Who is JustFaith for?

The JustFaith (JF) ministry at Newman is for people of all ages who are looking for a deep spiritual experience, who want to increase their faith through community, and want to grow their compassion and expression of love for their neighbor. JustFaith is a series of programs providing a living experience of one of the best kept secrets in our Catholic tradition—our Catholic Social Teaching.

When does JustFaith meet? What does JustFaith do?

There are several programs available for the JustFaith ministry at Newman, including the 30-week faith formation intensive; and shorter focused modules (6 to 8 weeks in length). The 30-week JF program at Newman was first offered in 2007 and has continued consecutively every year. This program focuses on discipleship and the call to be about God’s dream of justice and compassion in a world scarred by domestic and global poverty. The next 30-week program will begin in Fall 2012 and will be offered every other year, alternating with short modular programs in the interim years. Graduates of earlier JustFaith groups who are interested in facilitating the next 30-week program should contact LaVera Crawley via email: lcrawleyjustfaith@gmail.com

This past fall we completed one of the short Just Faith program modules on Restorative Justice titled: “Prison Reform: Church of the Second Chance.” Facilitated by Amy LaGoy and Pat Rougeau,  participants learned what people of faith have to say about punishment and justice, identified common myths and perceptions, explored the concepts of rehabilitation and restoration, and discussed the systematic denial of 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 combine prayer, readings, videos, speakers, immersion experiences, community building, and dialogue to provide tools that have proven to be effective strategies for training and forming individuals as agents of social transformation in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching.

Contact

LaVera Crawley at lcrawleyjustfaith@gmail.com

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, 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)

Information of Interest to JustFaith Grads, Friends, and Supporters:

Five opportunities to hear Jack Jezreel, founder of JustFaith       Free will donation

 (no one turned away for lack of funds)

1. Friday, April 13, 2012:  7-9PM  South Hayward Parish  27287 Patrick Avenue, Hayward (southhaywardparish.org)
2. Saturday, April 14, 2012:  1-4PM:  Catholic Community of Pleasanton (St. Elizabeth campus:  4001 Stoneridge Drive)
3. Sunday, April 15, 2012:  5PM:  Los Altos United Methodist Church (Creekside Center)  655 Magdalena Ave. Los Altos
4. Monday, April 16, 2012:  4-6PM:  Social at Meg Bowerman’s in Oakland
5. Monday, April 16, 2012:  7-9PM:  Corpus Christi Church, Piedmont (church) 322 St. James Drive, off of Park Blvd.

Further information: Meg Bowerman   510 684-7139 megbowerman@gmail.com

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SATURDAY MORNING REFLECTION

For all Liturgical Ministers and

Newman Parishioners

“Like a Fire Burning in My Heart”

Saturday
March 24, 2012

9:00am – noon

What does Liturgical Ministry have to do with Social Justice?

Everything!!!

Come spend a few retreat hours reflecting upon the blessing and responsibility with which we are privileged each week at liturgy, as well as its potential for bringing about the reality that Jesus envisioned for our world.

Gina Hens-Piazza, member of our Parish, is Professor of Biblical Studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara and the Graduate Theological Union 

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Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): Volunteers needed to be A Powerful Voice in a Child’s Life®

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program is a nationally-based organization that provides one-on-one court advocacy to abused, neglected and abandoned children who are dependents of juvenile court.

There are nearly 60,000 children in the juvenile dependency system in the state of California. CASA of Contra Costa County and Alameda County CASA are 501(c)(3) community-benefit organizations and two of nearly 1000 CASA/GAL organizations nationwide. CASA programs recruit, train, and support volunteer advocates as a powerful voice for the best interest of abused and neglected children during the court process, in order to help every child ultimately thrive in a stable and permanent home. If you are interested in learning more about CASA and how you can make a difference in the life of a child by becoming a volunteer advocate, they offer Informational Sessions monthly. Please contact the Contra Costa County Office at (925) 256-7284 ext. 7 or visit their website at http://www.cccocasa.org/ for more information.  Or contact the Alameda County office at (510) 618-1964 or visit their website at http://www.casaofalamedacounty.org/.

If you live outside Alameda or Contra Costa Counties, visit the California CASA Association website at http://www.californiacasa.org to locate an office that serves your community.

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