Social Justice
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What is Social Justice?
Catholic Social Teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God's special love for the poor and called God's people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came "to bring glad tidings to the poor...liberty to captives...recovery of sight to the blind" (Lk 4:18019), and who identified himself with "the least of these," the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt. 25:45). Catholic social teaching is built on a commitment to the poor. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the Eucharist.
God the Father sends his only Son Jesus Christ and shares the Holy Spirit as his gift of love. God reveals himself to us as one who is not alone, but rather, as one who is relational, one who is Trinity. Therefore, we who are made in God's image share this communal, social nature. We are called to reach out and to build relationships of love and justice.
Catholic social teaching is base don and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity. Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ and therefore, is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity. Human dignity comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment.
Our commitment to the Catholic social mission must be rooted in and strengthened by our spiritual lives. In our relationship with God, we experience the conversion of heart that is necessary to truly love one another as God has loved us.
--from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions
Committee Members:
John kellerman, Mike Courtney, John Roberts, Elaine Jacobson and Ken KleeS
October 2025 Respect Life DIaper Drive donations to Birthright
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St. Isidore Social Justice Pillars
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The plastic bag collection to make mats for the homeless has resumed and they appreciate your contribution! The committee from St. Patrick’s in Anamosa is asking for help to gather plastic grocery bags for a project to make sleeping mats for the homeless. It takes between 600 and 800 bags to make one mat, woven or crocheted. There is a box in the Gathering space to collect these bags. (sometimes it is in the hallway) Please be sure your bag is free of receipts and debris.
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The Feed the Hungry for the Catholic Worker House is held multiple times throughout the year. At times we prepare the meal entirely, but we have also started to provide the ingredients and recipes so that residents can learn to prepare the meals themselves. (teach a man to fish...)
Backpack-–The “Backpack” program at Springville schools is one of our ministries. Thanks to all who have participated in this ministry. We donate a portion of our tithing to support the program financially.
Garden Produce: Mike Courtney has led this program since its inception in 2022. Along with assistance from volunteers in the parish, Mike has planted and harvested food to support SANSI and several other local food pantries as well as Catholic Worker House. If you have extra produce available, you can deliver it directly to SANSI but Janet does ask that you call first to set a time to meet her. SANSI's # is 319-854-6100. If you have any questions, call Mike Courtney at 319-462-6761.
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We organize the RESPECT Life programs in October and in January we plan the prayer service on the Anniversary of Roe V Wade.
Throughout the year we respond to needs brought to us by Catholic Charities—whether financial or bringing awareness of volunteer opportunities and needs around the Archdiocese. Fortnight for Freedom is a great example of this—with information provided in the bulletin during the month of June.
We are tasked with determining the recipients of our tithing and select various local charities
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn Children
Although the Supreme Court’s Dobbs vs. Jackson ruling in June 2022 overturned Roe vs. Wade, the Church’s advocacy for life remains as vital as ever, especially as our country remains staunchly divided on the issue of abortion. There are many resources available from the USCCB to utilize in recognition of this date at usccb.org/resources/respect-life-action-guide- . For more information or to discuss ways you can engage in the promotion of life from womb to tomb, please get in touch with Deacon Brian Zeman at [email protected].anniversary-roe-v-wade
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Prayer crosses are available for distribution to parish members that have been hospitalized, are underoing medical treatment, have become homebound, moved to a care center or entered HOSPICE care. The crosses are handmade by and have been blessed by Father Andrew and we hope can bring comfort andencouragement to those they reach. Contact any member of the Social Justice Commission if you have a recommendation.
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The last program was held in 2019 If you are interested in setting another date for this program beyond what is available on the Archdiocese of Dubuque website, please contact your Social Justice commission. We will be working with the St. John the Baptist Social Justice commission to continue to provide this information.
This program provided materials for the three various stages of Advanced Care Planning:
1) Persons who are healthy or have well managed medical conditions
2) Persons with a serious chronic condition and/or a progressively debilitating condition
3) Persons with terminal illness or who may be well in the last year of life and persons who are actively dying (including adult children in anyone of these states.
We also covered the following topics:
* Should a Catholic use Iowa’s Living Will?
* Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
* Specific Directives of individuals with serious chronic conditions and/or progressively debilitating conditions
*Considering benefits and burdens of medical treatment
* Medically assisted nutrition and hydration
* Resuscitation
* Pain and Symptom management
* Completing IPOST (Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment)
Advance Care Planning Workshop
Workshop description
Who should attend
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Did you know that Catholic Charities offers a diverse array of programs and services throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque, including Mental Health Counseling, Crisis Pregnancy and Post Abortion Counseling, Affordable Housing, Refugee Resettlement, Immigration Legal Services, Jail & Prison Ministry, mentoring and support for single parents and Disaster Services? Support these services with your gift to the Catholic Charities Annual Appeal. Learn more at www.CatholicCharitiesDubuque.org.
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SANSI (Springville Area Neighborhood Services and Information) falls under Social Justice as the three area churches work together to meets needs of local residents who are food challenged or need help covering a portion of their utility bill. Parish members John Roberts, Al Meyer and Cindy Kellerman sit on the board of SANSI and represent us in community projects including the Backpack program and Food Drives.
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