What is JustFaith?
JustFaith is a series of programs providing a living experience of Catholic Social Teaching — one of the best kept secrets in our Catholic tradition. The JustFaith (JF) ministry at Newman offers parishioners opportunities to deepen their spiritual experience through study, prayer, discussion, and service.
Who is JustFaith for?
Are you wondering how to connect your Catholic faith to action? Do you feel that you’re called to do something, but aren’t sure what that is? Are you currently engaged in social ministry (community service) but desire a spiritual grounding for this work? Are you curious about the responsibilities of people of faith to the poor, to the undocumented immigrant, to the incarcerated, the hungry, to people of other faiths, to the environment? If so, JustFaith is for you.
When does JustFaith meet? What does JustFaith do?
There are several programs available through the JustFaith ministry at Newman. Among them are a 30-week faith formation intensive* and shorter issue- or practice-focused modules (6 to 12 weeks in length). The 30-week JustFaith program at Newman was first offered in 2007 and has been offered nearly every year since. This program focuses on discipleship and the call to be an agent for God’s dream of justice and compassion in a world scarred by domestic and global poverty. It will be offered every other year, alternating with short modular programs in the interim years. The current year’s 30-week program started on September 24, 2012.
*recently reconfigured to 24-weeks.
For more information about the current 30-week JustFaith Program, contact Joe Palladino at 510-593-8925.
Another program that’s been popular in recent years is Engaging Spirituality. In this 12-week program, participants explore a variety of spiritual/prayer traditions and learn to use them to support their own social ministry efforts and/or discernment.
For more information about this program please contact Megan Hast at her email address: M.K.Hast@gmail.com
In fall of 2011 we offered one of the short JustFaith program module titled: “Prison Reform: Church of the Second Chance.” Facilitated by Amy LaGoy and Pat Rougeau, program participants learned what people of faith had to say about punishment and justice, identified common myths and perceptions, explored the concepts of rehabilitation and restoration, and learned how our prison system neglects the humanity of prison inmates. As a follow-up event on February 9, JustFaith members sponsored a panel on Restorative Justice. For more information on Restorative Justice, click here to see Tikkun Magazine’s Online Exclusives.
All JustFaith programs include prayer, readings, videos, speakers, immersion experiences, community building, and dialogue, and encourage individuals to serve as agents of social transformation in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching. Participants meet weekly in small groups for the duration of the particular program. To explore some of the JustFaith programs visit the JustFaith website.
For general information about JustFaith @ Newman, or if you are interested in participating in a particular program or module, contact Amy LaGoy via email: aclagoy@gmail.com.
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Upcoming Events:
Monday, May 13th: Help change the CA prison system. Join with others from around the state to help persuade CA legislators to secure the rights of the formerly incarcerated. Learn more here.
May 14th: An Evening with Fr. Tom Bonacci: A Vision of Peace for Our Time. Join Fr. Tom Bonacci, C.P. for an evening of prayer, reflection and discussion in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth). We will look at the historical and current significance of Pope John XXIII’s Papal Encyclical addressed not only to Catholics but to “all men of good will”, and its call on our global and local communities and every human being to peace built on “the recognition, respect, safeguarding and promotion” of human rights and dignity.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 7:30 – 9:00 pm
WHERE: St. Joan of Arc, 2601 San Ramon Valley Blvd. San Ramon 94583
This event is free of charge but a free-will offering will be taken to support St. Mary’s Center in Oakland. For more information contact St. Joan of Arc’s Social Justice Committee Patrick Shandonay patrick.j.shandonay@gmail.com or 925 365-6838
May 19th: Catholic Charities Appeal: Please consider helping with this at the parish level: helping your pastor by speaking on behalf of Catholic Charities will alert fellow parishioners that you are aware of the impact this wonderful organization has made on folks in our Diocese and beyond. Contact Carol Louisell at clouisell@cceb.org to see how you can help.
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Testimonials
“We gained an awareness of the needs of the world and of our brothers and sisters through our JustFaith experience. This awareness has affected us in many ways including our desire to meet the needs of the Newman community.” -Joy and Gary Addiego (Founders of the His Hands & Feet ministry, Joy and Gary participated in the first Newman JF group; Joy is also a CASA Volunteer.)
“After finishing the 30-week JustFaith program, our group was looking for a project to work on together and we chose the Family to Family Partnership, a program of Catholic Charities East Bay that pairs interested parishioners, who form a team, with a family in need. We met a Bhutanese family recently immigrated from Nepal. I developed lasting relationships with members of the family as our team helped them toward self-sufficiency. I certainly received as much as I gave!” -Linda Safarik-Tong (from the first Newman JF group)
“A Just Faith immersion visit led me to volunteer in the library at St Martin de Porres School in West Oakland. The children can expand their imaginations, dream a life for themselves and travel the world through books. Taking a book home is a new experience for most of them, and I am pleased to be involved in expanding their horizons, thanks to Just Faith.” -Frances Reid (participated in the second Newman JF group)
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