“the first step
in dealing with the sin of racism is to summon the courage to face our own insecurities and fears and to be open to Jesus’ call to deeper conversion which we receive through scripture and the teachings of our Church. I invite you to join with me in that process.”
From “Created in God’s Image: A Pastoral Letter on the sin of Racism and a Call to Conversion” by the Most Reverend Dale J. Melczek, Bishop of the Diocese of Gary
Mission Statement
The Anti-Racism Committee of the Diocese of Gary consists of women and men, created in the image and likeness of God, who gather from varied backgrounds, geographies and histories, to promote racial unity and celebrate cultural diversity in order to foster human justice.
Goals & Objectives
Goal #1 Promote Racial Unity Objective #1 Education/Evangelization
Objective #2 Advocacy
Objective #3 Awareness
Goal #2 Celebrate Racial Diversity
Pastoral Letter on Racism
Created in God’s Image
Study Guide: Created in God’s Image
Pastoral Letter on Diversity
Many Faces in God’s House
Study Guide: Many Faces in God’s House
Diocese of Gary
Anti-Racism Initiative
Contents
Building Bridges between Black and Brown
Dismantling Institutional Racism
Racial Sobriety
Study Circles
Newsletters
Newsletter Volume I, Fall 2004
Letters and Articles
Committee Resources
Books
Brothers and Sisters to Us
Reconciled in Christ
Love thy Neighbor As Thyself
Recovery from Everyday Racisms
Racial Sobriety: a journey from hurts to healing
People of the Pyramids: The Dialogue Between the African American
and the Hispanic/Latino Communities
DVD
Prayer Cards
Celebrating Our Diversity
Prayer for the Decade of Nonviolence
Prayer for Dismantling Racism
Videos
The Cypress will Grow
Race: the power of an illusion
USCCB
Resources
Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity
Internet Links
United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Archdiocese of Chicago, office of Racial Justice
Institute for Recovery from Racisms
History
The Diocese of Gary, Anti-Racism Initiative is presently in its fifth year in existence. What began as a need to address why the Catholic faithful were fearful of coming to the Cathedral in the Jubilee Year (2000) has expanded into a diocesan-wide effort of inclusiveness. The initiative began with a Conference on Racism for the clergy in 2001, Bishop Melczek Pastoral Letter on Diversity and parish small group faith-sharing discussions - 2002, Pastoral Letter on Racism and cross-parish-boundary faith-sharing discussions - 2003, listening sessions and atonement service – 2004, Racial Sobriety Facilitator Training – 2005, and Racial Sobriety presentations in parishes – 2006.
Anti-Racism Imitative
Contact Information
E-mail address Web address
antiracism@dcgary.org www.dcgary.org
Office phone Office Address
(219) 769-9292 ext. 238 9292 Broadway Merrillville IN 46410
Racial Sobriety Facilitators
Lake County
Lynda Bodie-Fernandez – certified since 09/05
Martin Brown – certified since 09/05
Phillip Cantrell – certified since 09/05
Jeff Fox – certified since 09/05
Ivory Fox – certified since 09/05
Kathy Goudy – certified since 09/05
Rev. Kevin Huber – certified since 09/05
Richard Morrisroe – certified since 09/05
Pearlette E. Springer. – certified since 08/01
La Porte County
Mike Essling – certified since 09/05
Porter County
Starke County