Peace & Justice Commission

What We Do...
... empowering the parish to actively participate on behalf of peace & justice
  

Commission members collectively decide where we will spend our energies in keeping with our mission.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES:
Our main focus for prayer, study and action this year is Poverty. Other activities include ...

Recent & Past Activities:

The following is a list of some of the past activities organized by the Commission.

  • Child Abuse Prevention. The Commission marked April 2002 as Child Abuse Prevention month, offering resources and educational information to the parish. In light of the continued clergy sex abuse cases, we revived our materials in the summer of 2004 to take advantage of a "teachable moment."
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Commission members mounted an awareness raising campaign in October 2001. In 2003 the Commission organized a Cell Phone Donation Drive for the Portland Women's Crisis Line. Donated phones can be used by victims of domestice violence to call 911.
  • Faithful Citizenship & Voter Registration in 2004.
  • Hunger Banquet. The Peace & Justice Commission hosted its first Interactive Hunger Banquet Saturday June 22nd. The event raised awareness and funds to fight hunger in Oregon and the World. 50 participants represented various countries around the world and received meals corresponding to their country's economic status. A total of $368 was raised for the Oregon Food Bank and MercyCorps International.
  • Hunger & Poverty Forum. In June 2001, the commission hosted short informational forums after mass highlighting the problems of hunger and poverty in Oregon. The USDA recently designated Oregon as the hungriest state in the nation. A short video from the Oregon Food Bank was shown and parishioners were given resources and information about donating food to our own food pantry.
  • Lenten Reflection Materials. The Peace & Justice Commission developed a voluntary simplicity based reflection guide for small faith sharing groups to use during Lent 2004. In 2005 we provided environmental based reflection materials.
  • Mental Health Forum. In February 2001 the commission hosted a forum on mental health. Over 35 people attended the event to learn about mental illness and what services are available in the area.
  • PDXPAX Bus Ad Campaign. In January and February 2002, Commission members coordinated an advertisement campaign on Tri-Met buses. The ad featured a picture of Afghan children and a quote by Eleaonor Roosevelt. The ad started as our response to September 11th and was intended to message of peace and global humanity in our local community. The campaign website, which was listed on the ads, contains links to humanitarian agencies working for justice in the region.
  • Refugee Resettlement. Commission members organized a welcome basket drive for newly arrived immigrants and refugees. Parishioners generously donated cleaning supplies and toiletries for refugee families. The welcome baskets were distributed by Catholic Charities. In Spring 2004 we welcomed the Wasongolo family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  • September 11th Anniversary. The Commission gathered resources to help our community remember and reflect on the events of September 11, 2001.
  • Simple Christmas. The Commission gathered resources to help make the Christmas season more spirit filled and less exhausting in since 2002.
  • Tax Day 2004, we gathered in Carvlin Hall to learn more about our tax system and then to discuss taxes in the context of our faith.
  • Understanding Islam Forum. January 31, 2002 we hosted an information night on Islam. We were joined by Imam Mikal Hammad Shabazz, head chaplain of the Oregon Islamic Chaplains Organization.
 
 
 
 
 
 
|Home | About Us | Activities | In the News | Service Opportunities | Links | Contact |

Last updated May 1, 2006
A project of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church