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Team Vision | Mission Statement | Commission Outcomes
Training | Team Operating Guidelines | Team Members | Principles of Justice
The Diocesan Commission for Peace and Social Justice is to serve as a primary implementer and resource for social justice in the Diocese of Gary. Furthermore, as disciples we hope to carry this mission into the parishes based upon the biblical and theological principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
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The Diocesan Commission's mission is to work and operate within Catholic Social Teaching to aid parishes in addressing the dignity and rights of the people who are socially, politically, or economically disadvantaged. In this regard, we will challenge parishes to attain a peaceful dimension in ministry to achieve both charitable and systemic progress in relationships locally, nationally and globally.
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Prioritize strategies which train and enable Parish Commissions to empower their community. Train and promote models of social justice which are inclusive of personal commitments to justice while instilling communal and institutional commitments to justice. The Training Team Leaders will advocate integration of justice into parish life.
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The Diocesan Commission will work to educate the parishes on engaging people of faith in actions that lead to social change. This will be achieved by members serving as trainers who will help parishes to closely look at their Social Mission. Using the document Communities of Salt and Light (USCCB) the training teams will assist parishes in forming a Peace and Social Justice Commission within the Parish Council structure, or renew and update an existing Commission.
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The Diocesan Commission for Peace and Social Justice will meet monthly. The meetings will be held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. The meetings will be 90 minutes. The members will operate with a collaborative approach, inclusive language, and respect gender, culture and heritage of all members.
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| Commission Facilitators: |
Sandi Morgan, chair & Deacon Dave Kapala, co-chair |
| Commission Members: |
Leo Barren, St. John the Baptist Parish
Eugene Bujdoso, St. Matthias Parish
Jackie Demmon, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish
Deacon Duane Dedelow, Catholic Charities
Warren Ellis, St. Joseph Parish, Hammond
Janice Gatons, St. Michael Parish
Dorothy Marsalek, Assumption Parish
Madeline Moya, St. Thomas More Parish
Peg Murphy, St. Paul Parish
Fr. Gerald Schweitzer, Sacred Heart Communities
Janet Sienicki, Our Lady of Consolation Parish |
| Staff Assistance: |
Adelina Torres, Office for Hispanic Ministry
Anne Verbeke, Office for Pastoral Councils |
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1. All people have equal dignity and equal rights in terms of respect, access to resources and to
opportunity.
2. God intended the earth for all persons equally. Thus the riches of the world should flow equally and fairly.
3. The right to private property and the accumulation of wealth is not absolute, but must be subordinated to the common good. The goods of the earth are intended equally for everyone.
4. No person, group of persons, or nation may have a surplus of goods if others lack the basic necessities.
5. We are obliged, morally, to come to the aid of those in need. In giving such aid we are not doing charity, but serving justice.
6. The laws of supply and demand, free enterprise, unbridled competition, profit motive, and private ownership of the means of production many not be seen as morally inviolate and must, when the common good, justice demands it be balanced by other principles.
7. Physical nature too has inherent rights. The earth is not just a stage for human beings to play on. It too is a creature of God with its own rights, which humans may not violate.
8. The condemnation of injustice is part of the church's essential ministry of preaching and is an essential aspect of the church's prophetic role.
9. Movement toward the poor is at privileged route toward God and toward spiritual health. There can be no spiritual health, individually or communally, when there is no real involvement with the struggles of the poor. Conversely, riches, of any kind, are spiritually dangerous.
Strength without compassion is violence
Compassion without justice is mere sentiment
Justice without love is Marxism
And....love without justice is baloney!
Cardinal Sin
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