faith | service | social justice

Implementation Committee Update—November 2021

Nov 1, 2021 | In the News, Media, News Releases

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With the core value of social justice in members’ minds, I am thrilled to announce the release of three documents gifted to not only the League but all who visit the national website, cwl.ca. The first of these articles is an annual calendar that focuses on events relating to social justice. The vision of the Catholic social teaching working group (Shelley De-Serres, Belinda Halbach and Linda Maddaford) is that this tool be used to assist councils at any level in their annual planning. This resource provides many opportunities for self-education and an awareness that is broad in its perspective. The second resource is an extensive 64-page document containing an almost limitless listing of resources from books to websites, from videos to scripture references—all in one place! This resource meets the need for councils to learn more about the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching (CST). CST reflects the roots of the vision of God’s kingdom, which Jesus learned growing up in His Jewish faith and culture. The third, most recently released document addresses the first of seven key principles of CST, Care for God’s Creation. Enjoy! The link for each resource is on the national website under To Organize: 600 Series manuals.

Shortly following these documents will be a resource that addresses The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. This year the working group will work on completing the remaining five key principles of:

  • Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
  • Rights and Responsibilities
  • Life and Dignity of the Human Person
  • Community and the Common Good
  • Call to Family, Community & Participation and Subsidiarity

The advocacy working group (Margot de la Gorgendiere, Glenda Klein, Diane Lemay and Sylvia Jurys) has been working very hard to identify existing workshops, presenters and trainers and specifics about all of these resources that may be useful to parish councils. Parish council presidents and life members will have received an invitation to respond to some questions that will be used to identify councils with advocacy resources to share through the fall parish council mailing. The group hopes to receive a strong response from councils willing to submit resources they have at their disposal on advocacy. The group will reach out to these councils to collect the resources—which will then be shortlisted for future consideration—as it works toward creating a workshop “to address the needs of the League to train members in leading advocacy efforts.” According to its approved action plan, this workshop will be available by September 2022.