Justice, Charity, and Care of Creation

JPIC Overview

Five clear themes emerged from the JPIC portion of the Strategic Plan:

  1. The need to increase communication, understanding and participation in JPIC activities throughout the parish and school;
  2. The need to reach out beyond parish boundaries to collaborate with other faith communities and other organizations;
  3. The need to be more inclusive, both for people participating in JPIC activities, and for people who are touched by JPIC activities;
  4. The need to improve the parish's care for the environment at all levels;
  5. The need to integrate these themes, and all key aspects of JPIC (direct action, advocacy, outreach, etc.) with each other, as well as with other dimensions of parish life, notably Faith Formation, education, and Evangelization.

Despite the simplicity with which these themes may be stated, the JPIC goals and proposals are very specifically worded, and are interrelated in complex ways. In addition, the scope of current JPIC activities and proposed new and expanded activities is very broad. The time, talent and resources needed to realize all these proposals may exceed what is available. It is therefore perhaps best to view the proposals as establishing an overarching vision for the future of JPIC at St. Camillus, to be followed in spirit and not to the letter. The JPIC committee and other responsible parties will perforce need to evaluate, interpret, prioritize, modify and augment these proposals accordingly.

JPIC Goal 1:

St. Camillus Church has developed effective and creative ways of communication among the members of its diverse community, including the Parochial School, that initiate and deepen their engagement in justice, charity, peace and the integrity of creation outreach of our parish.  

JPIC Goal 1, Proposal 1:

Broaden participation in social justice activities, including advocacy and direct service, among the many ethnic communities at St. Camillus. Empower these communities to deepen their understanding of local and global social justice issues and to take effective and appropriate action to address these issues.

Rationale/Explanation:

Our various ethnic communities often face urgent social justice issues either at the local level or in their countries of origin.  The JPIC ministry will help them to identify and prioritize issues, determine an approach, develop and carry out plans of action, and engage the resources and participation of the larger parish as needed to support the response. The JPIC ministry may also provide appropriate resources, and/or additional help with related activities such as preparing presentations.

JPIC Goal 1, Proposal 2:

Extend and deepen awareness of, and participation in, the various JPIC programs among our parishioners and the St. Francis International School community.  Foster communication and collaboration between our diverse parish groups and St. Francis International School and assist them in integrating direct service, advocacy and outreach efforts.

Rationale/Explanation

Many members of our faith community and those involved in our parochial school are not aware of the full scope of our parish’s programs in the areas of charity, justice, peace and the care for creation.  These programs include the Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul Society Direct Service outreach, Gabriel Project and other pro-life direct services, Habitat for Humanity, Fair Trade, Meals on Wheels, Catholic Community-Langley Park, St. Francis Builds International and other groups.  A greater effort must be made to raise the awareness within our parish community about how St. Camillus Church witnesses to the transformative power of the Gospel though our charity, justice, peace and care for creation ministry. This would benefit the education and faith formation of our whole community, while increasing participation in JPIC activities.  This could be accomplished by:

  • Using existing communication tools (bulletin, web site and newsletter) to highlight the charity and social justice outreach done by parishioners.
  • Including at least one of the St. Camillus social ministries in the intercessions each week.
  • Improving communication and collaboration between the JPIC ministries of our parish and St. Francis International School.
  • Incorporating information about the parish's social ministries into Faith Formation programs for children, youth, and adults, for example, RCIA, RCIY.
  • Building onto current programs, especially in the school. For example, students who already donate food to the food pantry might benefit from learning more about food stability, or about who is served by our pantry.  Similarly, students have participated for years in the annual SSIHC Help the Homeless mini-walk. The children listen to speakers and learn the personal stories of homeless people.  This activity could be extended to include advocacy.  Older children could (for example) write letters to elected officials pointing out the symptoms and some of the root causes of homelessness such as the lack of affordable housing.
  • Empowering our church and school to participate in social justice and letter writing campaign advocacy efforts such as those offered by the Bread for the World and other esteemed ecumenical or interfaith organizations.
  • Exploring establishing relationships between St. Camillus Church and local, faith-based groups involved in community grass roots organizing efforts. While local community organizing has been identified as a very important element of the Best Practices for Parishes in the area of justice and peace, the fact that our parishioners come from such a wide area might present a serious challenge in engaging in this important element of the social justice ministry. Further study is needed.

Future Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Increase use of web site, bulletin, and intersession for JPIC activities

JPIC ministry

First year

Establish dialog, prioritize and plan activities described above

JPIC ministry and LFFD

First year

Implement planned activities

JPIC ministry, LFFD, Faith Formation

First year and on

 

JPIC Goal 1B:

St. Camillus parish reaches out and collaborates with local communities of other Christian denominations and faith traditions as a witness to God’s universal call and desire for justice, peace and harmony with all God’s creatures, which are hallmarks of God’s kingdom.  

JPIC Goal 1B, Proposal 1:

Form an Interfaith Outreach Committee (IOC) that would develop and carry out plans to expand and strengthen St. Camillus' relationships with other local churches, synagogues, mosques and temples.  Invite participation in this committee from the wider parish, but especially from interfaith families connected to the parish or school.

Rationale/Explanation: Although this clearly fits in the context of JPIC, this type of outreach is distinct and should be conducted as a separate committee within the JPIC ministry. The committee should also strive to bring in new participants from the parish. Special efforts should be made to reach out to interfaith families: couples from other faith traditions (or whose households have mixed faith traditions) that attend St. Camillus, or have children at St. Francis International school. By "reaching in" to our own communities to involve these interfaith families, the committee would be more inclusive and welcoming. At the same time, these interfaith families' gifts and perspectives would help make connections with local churches, synagogues, mosques, or temples.

Future Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Form Interfaith Outreach Committee, including interfaith families described above.

Fr. Jacek, Karen Simon

First year (already underway)

Organize and participate in interfaith events such as the "Peace in Action" conference.

IOC, with participation from the Communication Ministry, and St. Francis International school.

First year on (already under way)

Find ways to welcome visitors from local churches, synagogues, mosques, and/or temples, and to promote among St. Camillus parishioners opportunities to visit other places of worship.

IOC, with invited participation from Liturgy committee

Second year

Integrate learning about other faith traditions into Religious Education and St. Francis International School curricula.

IOC, Catherine Maresca, the Office of Faith Formation, a representative of the school.

Second year.

[The JPIC team prepared a longer, more detailed set of action steps.  This set of steps will be given to the JPIC team as a recommendation… but has been taken out of the Strategic Plan, as the team needs to be free to adapt their plan depending on interest and time availability] 

JPIC Goal 1B, Proposal 2:

St. Camillus Church will actively promote the participation of parishioners in direct service, formation/education about specific social justice issues, and advocacy, building on our ties with organizations like the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, the Montgomery County Interfaith Council, Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Tent of Nations, and Churches for Middle East Peace.

Rationale/Explanation: While JPIC Goal 1B Proposal 1 focused on "in-reach", this proposal focuses on outreach: expanding our commitment to justice, peace and the care for creation, especially concerning the Middle East. Through intentional and proactive engagement, we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit active in our world that challenges us to be continually evangelized while empowering us to evangelize other people and our society.  As we recall the passion, openness and humility with which St. Francis of Assisi traveled to the Middle East and encountered people of other faith traditions, we also desire to emulate his virtues of respectful dialogue and collaboration with those around us who profess other creeds. The action steps below are suggestions for how to achieve this type of collaboration, and will need to be vetted, prioritized and planned by the JPIC committee.

Future Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Promote the annual Maryland United for Peace with Justice conference that will be hosted by our parish.

The JPIC coordinating team, the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, the Communication Ministry

First year (April 2011)

Join advocacy effort for a just peace in the Holy Land.

The JPIC Advocacy team, former participants in Franciscan Peacemaking pilgrimages to the Holy Land, the Communication Ministry.

Spring 2011

Engage the youth of our parish in efforts to bring together members of local synagogues, mosques, and/or temples around common, short-term projects.

St. Camillus Interfaith Outreach Committee, the Youth Ministry.

Second year.

Incorporate stories and testimonies of our interfaith efforts into the Faith Formation (RCIA, RCIY, stewardship presentations, etc.)

LFFD, IOC, Faith Formation ministry, the Communication Ministry.

Second and third year.

Proposed Budget, Goal 1 Proposals

A full budget proposal will be supplied to the Finance Committee before any expensive actions are undertaken.  Some budget needs that are already apparent include:

Budget Item Estimated Annual Cost

Speakers/Panelists                                                                                          $1,000

Fees and tuitions to attend JPIC conferences,                     $1,000

seminars and workshops.

 

JPIC Goal 2:

The JPIC ministry at St. Camillus is well coordinated and inclusive as it effectively collaborates across the diverse parish community and its school, St. Francis International.

JPIC Goal 2, Proposal 1:

Develop organizational structures that would ensure that the concern for justice, peace and the integrity of creation is a constitutive element in the ministries of all three language groups at St. Camillus church.  Form linkages between the Spanish and French JPIC Teams, and the Parish-wide, multicultural JPIC Coordinating Team. In addition, the structures should be inclusive of participation by all ages, with special efforts to include youth and seniors.

Rationale/Explanation

As stated in the 1971 Synod of Bishops: “Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church's mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation.” St. Camillus already has a reputation as a caring community with its many charitable outreach programs and the proud record of engaging its parishioners in the Faith Formation programs on Catholic Social teachings, such as Just Faith program.  However, there is a clear need to make certain that the social justice ministry at St. Camillus parish is better integrated into the ministries of our Spanish and French language groups.   At the last Town Hall meetings, the members of these communities expressed a desire to learn more about the Catholic Social Teachings.  They also want to have opportunities to act on it those teachings.  Also, all three language groups pointed out a lack of communication regarding what are the JPIC present efforts, its successes and challenges.  Our parish needs to be more intentional about including all parts of its diverse community in JPIC ministries.   Achieving this requires developing organizational structures and a short, medium, and long term plan of action.

Action Plan

• Several early steps towards this goal have already been taken, including offering of a six-week workshop in Spanish on Catholic Social Teachings by Fr. Jacek.  Moreover, a Latino JPIC subcommittee has already been formed and quite active.  This subcommittee is closely linked to the parish-wide, multicultural JPIC team (led by Fr. Jacek, Ray Nosbaum, Will Morataya, and Lupe Mena).

Future Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Cost Estimate

Start using all possible media to inform parishioners about JPIC activities (the bulletin , our website, posters, presentations/panels, etc.)

Genie Moreno, Stan Gomes

Coordinate with Communication Ministry

First year of plan

$300

Form a French JPIC team

Fr. Jacek and Fr. Jean Marie

First year of plan

n.a.

Organize a special JPIC training retreat for the French community

Fr. Jacek and Fr. Jean Marie

First year of plan

n.a

Work with the French-speaking JPIC team on developing a structure for a French-speaking JPIC sub-committee and a plan of action.

Fr. Jacek, Ray, Theodore Ngatchou, Luc Bijad, Fr. Jean Marie

First year of plan

n.a.

Link the French JPIC team to the parishwide, multicultural JPIC Coordinating Team

Fr. Jacek, Ray, Theodore Ngatchou, Luc Bitjad, Fr. Jean Marie

First year of plan

n.a.

Start collaboration between the three JPIC teams (Hispanic, French and parishwide/ multicultural coordinating team)

Everyone named above

Begin first year of plan

TBD

JPIC Goal 2, Proposal 2:

Enter into a dialogue with individuals and groups in the Parish who feel marginalized or excluded from entering into the full life of our parish community, e.g., gays, divorced, single/separated parents, interdenominational or interfaith marriages.  Develop a plan that will help our parish to be more responsive to their needs.

Rationale/Explanation

Addressing the needs of the poor and marginalized is an essential element of the Church’s mission.   St. Camillus already has a reputation as a caring community.  Still, there are a significant number of people who feel alienated or excluded from the Church.  We need to examine how our Parish community could create a more welcoming environment and engage them so that together, as one diverse community, we may witness to the Gospel values of justice, peace and the care for creation.

As a Franciscan parish, it’s part of our charism to reach out to those who feel alienated, forgotten or wounded by the church.    

Future Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Engage in dialog with self –identified individuals, who may feel excluded and marginalized.  Offer a safe forum where these individuals could gather and express themselves and recognize that the Church not only welcome them but also needs their gifts and talents.

Family and Pastoral Care Committee

First year of plan

Identify ways to involve and support people in the Parish who may feel marginalized.

TBD

First year of plan

JPIC Goal 3:

St. Camillus Church and School have significantly reduced their carbon footprint, making its building facilities and communal and individual practices of its members more ecologically sustainable.  

JPIC Goal 3, Proposal 1:

The parish Energy Conservation committee – with the support of external consultants as needed to guide and support the committee – will review and decide on the bidding proposals on possible energy saving projects and will oversee the energy retrofitting efforts.

Rationale/Explanation:

Recognizing the complexity of any serious energy efficiency measures and the need to be responsible stewards of the financial resources of the parish, it is crucial to ensure that someone with professional expertise should assist us in this process.   It will also help us to make prudent judgments and consider various variables (prices of a particular energy retrofitting measure relative to its energy conservation value.)  Areas of potential energy projects include:

i.                  Heating: Replace aging boilers, steam traps and pumps.

ii.                  Cooling: Replace aging chillers, cooling towers or pumps.

iii.                  Ventilation and Distribution: replace fan or pump motors.

iv.                   Controls: Install improved control system or improve operational strategies.

v.                  Lighting: Replace lamps and ballasts or entire fixtures

vi.                  Building envelope: windows and insulation.

vii.                   Plug Load and Operations: freezers, refrigerators, window units, time of use.

viii.                  Renewable options: solar, geothermal, natural day lighting (ex: Orion)

 

JPIC Goal 3, Proposal 2:

The parish Energy Conservation committee will keep the parishioners informed about the ongoing energy conservation effort at St. Camillus campus, educating them not only about what we do in that regard, but also providing the theological justification for it and suggesting ways in which they as individuals and/or families can reduce their own carbon footprint.

Rationale/Explanation:

Many of our parishioners have asked that our parish become more ecologically conscious and sustainable in its practices.  As we are responding to that call, it’s critically important that we effectively communicate with the larger parish regarding what is being done and why.  Also, since we want to make  care for creation one of the hallmarks of the education in St. Francis International School, we as a parish have a responsibility to model this for our children, their families, and all our parishioners.  In a certain sense, it is a test of our integrity.  What use is it if we sing songs praising God for the beauty of creation, preach and teach about the environmental stewardship, if we are unwilling to wrestle as a faith community with the question of how our lifestyles and decisions regarding the parish budget and its priorities are to be affected by the Christian beliefs that we’re professing?

One example of a possible, environmentally sound practice that could be promoted in our church is to have a system that would help our parishioners to organize a Sunday carpool to the church for a Sunday Mass and any other major parish events.  To that end, we ought to make a better use of our parish website.   Carpooling may also help foster a greater sense of community and reduce the parking frenzy.

There are some other ways that we could encourage our parishioners to lower their carbon footprint.  One of the most significant ways in which a person can lower one’s carbon footprint involves food choices. According to a U.N. report “livestock production accounts for more greenhouse gases than automobiles,” and that “ the average American can do more to reduce global warming emissions by adjusting their meat eating habits than by switching to driving the most fuel efficient car currently on the market.”  For the sake of our intellectual and moral integrity, we ought to examine our current lifestyles and our food choices in light of our religious values and make necessary changes.

Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Cost Estimate

Assemble a team of parishioners that will convey to the members of St. Camillus Church what are the specific energy conservation measures that are being recommended for our parish facilities, what positive impact can be expected in terms of financial savings and carbon footprint reduction.

Fr. Jacek

First year of plan

n.a.

Employ a central purchasing model to provide environmentally friendly office paper products, bathroom tissue, etc.

Fr. Jacek

First year of plan

(current cost of these supplies + 10%

Use “green” products in building maintenance; consider the best “green practices” in terms of the maintenance of the grounds for the parish and school.

Fr. Jacek

First year of plan

n.a.

Make more publicly known and enforce the St. Camillus policy regarding the use of bottled water, plastic food ware, balloons, etc. at the parish and school functions.

Fr. Jacek, Philippe Hensel

First year of plan

Reduction in cost of purchasing these items.

Place more well-marked recycling bins on our campus; ensure that these materials are appropriately recycled.

The Green Team and Fr. Jacek

First year of plan

$5000

 

Develop a plan to encourage groups to purchase organic and locally grown foods, products that are fair trade certified, and products with minimum packaging.  Approach the individuals who are in charge of organizing various parish-wide events and engage them in a conversation about  how we could promote more ethical and environmental friendly food choices at parish functions.

Fr. Jacek, Philippe Hensel, Ray Nosbaum

Second or third year of plan

Current cost of organizations to purchase refreshments + 10%

The Green Team of the parish will channel the information about the “greening efforts” at St. Camillus through our bulletin and website (in English, Spanish and French.)   In addition, the Green Team will create large poster boards with the benchmarking information and display them in prominent locations in the church’s vestibule and the school. Information on website will include specific ways in which a person can reduce one’s carbon footprint.

Fr. Jacek, Philippe Hensel

First year of plan

$100

Parishioners who are interested in organizing a carpooling to church will be offered a logistical assistance: those who would like to participate will be asked to sign up and give their address and some form of contact (email or phone), and the mass which they attend regularly.  The board would essentially be a Google Earth file on the St. Camillus web site showing the locations of registered parishioners.  It will be possible to see who is interested in carpooling to church.

Philippe Hensel

Second or third year of plan

TBD

Create a parish-wide Care for Creation/Green Contest in which families will be encouraged to create and display projects that demonstrate what they as a family have done over the past months to lower their carbon footprint at home.

Fr. Jacek, members of Hispanic JPIC Team

Each Fall and Spring, starting Second year of plan

$250 (for incentives and awards)

The Latino Young Adult Group “Utopia Franciscana” will create a script and give a public presentation of a social-drama focused on the theme of care for creation.

The Latino JPIC group and Fr. Jacek

Second year of plan

TBD

Offer at least one workshop in each of the languages focused on how to conserve energy, save money, and become a more faithful steward of God’s earth.  Extend the invitation to our children and the parents of the St. Francis International School.

Fr. Jacek, members of Hispanic JPIC Team

Second year of plan

$250

Up to three parishioners will attend a conference devoted to the theme: “Energy Stewardship for Congregations – a Practical Guide to Taking the Next Steps.”

Selected members of the St. Camillus Green Team

First year of Plan

$120 each

JPIC Goal 4:

St. Camillus parish has made justice, peace and care for creation an integral part of its liturgical life, Life-long Faith Formation of its parishioners and the curriculum of St. Francis International School.

JPIC Goal 4, Proposal 1:

The JPIC ministry, Religious Education office and the Liturgy committee, will collaborate with respect to finding new ways of increasing liturgical literacy of the children, youth and adults, while helping them to make a more explicit connection between religious ritual and justice, peace and care for creation.

Rationale/Explanation: A the town hall meetings, many members of our multicultural faith community expressed a concerned over what they perceive to be a low level of liturgical literacy among our parishioners.  Given that too many Catholics are still unfamiliar with the Catholic Social Teachings – and acknowledging the ancient maxim that our worship profoundly influences our beliefs (Lex orandi lex oredenda)- we need to make sure that we put a greater emphasis on intimate connection between the Eucharistic mystery and our public commitment to justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

 


Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

JPIC and Liturgy committees will work together to develop a plan to further integrate advocacy into the liturgical life of the parish.

JPIC coordinating team, the Liturgy committee.

First year of plan

Designated representatives from JPIC and the Life-long Faith Formation will meet to explore new ways of helping children and youth – and indirectly adults – to make a more explicit connection between the liturgy, i.e., Sunday  Mass, baptisms, first communion, confirmation and justice, peace and care for creation, e.g., homilies, prayers of the faithful, advocacy opportunities.

JPIC Coordinating Team, Lifelong Faith Formation Director (LFFD); Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE)

Second year of plan

Children and youth will be encouraged to use their new, re-designed stewardship envelopes that will allow them to write down on it what they will have done to help the needy, promote justice and peace and care for the earth.   A small sample of these written offerings will be published in the weekly bulletin and the parish website.

Religious education office, JPIC Committee and  Stewardship committee

Second year of plan

 

JPIC Goal 4, Proposal 2:

The JPIC Ministry will work with the Youth Minister of the Parish on specific ways to further incorporate the JPIC teachings and advocacy into Youth Ministry, e.g., J-walking, movies with JPIC themes, CRS programs on global solidarity targeting youth, field trips, short retreats with JPIC themes, consistent ethic of life session in preparation for the March for Life. In the future, the JPIC Ministry will consider planning, developing and providing in-service workshop opportunities for catechists in each of our three major language groups.

Rationale/Explanation: Many parishioners at St. Camillus have expressed a hope and strong desire that St. Camillus would continue to be creative in deepening the parish’s commitment to JPIC.  The members of the JPIC ministries agree with that.  We believe that we need to be very intentional about providing the best formative experiences to our youth – a new generation of leaders in our church.  This will allow them to discover “the best kept secret of the Catholic Church,” that is, the Catholic Social Doctrine.

Furthermore, it was pointed out in the BPP Catechesis Study Area survey that our catechists had not been receiving adequate support and assistance.  We recognize that our catechists deserve not only the best resources but also the benefit of a formation in the Catholic Social Teachings.  These will help us to effectively engage the children, youth and their parents.

Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Recruit the adults who are knowledgeable and passionate about the JPIC issues and interested in working with the youth of our parish and the Director of Youth Ministry.   Ensure those adults volunteers follow the archdiocesan procedures and go though the Save Environment training.

JPIC Ministry, the coordinator of the Youth Ministry, Director of the Life-long Faith Formation.

First year of plan

Prepare a special program on St. Francis and the Franciscan care for creation around the feast of St. Francis.   It will have a hands-on dimension as well as a reflective piece.

JPIC Ministry, the Liturgy committee,

First year of plan

Organize two presentations dealing with the consistent ethics of life in preparation for the annual March for Life.

Fr. Jacek

November/January

In collaboration with the school and the Lifelong Faith Formation Director, offer a retreat – designed to provide JPIC formation and support for our catechists.

JPIC Ministry, the Life-long Faith Formation Director, the Office of Faith Formation.

The second year.

JPIC Goal 5:

The JPIC ministries of the parish collaborate closely with the Finance Council to ensure allocation of appropriate resources for its ministry, and foster further communication, transparency and accountability vis-à-vis the larger parish.

Rationale/Explanation: A parish budget and its investments portfolio are theological statements that ought to reflect the priorities and mission of a parish.  As we move towards becoming a tithing parish, our parish may need to follow the lead of many other stewardship parishes in which a certain percentage of the weekly offertory are allocated for the work of charity and justice apart from any Archdiocesan or Provincial special collections.  Folding this and other charity and JPIC related items within a regular parish budget are likely to enhance the communication, transparency, and accountability within the larger parish.  Likewise, for our ethical integrity we ought to ensure that our financial investments are “socially responsible,” which means that we’re not investing the parish money in companies that, for example, produce weapons, support oppressive regimes like in Darfur, or cause environmental degradation.

JPIC Goal 5, Proposal 1:

The JPIC Coordinating Committee will submit to the Finance Council their recommendation and rationale for expenditures in the areas of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation.

Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Propose an annual budget for the JPIC Ministries

Fr. Jacek, Ray Nosbaum, and JPIC coordinating team

Every year between May and June

 

JPIC Goal 5, Proposal 2:

The JPIC Coordinating Committee will review the funds included in our investment portfolio and will advise the Finance Council ways to ensure the parish funds are not invested in companies whose corporate actions are widely considered to be socially irresponsible and contrary to the teachings of our church or the directors of our Franciscan Province.

Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Socially responsible investments

Fr. Jacek, Ray Nosbaum, the  JPIC Coordinating team

Second or third year

JPIC Goal 6:

St. Camillus will seek new ways to preserve the tradition of action to serve the poor and marginalized.

 

JPIC Goal 6, Proposal 1:

Provide a detail assessment of the current direct service outreach at St. Camillus to the poor and marginalized and, on the basis of input from our English, Spanish and French-speaking parishioners, develop a plan for a possible expansion of the present scope of serving the needs of the poor and marginalized. 

Rationale/Explanation:  May people come to our parish seeking assistance. They are of various income levels, ages, languages.  The members of St. Vincent DePaul society at our parish, and our Parish Secretary have been very faithful in the service to those who come to our parish seeking help.  However, given the present economic downturn, the need for assistance of various kinds is growing.  The fact that a large percentage of our parishioners speak only Spanish or French compounds the challenge that we face.  The various Franciscan parishes throughout the Holy Name Province that have robust outreach to the poor in their respective ministries might offer us some additional ideas that we could adopt.

Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Provide a detail assessment of the current direct service outreach.

Patrick and Patty Brown, Sandra Perez and JPIC Coordinating team.

TBD

Develop a plan for expanding the impact and effectiveness of serving the needs of the poor within the context of the St. Vincent DePaul program, in full compliance with the St. Vincent DePaul charter.

Patrick and Patty Brown, Sandra Perez and JPIC Coordinating team to work with St. Vincent DePaul

 

Consider developing similar partnerships with other programs that are geared toward other specific marginalized groups, e.g. medical clinics ministering to HIV patients

JPIC Coordinating team.

Second or third year

JPIC Goal 6, Proposal 2:

Provide our parishioners with more information about the successes and ongoing needs of our Langley Park mission outreach.

Rationale/Explanation

St. Camillus is part of a Parish Partnership with the Catholic Community of Langley Park (CC – LP), St. Elizabeth’s in Rockville, MD, and Our Lady of Mercy, Potomac, MD.  The Partnership began in January 2009 and involved hiring a part time staff person to help coordinate this effort.   Many of the St. Camillus parishioners have expressed an interest at the Town Hall meeting in learning more about our Langley Park outreach.   They also voiced a desire to be more involved in developing a close relationship with the Langley Park community.

As St Camillus develops its Communication Ministry (see Community Building Goal 4, proposal 1), the JPIC Coordinating Team will seek to ensure that the information about the Langley Park outreach is given a high priority and that that it’s communicated on a regular basis.

 

 

 

Action Steps

Responsible Parties

Time Frame

Develop a link between the St. Camillus Partnership Committee and the JPIC Coordinating Team.

JPIC Coordinating Team (CT), Direct Service and Outreach Coordinator(s) and members of the Parish Partnership Committee

Second year of plan

Work with the Communication Ministry to ensure that the Parish Partnership Committee communicates more effectively about the Partnership, the relationships and the service opportunities at the Langley Park outreach mission.

Communication Ministry representative, team named above

Second year of plan

Establish regular communication and ensure that St Camillus JPIC activities related to the needs of the Catholic Community of Langley Park are treated as a priority.

JPIC CT Communications Team and the Parish Partnership Committee

Second year of plan