Annual Report to the Marianist Family
Council
from the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
(MSJC)
October 2009
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Introduction
We, the members of the Steering
Committee of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative, are proud and happy
to present the report of our ministry for the past year to the Marianist Family
Council. We are grateful for the support of the Family Council and the three
branches of our Family. We present this report in the name and the spirit
of Mary. We believe our collaborative work for justice this past year and
since our inception has been guided by the Marian charism bequeathed to us
by our founders.
We especially wish to acknowledge
that since its inception, MSJC has grown from the unity of spirit that we
have shared with the leadership of our three founding groups and now with
the Family Council. This report describes our efforts to support and also
seek the active involvement of many members of the Marianist Family. Chaminade’s
call to Marianists to be missionaries is a fundamental part of MSJC’s work
to draw Marianists to find strength in building up God’s reign of justice.
The report will note that
we continue to work in reaching out to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
persons in order to include them in the Marianist Family. We are also making
strides in our efforts to draw Marianists into a seamless garment of the consistent
ethic of life. Our work to improve the Think Globally, Act Locally workshop
as well as our formalizing a relationship with the Marianist Environmental
Education Center (MEEC) emphasizes a desire to establish ways that Marianists
can help develop a sustainable environment where all people can thrive. We
hope and believe that these efforts demonstrate our Marian dimension of inclusivity
and union with both the Church’s teachings and inclusion of all the baptized.
Primarily we believe that
our report demonstrates that we are continuing the dynamic aspect of consecration
to Mary which calls the Marianist Family to have justice at the core of our
life, the same core dynamic that Adele, Chaminade, and Marie-Therese lived.
We believe this is at the heart of the Marian church about which popes John
Paul II and Benedict XVI have spoken. It is the gift of the Marianist Charism
that calls us to assist in bringing about a new social order.
Individual reports from
our project teams and issue teams are also included following the overall
MSJC report. These highlight the initiatives, activities, challenges and
future plans of each of our teams. Also included at the end of the report
is an update from MEEC about their work with MSJC.
How We Operate
Our Steering Committee numbers
19 members and provides overall direction for MSJC. Steering Committee members
have three-year terms, renewable twice. The current chair is Brenda Fitzpatrick.
The current members of the Steering Committee are:
Ted Cassidy SM and Joe Markel SM – reps from the Society of
Mary
Leanne Jablonski FMI and Grace Walle FMI – reps from the Marianist
Sisters
Mike Gillespie and Brenda Fitzpatrick – reps from the Marianist
Lay Network
Ted Gorczyca, Al Prendergast, Cynthia Sias, Larry Hufford,
and Beth Garascia – issue or project team chairs or reps
Marlena Johnston, Errol Christian, Jessica Merugu, Julie Nagasako,
Bob Donovan SM, Bill Farrell SM – at large members
Myles McCabe – Director of the SM Peace and Justice Office
Tara Poling – MEEC representative
Jim Vogt is the Director
of MSJC and works 27 hours a week. Ann René McConn SNDdeN is Assistant to
the Director and works 7 hours a week.
We have five issue teams:
Alternatives to Violence (formerly War and Peace), Racial and Immigrant Justice
(formerly Anti-Racism), Death Penalty, the GLBT Initiative and Global Economic
Justice (formerly Sweatshop Labor); and two project teams: the Adele Social
Justice Project and the Marianist Mosaic. Each has a core group of between
three to ten volunteer members. Issue teams are focused on a particular social
justice issue while project teams have a broader focus, generally seeking
to call others to a deeper commitment to social justice within a Marianist
perspective.
The Steering Committee meets
bi-monthly by conference call and at least once a year for several days in
person. We met in January 2009 in Cape May Point at the Marianist Family
Retreat Center for our annual meeting. As we have in previous years, we scheduled
one evening at Cape May to meet with local Marianist Family members and friends.
Our Coordinating Committee serves as an executive committee for MSJC and normally
meets by conference call two times between each Steering Committee meeting.
Brenda Fitzpatrick, Ted Cassidy, Leanne Jablonski and Jim Vogt are the members.
The reps on the Steering
Committee from the three branches of the Marianist Family have all established
regular communication and dialogue about MSJC with the leadership in their
respective groups.
We have sought a diverse
geographic and cultural membership on the Steering Committee. In particular,
this year we have intentionally added three new members, two of whom are young
adults, two of whom are from Hawaii, to our committee. There are ten men
and nine women. There are six professed religious and thirteen lay Marianists.
We have one Hispanic member. Five are young adults (under age 40). Members
live in 8 different states and one foreign country. New members this year
are Jessica Merugu, at-large member from Cleveland, Ohio; Errol Christian,
at-large member from Honolulu, Hawaii; Julie Nagasako, at-large member from
Hilo, Hawaii and Beth Garascia, chair of the GLBT Initiative from So. Bend
Indiana. The term of Bob Donovan has been renewed for three years beginning
in 2009. Alison Zlatic left the Steering Committee in January (due to giving
birth to twins!). Ted Cassidy’s second term as chair ended in January, 2009.
Brenda Fitzpatrick was chosen as the new chair.
Highlights
of Our Work – November 2008
through October 2009
Much of our work this year
centered on continuing effort to achieve our goals which we established during
our strategic planning and subsequent Action Plan in January, 2008. Specific
progress on each goal is described in the following pages. We feel we have
made substantial growth with the Marianist Lay Network this year in our efforts
with MLNNA President, A.J. Wagner, to establish a realistic funding stream
for both MSJC and MLNNA as well as with our work with Julie Nagasako in planning
for the MLNNA Continental Assembly in July, 2010. We are also very pleased
to have sent Julie to the International Lay Marianist Assembly in Nairobi.
We recognize and appreciate the continued growth of the Adele Social Justice
Project which gives us signs of hope and outreach with the younger members
of the Marianist Family. Considerable time and energy during and after our
annual meeting in January, 2009 was put into the SM Strategic Plan discussion
questions which we took quite seriously and whose responses we are quite proud
of. And lastly, we have embraced the challenges of our financial responsibilities
in light of budget cuts and have worked diligently and cooperatively to develop
a realistic budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
Goal 1 – Communicate the gospel message of social justice throughout the Marianist
Family with an emphasis on education for action, personal stories of social
justice, and the integrated use of media and other communication tools.
Justice Jottings - MSJC has combined its mailing list with MLNNA to increase
our outreach of this monthly e-newsletter to almost 1500 people, which is
nearly double the amount of people we reached last year. Justice Jottings
is also promoted through Family Online and by the Marianist Sisters, certainly
adding to the number of people who read it each month. We consistently receive
positive feedback from our readers.
MSJC Website – In an effort to more effectively reach out to those not
already committed to social justice, we have continued our emphasis on featuring
Marianist communities and individual Marianists and how they act on justice
concerns in our stories featured on the website and in Justice Jottings.
Action Alerts on important national legislative issues are included monthly
in Justice Jottings and we send out separate alerts at other times when immediate
action is needed.
Think Globally Act Locally (TGAL) - Jim Vogt lead a group of Marianists
in Honolulu through this workshop experience in March of 2009. Just this
September, members of the steering committee as well as participants of the
TGAL held in Philadelphia and Dayton met to work on revamping the workshop
by combining existing information with that of the Awakening the Dreamer program.
This process is in its initial stages and will continue throughout the coming
year.
Online course - Jim Vogt developed and continues to facilitate the Marianist
online social justice course sponsored by NACMS. Brian Halderman was added
as a course facilitator in 2009.
How Do Marianists Do Social Justice – NACMS has published this article
written by Jim Vogt for the Things Marianist series. Copies
of this article were sent to Marianist communities and schools in November,
2009. Included with the article was a discussion guide for lay and religious
communities, written by Kevin Fitzpatrick, and a lesson plan for high school
teachers, written by Sr. Nicole Trahan FMI, to use as a complement to this
article. The article is based on resources developed by the Adele Social
Justice Project.
Goal 2 – Create opportunities for action and dialogue among communities and individuals
within and among the branches of the Marianist Family that deepen our solidarity
with the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed as we work for a world
of peace, justice and integrity of creation.
The Adele Social Justice Project (ASJP) – ASJP continues to experience substantial
growth in the numbers of young adults involved, the leadership engagement
and creativity of the young adults, partnerships with other Marianist ministries,
the extension to new geographical areas and nurturing of new young adult communities
(MLCs). An ASJP immersion weekend was held in June 2009 in Cleveland. The
Marianist Partners for Young Adult Ministry collaboration among Marianist
ministries has been a significant source of support, networking and invitation
to young adult participants in ASJP.
Consistent Life Ethic – MSJC is planning a workshop in March, 2010 titled “A Seamless
Garment Dialogue” which will bring together activists from a pro-life perspective
with those from a social justice perspective to explore ways to build bridges
between these two groups who too often have not been able to work together.
Fr. Joe Lynch SM will facilitate this workshop and Fr. John Langan SJ from
Georgetown U., an expert on Christian ethics, will be the resource person.
GLBT Initiative – MSJC continues to support the work of this initiative and
has officially included Beth Garascia, a founding member and current chair
of the GLBT Initiative, on the MSJC Steering Committee.
Goal 3 – Provide resources to and collaborate
with Marianist institutions, ministries, networks, and organizations to advance
our mission of justice.
We continue to look for ways that we can partner with Marianist
groups and how we can assist them, from a social justice perspective, to achieve
their goals. This year we have worked particularly with LIFE and the Marianist
NGO.
LIFE Program – The Death Penalty Team and LIFE have collaborated to develop
a LIFE module on the death penalty, which they used in their summer programs.
Marianist NGO at the UN – Bro. Steve O’Neil continues to work closely with
MSJC, as a member of the Global Economic Justice Team. He has also requested
our membership on a new Marianist International Advisory Board. Consequently,
we have appointed Ted Gorczyca and Marlena Johnston to that position.
Marianist Partners for Young Adult Ministry – MSJC, through the Adele Social Justice
Project, is the convener of reps from a number of Marianist groups that work
with young adults. They include LIFE, Cape May Family Retreat Center, U. of
Dayton, St. Mary’s U., Chaminade U., MVP, the SM Vocations Office, the Lay
Formation Initiative, and MLNNA. We meet quarterly by conference call.
We have made significant progress this year in developing a vision and potential
new leadership structure – the Marianist Young Adult Initiative – for Marianist
young adult ministry.
MEEC - Jim Vogt served on the MEEC Director’s Advisory Committee and will be
a part of the newly forming MEEC Advisory Board. Tara Poling brings life,
energy and commitment in her position as MEEC’s Program Coordinator and representative
on the MSJC.
SM Peace & Justice Office – Jim Vogt is in contact with Myles
McCabe about once a month formally and many other times informally. Myles
is an active collaborator as a member of our Steering Committee. There has
been much mutual promotion of programs and projects and a very healthy team
dynamism has developed.
Sponsoring Communities – SM, FMI, MLNNA - MLNNA and MSJC ties grow stronger.
MLNNA has made a definite commitment to provide $2000 annually to MSJC, a
significant part of their overall budget. They have also welcomed MSJC’s
involvement on the planning committee for the Continental Assembly in 2010.
For the first time in MSJC’S history, the chair, Brenda Fitzpatrick, is a
lay member of the Marianist Family. MLNNA President, A.J. Wagner and Jim
Vogt have worked closely this year to develop a funding stream for both organizations.
Ted Cassidy gives an update of MSJC activities to Bro. Steve
Glodek, liaison from the Family Council to the MSJC Steering Committee, usually
after each of the Steering Committee calls or meetings. Ted, as a member
of the SM Province's Peace and Justice Committee, keeps in frequent communication
with Myles McCabe and facilitates MSJC contact and concerns. He and Bro. Joseph
Markel keep in contact about MSJC work. All of these have been very beneficial
means of communication.
The Marianist Sisters contribute to MSJC's mission in many
ways - in finances from the Adele Mission Fund, in hospitality through hosting
Marianist Family events, in involvements in issue teams and projects, especially
in ASJP and the Death Penalty Team. The sisters have also been committed
to various advocacy efforts on behalf of the poor and marginalized. The
US Province has a social justice committee that reflects on the work of justice,
peace and integrity of creation within the province as well as the relationship
with MSJC. Over 90% participated in a recent social justice survey that included
feedback on MSJC. Overall, they see continuing growth in all members in educational
awareness, engagement, and corporate responsibility that is expressed by integration
in ministries and community life, voluntary activities and prayer for justice
concerns. Hosting a number of sisters from other countries during their studies
of English and contributing resources to India and Africa have heightened
their global solidarity. In the recent Educators in Faith meetings
in Rome, a number of sisters from other regions indicated they would like
to get copies of some of the ASJP resources in their own languages. Both
Dayton and San Antonio FMI communities very much appreciate and utilize the
resources and opportunities to collaborate that are offered through MSJC.
Goal 4 – Establish a realistic
funding stream for MSJC in collaboration with MLNNA, FMI, and the SM.
We received over $3,000 in donations this past year, by far
the most of any year. We now have the capability of receiving credit card
donations via our website through a link provided by the Marianist Mission.
A grant request has been submitted to the Raskob Foundation for ASJP for $14,000.
More foundation requests are likely this year.
The financial cuts (27%) this year have made our work more
challenging, but a lot of thoughtful and prayerful effort on the part of the
Steering Committee went into the development of a balanced budget. Still,
Jim Vogt’s hours were cut from 30 to 27 per week, and Ann Rene McConn’s from
14 to 7.
Other Key
Developments
Annual Meeting
- There will be no 2010 or 2011 meetings at our usual time in January. The
MSJC Steering Committee thoughtfully plans the locations for these meetings
in an effort to move around the country and connect with as many different
parts of the Marianist Family as possible as well as to experience the justice
issues and concerns in each given area. With this in mind, we will postpone
the January, 2010 meeting and meet in Honolulu in July, a few days prior to
the Continental Assembly. We are planning an immersion experience that will
help connect us to the native Hawaiian culture and justice issues facing Hawaiians
during our MSJC meeting and look forward to significant MSJC involvement in
the MLNNA Continental Assembly. In order to manage the additional costs of
transportation to Hawaii, we also decided to skip our annual meeting in 2011
and meet next in January 2012.
Special January 2010
Conference Call - Since we will not have an annual in-person meeting in January,
2010, we have decided to spend time in focused dialogue on Bro. Ray Fitz’s
paper, “The Marianist Movement and the Challenge of Urban Justice and Reconciliation:
An interim Report on a Conversation.” The Steering Committee will read the
paper and prayerfully reflect and respond to a set of guided questions we
have developed. Our responses to the questions will be read by one another
and discussed on a special two hour conference call. Bro. Ray Fitz will join
us on the call.
New MSJC Chair
– Ted Cassidy completed 6 years as chair of the Steering Committee in January.
The Steering Committee asked Brenda Fitzpatrick to take over as chair, and
she agreed to accept a 3 year term.
Overall Direction
of MSJC
The formation of an Action
Plan in 2008 has helped us focus on and achieve our goals. In response to
budget cuts we have called on our creativity to reach those goals, and made
short-term adjustments to reduce expenses. We are still growing and are committed
to staying open and listening to the needs of the Marianist Family.
We appreciated the SM’s
request for our involvement in their discernment of their Strategic Plan and
find that their resulting Action Plan emphasizes many of the dynamics that
MSJC has as its core purpose: advancing justice and reconciliation, partnering
with the Lay Marianist Family, fostering a network of faith filled apostolic
workers, encouraging cultural diversity, developing leadership for apostolic
endeavors, helping the retired and semi-retired discover new ways of involvement,
and developing relationships with third world Marianists.
We envision continuing to
be a means to foster these dynamics and more specifically the advancement
of programs to help all Marianists clarify and mature their grasp of justice
and reconciliation ministry. We look forward to helping the Marianist Family
in education and formation for justice as well as the implementation of justice
in our Marianist life.
Sincerely and with gratitude
for the Marianist mission we share,
Ted Cassidy SM
Leanne Jablonski FMI
Brenda Fitzpatrick
Jim Vogt
MSJC Coordinating Committee,
for the Steering Committee of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative
MSJC Issue Team & Project Team Annual Report Form - 2009
Team: Anti-Death
Penalty Issue Team
Chair: Sr Grace Walle, FMI
List current active members: Sr. Grace Walle FMI, (chair) Brian Halderman SM, Frank O’Donnell SM, Bob
Stoughton, Phil Aaron SM, Dick Olsen SM, Jerry Sullivan SM (Phil and Frank
finished their terms in Feb. 2009)
Summarize your 2008-2009 activities (from
Nov. 2008-Oct.2009):
Overall Team Goal - We focus our death penalty work
in five states in which we minister and have issue team members: Texas, California,
Maryland, Missouri and Ohio. Through conversations, printed materials, organized
workshops, and e-mail information we want to educate and involve Marianist
institutions and lay Marianists in our efforts.
MSJC Goal 1 - Communicate the gospel
message of social justice throughout the Marianist Family with an emphasis
on education for action, personal stories of social justice, and the integrated
use of media and other communication tools.
a.
Bob Stoughton
works with Ohioans to Stop Executions; Jerry Sullivan attended hearings in
Annapolis Maryland.
b.
Bob Stoughton
continues to contribute action steps and personal stories of issue team member’s
involvement to Justice Jottings. See Bro. Jerry Sullivan’s article on our
website about attending “Starving for Justice - Fast and Vigil” in Washington
D.C at the U.S Supreme Court.
c.
Brian Halderman
organized the videotaping of Liz Kaigh’s experience in the Texas Defenders
Services and linked it in Justice Jottings.
d.
A “template
letter” was created to use to write to government officials on behalf of the
issue team.
e.
Jerry lobbies
senators and congressman by email which included concern about using chemicals
in executions.
f.
Jerry joins
in prayer every Monday at the state prison in Baltimore
g.
Bob attended
a presentation by Sr. Helen Prejean in Cincinnati and organized a table at
the Yellow Springs Street Fair in June, the Dayton Peace Festival in Sept.
and a second street fair in Oct.
h.
Grace keeps
in contact with Texans to Abolish the Death Penalty and is planning another
St. Mary’s law school educational event. The issue team met with their state
director, Kristen Houle, in San Antonio during our annual meeting to discuss
cooperative opportunities.
i.
Brian Halderman
and Grace Walle attended the Texas Coalition against the Death Penalty conference
on Oct. 27 in San Antonio.
j.
Dick connected
with Riordan HS to get students to enter an anti-death penalty video contest,
however no one applied.
k.
Dick distributed
“Writing Wrongs”, a booklet on writing letters to the editors.
l.
Dick is going
to attend “The Future of San Quentin Prison”.
m.
Dick wrote
letters to the governor and parole boards and the US Parole Commission responded
to his letter about Leonard Peltier.
MSJC Goal 2 - Create opportunities
for action and dialogue among communities and individuals within and among
the branches of the Marianist Family that deepen our solidarity with the poor,
the marginalized, and the oppressed as we work for a world of peace, justice
and integrity of creation.
a.
We invited
Judge A.J. Wagner, MLNNA president, to our annual San Antonio meeting which
also resulted in extending our connections with the U.D. law school administration
in providing a scholarship internship for a law student. Thanks to U.D. Law
School faculty member Lori Shaw and Ohio Defender Services Tim Young, a U.D.
law student, Dan Perry, was chosen and successfully completed his internship
with Ohio Defender Service. He wrote about that experience in Justice Jottings.
b.
We provided
resources for Marianist high schools by sharing resources and speakers for
area presentations (sent letter with resource info).
c.
Grace met
with LIFE program social justice coordinator Chip Williamson and networked
our resources to provide a training session for moderators and a social justice
theme day on the death penalty during all the LIFE programs in summer 2009.
d.
Meeting with
the Racial & Immigrant Justice Team to discuss issues of mutual concern.
MSJC Goal 4 - Establish a realistic
funding stream for MSJC in collaboration with MLNNA, FMI, and the SM.
a.
We are seeking
sources for funding an additional internship in Ohio.
b.
We received
a $2,000 grant from the Marianist Sharing Fund with the understanding that
we would match the funds. The matching was completed with the donation of
funds from U.D. for the law student internship.
c.
We planned
a fund raising gathering at our annual meeting in coordination with St. Mary's
Law School alumni and invited Texas area anti-death penalty agencies to find
means to collaborate and bring awareness of our fund raising efforts for law
student internships. It was held at the home of St. Mary’s alumni Jim and
Rosalyn Collier. The speakers included Joan Cheever, a St. Mary’s Law School
alumni and the author of Back from the Dead, and David Atwood, the
founder of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and author of
Detour to Death Row. Individuals made contributions to our funds to
continue internships.
Plans for 2009- 2010, especially as they
relate to the MSJC goals
a.
We need to
add team members, especially younger members, to the issue team. We have
been unsuccessful in finding a team member from St. Louis.
b.
We will hold
our annual meeting in Dayton and follow up with UD about another internship
for a UD student. We hope to include A.J. Wagner in some part of our meeting
or social.
c.
Follow up
with LIFE program about the workshop that was held on the death penalty to
assess its success in educating moderators and students. (Grace is on the
LIFE board and will connect with them on this.)
d.
Continue to
organize and advertise our internships with UD and St Mary’s students and
invite Dan Perry (and possibly Liz Kaigh) to our meeting in Dayton, Ohio in
February.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Team
a.
The strength
has been consistency in meeting and involvement of individual team members
in their state organizations.
b.
The weakness
is turnover of team and not being able to replace them with younger members
Our Impact
We have been a voice for the Marianist lay and religious with
other larger anti-death penalty organizations both locally and nationally.
People in these organizations have expressed appreciation for our donation
of time, funds, involvement and interest. We have reached out to high schools
through the Journey of Hope programs, with the LIFE program and to faculty
in social justice workshops. We have raised funds. At each of our annual
team meetings we have met with local organizations and/or Marianist lay and
religious to discuss issues. We have been involved in our Marianist universities
sponsoring Sr. Helen Prejean and Journey of Hope presenters as well as establishing
student internships. We have annually fulfilled the goals we established.
We are only a small group with lots of education yet to be done since people
are still being executed, even wrongfully.
MSJC Issue Team & Project Team Annual Report Form – 2009
Team: GLBT
Initiative
Chair: Beth Garascia
Current active team members: Matt Dunn, Beth Garascia, Dominic
Garascia, Hank & Nancy Mascotte, Jim Vorndran SM, Terry Weik SM and Linda
Zappacosta
Summarize your 2008-09 activities (from
Nov. 2008 – Oct. 2009):
We presented our program, “A Place at the Marianist Table”,
to the NY/NJ young adult group on Nov. 23, 2008 and to the Marianist Family
Retreat Center Board on May 19, 2009. From Jan. 29-31 we had a GLBT Initiative
meeting in Dayton, OH. At this meeting we summarized and evaluated our presentations
during the past year, set goals for the year 2009 and, because we had as a
goal to involve more young adults, invited Matt Dunn to join our initiative.
He accepted. As a result of this meeting, we 1) issued an invitation to Laura
Collins, a young adult, to join us at our next meeting in January 2010 with
the possibility of becoming part of the initiative; 2) developed a manual
for use of MLC’s, SM or FMI communities who’d like to participate in the program;
3) uploaded our “A Place at the Marianist Table” program to the website; 4)
made connections with the LIFE team and FIGS (Forum for the Integration of
Gay Spirituality, a support group for gay members of the SM); 4) contacted
several SM communities (the Lindell Blvd. Community in St. Louis, the Casa
Maria Community in San Antonio, the Stonemill, Trinity Ave., Alumni Hall,
and Marianist Novitiate Communities in Dayton), to ascertain their interest
in participating in “A Place at the Marianist Table.” 5) contacted several
MLC’s (Micah in Dayton, St. Anthony’s in Maui, Adele Social Justice project
and the young adult communities sponsored by AJ and Joan Wagner in Dayton)
to see if they’d be interested in participating in our program; 6) requested
that we become an Issue Team, and when that request was granted, are now in
the process of creating a page for our Issue Team on the MSJC website; and
7) continued writing a piece each month for Justice Jottings on GLBT issues.
Plans for 2009-10, especially as they
relate to the MSJC goals:
Our main goal is to help Marianist communities become places
where members of the GLBT community feel welcome, creating an opportunity
for active dialogue which deepens solidarity with GLBT Catholics, who are
marginalized from the Catholic Church. To accomplish this we want to see our
program, “A Place at the Marianist Table”, be one which can be used by Marianist
communities worldwide without it being necessary for one of us to be part
of the presentation. To this end we developed the manual with the hope that
others can easily access the program. We plan to continue making presentations
to SM communities and MLC’s and possibly at the MLNNA Continental Assembly
in July 2010, with the long range hope of encouraging Marianist high schools
and universities to also be places where the GLBT community is welcome.
Strengths and weaknesses of team:
Our strength is the passion each member feels about this issue,
his or her dedication to the goals of the Issue Team, and the willingness
of individuals to spend time doing so. Weaknesses are the limitations of
the amount of time each of us has and the fact that we are geographically
dispersed.
Impact of the team:
Several groups to whom we’ve made presentations have asked
for follow ups (Maranatha, St. Joe parish team in Eldersburg, and the NY/NJ
young adult group). One person whom we know of has come out as a result of
the presentations and another indicated someone coming out would be beneficial
to her community. Positive feedback has been received on the evaluations
about a spirit of hospitality on the writers’ group to the GLBT community.
The three articles we’ve written for Justice Jottings which have included
a link are the ones most opened by the readers, which indicates there is a
wide interest in this subject.
MSJC Issue Team & Project Team Annual Report Form – 2009
Team: Racial
& Immigrant Justice
Co-Chairs: Ted Gorczyca, Pati Krasensky
Current active team members: Fr. Ted Cassidy SM, Ted Gorczyca, Pati
Krasensky, Carol Weiss, Rudy Reyes, Jr., Sherine Green, Linda Flores-Tober,
Carlos Tober
Summarize your 2008-09 activities (from
Nov. 2008 – Oct. 2009):
The name of the issue team was changed from Anti-Racism to
Racial & Immigrant Justice (RIJ) to better reflect the focus and scope
of our mission
We created a packet of information and recommendation for resources,
which included a prayer service and suggested videos, which could be used
by communities for reflection/discussion/action. The packet was sent to a
target group, feedback was requested and reviewed by the team – then the packet
was sent to all religious communities and lay communities registered with
MLNNA. The packet is also now available on the MSJC website.
The team considered a proposal from the steering committee
to combine the Marianist Mosaic with the RIJ team. The proposal was discussed
at length with the chairs of both teams. It was decided that at this time,
it would best serve the Marianist Family to keep the teams separate, but that
the RIJ team would help promote and encourage participation and use of the
Marianist Mosaic.
As a result of continued recruitment efforts, we have added
people to the team, as well as collaborated with individuals interested in
working on projects and initiatives with us.
We have connected with local and national organizations ‘doing
the work’ of migrant outreach services, as well as lobbying for legislation.
We have contacts with Just Friends in Elizabeth NJ, Reform Immigration for
America through the state director in PA, and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
The team had a face-to face meeting at the Romero Center in
Camden, NJ the weekend of Sept 11-12. Two men who had emigrated from Mexico
joined us to help in our efforts and to share their stories. They will continue
to help out in whatever way they can. As a result of that meeting we came
up with a plan of action that includes ways to raise awareness, network, educate
and advocate for fair legislation.
Four members attended the 2009 Philadelphia Convening on Immigration
sponsored by the USCCB – Justice for Immigrants campaign. The event resulted
in increased awareness and knowledge on the intricacies of the immigration
reform issues the nation faces, as well as ways for our team to connect with
existing advocacy campaigns and networks to more effectually address immigration
reform.
Plans for 2009-10, especially as they
relate to the MSJC goals:
MSJC Goal 1 – Communicate
the gospel message of social justice throughout the Marianist Family with
an emphasis on education for action, personal stories of social justice, and
the integrated use of media and other communication tools.
Begin a “People in the Spotlight” article for Justice Jottings.
This would include an interview with people who are recent immigrants or who
are working with the migrant population, recounting their stores and struggles
especially in light of current legislation.
MSJC Goal 2 – Create
opportunities for action and dialogue among communities and individuals within
and among the branches of the Marianist Family that deepen our solidarity
with the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed as we work for a world
of peace, justice and integrity of creation.
Creation of a workshop to increase awareness of the plight
of immigrants, and encourage shared story telling as a way to open hearts
and minds. The workshop will be offered to communities and parishes.
MSJC Goal 3 – Provide
resources to and collaborate with Marianist institutions, ministries, networks,
and organizations to advance our mission of justice.
·
Continue to
promote and encourage the use of the ‘Immigration Packet’ distributed earlier
this year, and encourage the Marianist family to get involved with action
alerts and advocacy campaigns – especially the upcoming ‘postcard’ campaign
sponsored by the USCCB Justice for Immigrants campaign.
·
Review existing
resources for preaching & teaching about immigration, and create a recommended
resource list for use by priests and others to convey the message of Catholic
Social Teaching.
·
Meeting scheduled in San Antonio to reach out to the Marianist Community of
St. Mary’s.
·
Network with and among members of Marianist communities to solicit names of
prospective candidates who may be interested in supporting our mission.
Strengths and weaknesses of team:
·
Strength: increased participation – which has
increased the energy of all members – and our dedication to the reform of
immigration policy in the US. We have gained strength in increased knowledge
through our interactions locally, and our involvement in the 2009 convening
in Philadelphia.
·
Opportunity: Last year, the small number of team
members was considered a weakness. This year we have increased participation,
with a number of recommendations of new people to contact in order to widen
our geographical impact.
·
Weakness: Time – all participants have other
responsibilities to jobs and families that inhibit participation on a larger
scale.
·
Threat: Lack of showing progress; potential
sources of distractions; lack of momentum; lack of resources for maintaining
existing relationships and developing new ones.
Impact of the team – what difference our
actions made:
The biggest impact of the team has been on the team. We have
found focus and energy for our mission and are operating from a position of
strength and conviction. We are moving forward from a strong foundation, raising
awareness in our existing communities and creating new connections and being
involved in a network to share ideas and information in an effort to mobilize
our network to effect change when the time comes.
MSJC Issue Team & Project Team Annual Report Form – 2009
Team: Alternatives
to Violence
Chair: Larry Hufford
The Alternatives to Violence Issue Team has continued to promote
the awareness of peace organizations in the Middle East and US peace efforts
in the region. Current organizational activities and US legislative
alerts have been posted on the MSJC website, for example, a link to “A Catholic
Petition to End the War”. This petition is a call for signatures from
Catholics for an end to the war in Iraq. Links to Israeli-Palestinian
peace organizations are on the same site as is the link to the Foundation
for Middle East Peace which has further links to articles on efforts to negotiate
peace in the region.
The second issue for the Alternatives to Violence Issue Team
is the effort to deepen the commitment to leading personal lives rooted in
non-violence. The effort to have individuals, families and local communities
(for example, parishes) dialogue about the problems and possibilities of active
non-violence on the family and local community continues. This is done
through a continuing effort to have those who view the Alternatives to Violence
link consider “A People’s Peace Initiative” framework for dialogue as well
as “Engage: Exploring Nonviolent Living”, a program to deepen one’s understanding
of non-violence.
Efforts to engage students at St. Mary’s University in small
group discussions of the theology and philosophy of non-violence on the personal
level continue.
MSJC Issue Team & Project Team Annual Report Form – 2009
Team: Global
Economic Justice
Chair: Al Prendergast
Current active team members: Bill Hirt
PhD (Microbiologist), Rich Wokutch PhD (Prof. at Virginia Tech), Bro. Steve
O’Neil S.M. (Director, Marianist NGO to UN), Chuck Vehorn PhD (Economics Prof.
at Radford College), Mark Ensalaco PhD (Prof. at UD), Al Prendergast (retired
business executive)
Summarize your 2008-09 activities (from
Nov. 2008 – Oct. 2009):
Global Economic Justice is a very broad area of concern. Our
committee continues to focus on the well being of the lowest paid and least
represented workers. We are collaborating with the National Labor Committee
(NLC) to bring Family of Mary members the opportunity to participate in this
movement by using “I Care Cards” when they shop and by writing government
officials and business leaders on this issue. We believe that these actions
continue to have a positive effect on the well being of workers. We will
continue our efforts in the coming year with a more focused approach to letter
writing and continued support of the work that the Interfaith Center on Corporate
Responsibility is doing in this arena as well. One specific action that occurred
this past year is that Virginia Tech students lobbied the university’s purchasing
department and got them to agree to join the Worker Rights Consortium. This
is a more vigilant agency for assuring that college apparel is made in compliance
with UN worker rights and intercollegiate manufacturing guidelines. Additionally,
our team wrote to President Obama and Secretary Geithner urging them to use
caution with the “Buy America” movement which was winding its way through
Congress. The goals of Global Economic Justice tie in very well with Pope
Benedict’s Encyclical “Caritas in Veritate” (Charity in Truth).
Plans for 2009-10, especially as they
relate to the MSJC goals:
The Marianists’ responses to the ship breaking horrors in Bangladesh
were the best responses that the NLC received on their request for support.
We are working towards a closer link to this type of action when issues arise.
We are also looking into an effort to raise wages of the lowest paid workers
who have the least voice in the work place. We do not think any other organization
is focusing on the economic advantage to the local economy, local government
and local and regional businesses from paying a fair wage to the lowest paid
workers. We hope to have a proposal on this effort by our Steering Committee
Meeting in Hawaii in July.
Strengths and weaknesses of team:
The team is made up of six very experienced social justice
advocates who have a proven track record of social justice achievements.
We have a good group who can think through the issues and formulate actions.
We have many contacts in the business, academic and NGO communities.
However this means our team is made up of experienced but older
members. We need younger team members who are willing to work and take on
responsibilities and, sooner rather than later, to take over leadership roles.
Impact of the team – what difference our
actions made:
Workers are better off today than they were when we started.
However, we still have a long way to go to really improve their lives and
the lives of their families in a meaningful and lasting way. We thank you
for your past support and ask for your continued support of the Global Economic
Justice Team.
MSJC Issue Team & Project Team Annual Report Form – 2009
Team: Adele
Social Justice Project
Co-Chairs: Steve Hemphill & Lisa McCracken
Current active team members:
There are now over 85 young adults
and young adult communities in six cities participating in ASJP-related activities.
The Core Team is listed below and consists of nine members including founding
members from MSJC steering committee/staff (*) and six young adults who are
each representing cities of past and future immersions and their local young
adult communities.
Amy DeMatteo Elliott (Cleveland)
Bob Donovan, SM* (MSJC steering committee)
Steve Hemphill (San Antonio)
Cynthia Sias (Dallas/MSJC steering
committee)
Ruth Pera (St. Louis)
Leanne Jablonski, FMI* (Past chair/mentor)
Laura Libertore* (ASJP staff)
Lisa McCracken (New Jersey/NYC)
Jim Vogt* (MSJC staff)
Summarize your 2008-09 activities (from
Nov. 2008 – Oct. 2009):
This has been an exceptional year for
the Adele Social Justice Project (ASJP) in our developing a community-based
planning model and conducting an immersion in Cleveland, in empowering more
young adult leadership, and in young adult fundraising and financial stewardship
of our resources.
In Nov. 2008, the Cleveland team, led
by Amy Elliot, continued their community-based planning for the immersion
they hosted in June 2009. This immersion was held in a local Hispanic parish
retreat house and featured urban bus trips and service to a homeless shelter
and reuse facility. Three participants hoping to extend the project attended
– one from Marianist communities in Honolulu, Lalanne/UD in Indianapolis and
St. Mary’s U/now in Chicago. One exciting outcome from the longer-term planning
and recruiting in Cleveland is that campus ministry and young adult service
programs in two of the participants’ cities have expressed interest in using
the immersion program and resources in their own settings.
The ASJP Core Team met for its annual
planning meeting in Dayton last November, and built strategies for better
coordination, expanding our reach by discerning the inclusion of more young
adults and creative use of resources. The ASJP Core Team will meet in person
for its 2009 annual meeting on November 13-15th in Dayton, OH.
We will celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and thoughtfully plan
for the future. We are in the process of recruiting more young adults, drawing
in those from future cities that have expressed interest, such as Indianapolis,
Chicago and Dayton. We will again host an open social and justice dialogue
event on Saturday night for young adults and those who work with them.
Over the past year, the Core Team has
been co-chaired by Steve Hemphill and Lisa McCracken. Aware of the need to
steward financial resources wisely, and to empower young adult leadership,
we are also grateful that the young adult core team has worked so well at
dividing up the numerous tasks that had previously been done by ASJP staff.
ASJP has especially been focusing efforts
on how to fundraise effectively for the future, and how to add a fundraising
component to the Facilitator Manual for future immersion weekend leaders.
ASJP is also excited to have a webpage on the MSJC website which allows others
to learn about the project, as well as a Facebook group that connects old
and new ASJP members online.
Through individual donors, ASJP was
very successful in raising the $2500 needed to secure the $2500 Sharing Fund
matching grant. The additional $5000 is important additional financial support
for the project.
Plans for 2009-10, especially as they
relate to the MSJC goals:
Currently, we are planning for a 2010
young adult weekend that will likely be in Indianapolis, and focus on young
adult educators. ASJP is also planning to be part of the MSJC contribution
at the MLNNA Continental Assembly in Honolulu for a workshop or field trip
engaging conference participants in social justice,
The Core Team is exploring how the
resources used in the participant binder and facilitator manual can be shared
in other settings, and investigating copyright and distribution possibilities
and dialoguing with NACMS. Once finalized, the team will develop a plan to
share these resources with the Marianist Family.
Finally, the Core Team plans to continue
outreach to young adults through the website and Facebook page as well as
exploring other ways to get young adults involved in online fundraising for
this cause. We also plan to look at ways to broaden our funding base so that
we have the financial resources necessary for project growth.
Strengths and weaknesses of team:
The ASJP Core Team possesses many strengths,
most importantly a great energy and excitement about Adèle and her mission
as well as a strong commitment to social justice and to sharing that excitement
and commitment with other young adults. The Core Team is fortunate to have
the support of Laura Libertore as a staff person who has been with the project
since the beginning and is gifted in planning immersions and developing the
wonderful binder resources for the weekend. We are also blessed to have the
support, wisdom and knowledge of Leanne Jablonski (who serves as a mentor
of the co-chairs), Bob Donovan, and Jim Vogt. All were instrumental in getting
the project started and ensure that the integrity of the project is maintained
while allowing young adults to place their mark on it. Each Core Team member
also brings a set of gifts and talents to make the Core Team well rounded.
The Core Team members have diverse experiences within the Marianist Family
(geographically and programmatically), which adds a wonderful perspective.
The major weakness of the team is that
each member is very involved in many different things and so time can be limited.
The team is trying to develop ways to deal with people’s limited time such
as opening important committee work to other interested young adults who would
like to contribute to such a dynamic project. Our current subcommittees are:
Communications/PR, Resource Development (Binders), Fundraising, Immersion
Programs/Retreat Sessions.
One challenge that faces ASJP is funding.
The Core Team is exploring ways to continue to support the project and is
developing a fundraising plan as well as looking at grant possibilities.
We recognize that young adults are diverse in the financial resources available
and so are also looking at ways to ensure that young adults are making an
investment in the project (through time, talent and treasure) in both local
groups and continuing the project networking goals nationally. Another challenge
is increasing involvement of young adults in ASJP leadership tasks which we
are addressing by inviting additional members.
ASJP is fortunate that there is interest
and support throughout the Marianist Family and particularly among young adults,
an important leadership resource for our Marianist Family future.
Impact of the team – what difference your
actions made:
*stimulating formation of young adult lay communities that
last beyond the length of the initial retreat;
*providing a place for young adults in the Marianist Family
to network in community & grow in faith & justice outreach;
*bringing the Marianist charism with a fresh, youthful face
to the immersion cities – both to cities with traditional Marianist presence
and to new areas;
*bringing young adult experience of contemporary technical
savvy to MSJC;
*helping amplify the young adult voice in the Marianist family,
and give young adults who have moved ‘away’ from their root-cities a new Marianist
home and family network.
Marianist Environmental
Education Center
October, 2009 Updates for the Marianist Family Council
MEEC continues to implement
the strategic objectives and initiatives set forth in our 2012 strategic plan.
Chief among our priorities are collaborating with the Marianist Family on
education for sustainable living; helping people and groups connect their
lifestyle decisions with social and environmental justice; and fostering community
as integral to our formational mission. We achieve our mission - in part
- by providing high-quality resources and support services to Marianist communities,
promoting and creating lived experiences of environmental ethics and developing
the Catholic Marianist connections to ecology.
Context: Several events and trends impacted
our focus and activities over the past year.
·
In late 2007, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men and
the Leadership Conference of Women Religious passed a joint resolution (supported
by the SM and FMI reps to these organizations) on climate change. The resolution
emphasized the grave moral consequences of climate change, particularly on
those living in poverty. As a result, the SM in August of 2008 set climate
change as their justice priority and invited MEEC to help lead their response
in collaboration with the SM Office of Peace, Justice and Integrity of Creation.
Thus, climate change evolved as a significant national focus.
·
Our formalized relationship with MSJC, established at the suggestion
of the Marianist Family Council, has helped MEEC establish a more continental
presence and has provided an institutional connection to lay groups.
·
The National Catholic Rural Life Conference provided a survey
to gauge religious involvement in conservation and environmental issues that
we sent to all SM communities. Responses provided helpful feedback as we
plan for the future.
Actions: Over the past year, we:
·
Compiled climate change education packets and distributed them
to all SM directors at their October 2008 meeting.
·
Purchased copies of the Just Matters climate curriculum
for use by Marianist communities;
·
Developed an evening meeting/retreat process and tested it
with the DeSales Crossing Marianist Community;
·
Surveyed SM communities nationally on their environmental activities;
·
Worked with MSJC to sign on as a lead organization to the Catholic
Climate Covenant, coordinated by the Catholic Climate Coalition. CCC information
and materials were promoted within all three branches of the Marianist Family;
·
Attended the Marianist Family East Coast Reunion in fall, 2008
and shared resources;
·
Provided a walk-through energy audit of the Cape May Point
Family Retreat Center and made concrete suggestions for reducing energy use,
many of which have been implemented;
·
Participated in the SM strategic planning process and advocated
for the inclusion of stewardship concerns;
·
Worked with the Mount St. John Green Team to provide print-ready
environmental content for Marianist E-Newsletters;
·
Conducted an afternoon session on stewardship for the Common
Bond (former SMs) retreat;
·
Conducted a climate justice workshop for the Ohio Catholic
Education Association conference which drew lay Marianist and SM educators;
·
Served as a service site for Dayton-area Marianist students
from Chaminade-Julienne and UD;
·
Adapted MEEC’s sustainable lifestyle resources for the Adele
Social Justice Project trainings.
These and other experiences in the past year have highlighted
several key considerations as we plan future steps:
·
There is important environmental work being done institutionally,
communally and individually in the Marianist world that must be nurtured,
promoted and expanded.
·
Our collaboration with the laity must be strengthened in future
initiatives.
·
There is important work to be done on sharing elements of Catholic
Social Teaching and connecting gospel values with contemporary environmental
concerns.
·
We must continue to connect energy use with fiscal stewardship
and identify cost-saving measures for Marianist entities.
Plans for the future:
In the coming
year, we will:
·
Collaborate with MSJC to adapt the Awakening the Dreamer
Symposium for use in Marianist Communities. The symposium is a powerful
group experience that promotes an environmentally sustainable, spiritually
fulfilling and socially just human presence on the planet as an achievable
goal. Introduced to MSJC and MEEC by Fr. Ted Cassidy, who hosted the symposium
in Cape May. Jim Vogt has been testing videos from the symposium in Marianist
workshops, and Sister Leanne Jablonski has experimented with its use in a
classroom setting. MSJC and MEEC will incorporate Catholic teaching on the
environment and justice into the process and develop tools for theological
reflection.
·
Establish an advisory committee from across Marianist world
to help us implement elements of our strategic plan, particularly helping
us develop a strong network of contacts among North American Marianist institutions,
packaging our materials for use in other Marianist settings, educating and
mobilizing their local Marianist communities, and contributing to the dialogue
between the Marianist charism and ecological concerns.
·
Welcome Joe Janosik, SM novice, to the MEEC team. Joe
will complete his ministry experience with MEEC. Joe has a degree in physics,
a strong commitment to social justice and working knowledge of energy efficiency.
In response to the Catholic Climate Covenant materials, he conducted an audit
of the San Antonio Casa Maria community. He will help us develop user-friendly
assessment and education tools and identify local opportunities to conserve
energy.
