Want to make your parish an effective agent for justice? Learn the skills, get the resources, make a difference.

This assessment tool is intended to assist Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in evaluating and improving their social ministry and social justice programs. It is rooted in the assumption that the Church's social mission should be central and integral to parish life, not tangential or optional. As the U.S. bishops said in their 1993 statement on parish social ministry:

“We need to build local communities of faith where our social teaching is central, not fringe; where social ministry is integral, not optional; where it is the work of every believer, not just the mission of a few committed people and committees.” (Communities of Salt & Light, p. 4)

Editor's Note: It is well worth the time of all parish leaders to look at this practical online resource VERY closely.

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NEW From Seattle:

Seattle Archdiocese Religious Education (Social Justice)

In preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000 and in response to the publication of "Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions" by the United States Catholic Conference, the Archdiocese of Seattle has initiated a project to develop educational resources which may be used by principals, directors of religious education, Catholic school teachers and parish catechists. Each month, the Religious Education page in the Catholic Northwest Progress will carry a background paper on one of the principles of Catholic social teaching. Lesson plans for primary, intermediate, middle school and secondary grades will be posted on this site, along with a facilitator's guide.

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Everyday Christianity: To Hunger and Thirst for Justice
A Pastoral Reflection on Lay Discipleship for Justice in a New Millennium