Scottsdale and volunteered to lead it again this year.

The JustFaith groups in the Phoenix Diocese this year are part of the 200 groups engaged in the justice education program nationally.

J-Walking

Thirty groups across the country are learning about JusticeWalking. The program helps young people live the Gospel and complements their existing faith formation exercises.

High school juniors and seniors meet 12 times during the education process and follow a less intense reading schedule than the adults. They also maintain a prayer journal, make public presentations about their journey and practice six lifestyle adjustments.

“These are the kids that are asking profound questions,” Grant said.

Rock Fremont agreed that J-Walking is for teens ready to move beyond the fellowship aspect of youth ministry and brought it to St. Andrew the Apostle in Chandler.

“It offers teens not just another alternative, but a next step, a next level,” said Fremont, facilitator of outreach and youth activities.

Half of the meetings will be at the site of their community service project. Fremont may place the teens at a nearby assisted-care facility for the duration of the program.

This consistency helps them build relationships with those they serve. They become family.

“Then, when they hear an issue on the news, it’s not politics. It’s no longer an issue. It’s a family with a face, with names,” Fremont explained.

“It empowers them to be an agent of compassion,” Grant added.

Kim Baldwin may bring J-Walking to Brophy College Preparatory’s Office of Faith and Justice in the spring. The young men already take a Gospel in action class, but the program would give interested students an extra challenge.

“They become prophets in the process,” Grant said.

To read what the Catholic Church says about social justice, visit www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s1c2a3.htm