"We give witness to our faith in action." As part of our mission statement, this is a fundamental aspect of our parish life, to bring Jesus to others by our actions. The Outreach ministries are those whose core function is to act on our faith by serving those who need help, and include:
Social Justice / Social Concerns Ministry is focused on putting our faith into action. We sponsor many events that extend God's loving hand through us, His Mystical Body, to people outside the parish borders.
Our Parish Social Concerns Fund also focuses on bringing God's love to those who need it in concrete, practical ways. Through this fund we focus on bearing witness to the love of Christ through our daily lives and in our relationships with those in need.
Do You Know Catholic Social Teaching—
On the Needs of the Poor and Vulnerable?
In a world characterized by growing prosperity for some and pervasive poverty for others, Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25: 31–46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
~ Sharing Catholic Social Teaching; Challenges and Directions
Summary Report, US Catholic Bishops
On Respect for Life?
In a world warped by materialism and declining respect for human life, the Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.
In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and assisted suicide. The value of human life is being threatened by increasing use of the death penalty. The dignity of life is undermined when the creation of human life is reduced to the manufacture of a product, as in human cloning or proposals for genetic engineering to create "perfect" human beings. We believe that every person is precious; that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life or dignity of the human person.
Social Justice/Social Concerns Committee
The Social Justice / Social Concerns Committee is focused on putting our faith into action. We sponsor many events that extend God's loving hand through us, His Mystical Body, to people outside the parish borders, including the annual Lenten alsmgiving campaign, which has helped the Bishop Asili clinic in Uganda and Fr. Gene's parish in India; Soup Kitchen volunteer events; and more.
We are always grateful for new volunteers to help in these activities! Come out and join us—you may be surprised at how much fun you can have doing good deeds
Please bring your wrapped gifts to the school cafeteria this Sunday, December 10, between noon and 2:00 pm. Be sure to have the donation number and the child’s name on each item. Thank you so much for your generosity!
If you could use some help with gift ideas for Christmas, looking for affordable stocking stuffers and surprises for under the tree, or just one-stop-shopping for gift cards, let us help you. Our Lady of Sorrows School is offering more than 725 retail store and restaurant gift cards for sale through the Great Lakes Scrip Company to the parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony.
As we prepare for the great holiday of Christmas, please remember those in our community who may be hungry--drop off some non-perishable food in unbreakable containers for Mount Carmel Guild and The Food Pantry Partnership at St. Raphael's. Please place your donations for Mount Carmel Guild and St Raphael’s Food Pantry in the receptacles at the doors of our churches. And if you know of anyone in need, please let them know about the food pantry. Click here for more details on when the pantry is open and what kind of items are needed.
The Social Justice/Social Concerns Committee once again invites you to share your love and your treasures this Christmas with children in need, through the Adopt-a-Family, Adopt-a-Child program. Click here for more information.