Racial Justice

Are you looking to learn more about race and its impact on different aspects of our lives? Would you like to learn how to live more justly and what our Catholic faith calls to do regarding advocating for justice? The racial justice study group will use readings, documentaries, and occasional speaker events. 

Click here to complete a form to indicate your preferences for meeting location, time, and day. If you have questions about the racial justice study group, contact Cindy Novak, Director of Parish Faith Formation at cnovak@churchofsttimothy.com or 763.784.1329.

• Racial Justice Statement from the Church of St. Timothy Social Justice Committee (November, 2020)
• Racial Justice Resource List
• Archdiocesan Day of Prayer and Fasting Against the Sin of Racism Wednesday, December 2, 2020
• Racial Justice Examination of Conscience
• Father Joe's May 31, 2020 Pentecost message in response to the death of George Floyd

The mission of St. Timothy’s Social Justice Committee is to engage social justice issues, to explore action strategies, and to respond to these issues and needs as concerned Christian citizens.  As Catholic Christians, we are guided by our Catholic social tradition and the principles of our Catholic social teaching. Since the Committee’s origin in 1970, the people of St. Timothy’s have contributed time, energy, and financial support to activities such as STOP (St. Timothy’s Overseas Project), Refugee Resettlement, Habitat for Humanity, Family Promise, Prayer for Peace, Community Garden, as well as presenting informational and educational panels and discussions around current matters pertaining to social justice. 

Recent and current events, locally and nationally, are now calling upon us to reflect and take action around questions of racial injustice. This call is echoed by Pope Francis, the US Bishops, and our own pastor, Father Joe Whalen. Members of the Social Justice Committee pledge to not only continue our ongoing projects (as listed above), but also to promote opportunities for discussion and action around recognizing and dealing with racism and prejudice, wherever and however it exists. This is grounded in our Catholic commitment to the belief that each human person is sacred and created in God’s image, as well as our Catholic commitment to solidarity – that “we are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, or ideological differences.”

We invite all members of St. Timothy’s Catholic Community, individually and collectively, to consider these matters prayerfully, and to follow St. Francis’ maxim: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,” remembering Pope Paul VI’s words that “if you want peace, work for justice.” Please consider taking action by joining us on the St. Tim's Social Justice Committee. The next meeting is next January 19 via Zoom. Email sttimothychurch@churchofsttimothy.com for the Zoom link for the next meeting. Scroll down to view a list of resources for prayer, study, and action for racial justice rooted in our Catholic faith.
             
            Avis Braschayko
            Anita Cholewa
            Mary Ann Cloutier
            Diane Hinds
            Tom Hinds
            Karen Holdgrafer-Berry
            Tom Kosel
            Kathy Lund
            Larry McPeck
            Maria Olson
            Cathy Peterson
            Kate Shea       
            Marilyn Wegscheider
           
            Deacon Joe Frederick*
            Therese Frederick*
            *Parish Staff Liaison
Approved by the Church of St Timothy Parish Pastoral Council

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church
“The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1935)

From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Open Wide Our Hearts: the Enduring Call to Love
Study guide for “Open Wide Our Hearts: the Enduring Call to Love”
Practical Steps for Eradicating Racism:  an Invitation
Website for USCCB ad hoc committee on racism

From the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
The Christian Response to Racism

From the Minnesota Catholic Conference (2 hour webinar, held September 9, 2020)
Open Wide Our Hearts: the Catholic Church Confronts Racism

National Black Catholic Congress
https://www.nbccongress.org/

Timeline on Black Catholic History
https://uscatholic.org/articles/200807/timeline-of-black-catholic-history/

Podcasts/audio resources
"A Response to Racism," June 5, 2020 interview with Fr Bryan Massingale on Commonweal podcast

Books
Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, Bryan Massingale
The History of Black Catholics in the United States, Cyprian Davis

Our pastor, Father Joe Whalen, wrote a letter for the Feast of Pentecost on May 31, 2020 in response to the death of George Floyd. Please click here to read the letter.