Our Mission
Works to pray, educate, advocate and address social justice issues with our parish, community, and nation.
Love in Action:
Act justly. Love tenderly. Walk humbly with God.
Micah 6:8
Our ministry is inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Teresa of Calcutta, both of whom loved and followed the teachings of Jesus and are well known for their social justice and charitable works. The USCCB describes “two different but complimentary ways that we can follow the path of love” which are called the “Two feet of Love in Action”: social justice and charitable works. Both ways of following the path of love involve treating people respectfully, not oppressing them, standing with them in solidarity and providing support.
Social justice “concerns the social, political and economic aspects and, above all, the structural dimension of problems and their respective solutions.” Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, no. 201
Charitable works are the “response to immediate needs and specific situations: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for and healing the sick, visiting those in prison, etc.” Pope Benedict XVl Deus Caritas EST, no. 31. The goal is to create a society where all people have the support, the opportunity, and the infrastructure to become the people God created them to be.
We believe in following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our work is based on the teachings of Jesus as expressed in sacred Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. We hold these teachings in our hearts and prayers, our thoughts and words, and in our actions. St. Teresa of Calcutta encourages us to serve for “the love of Jesus, for the glory of God, and for the human good.” We believe that all people are created with love in the image and likeness of God and reflect his glory. We believe in Namaste, “The God in me beholds the God in you.” We are committed to the common good.
The USCCB describes Catholic Social Teaching as being a central and essential element of our faith. It is the basis for the Two Feet of Love in Action. Catholic Social Teaching began with Pope Leo Xlll in the late nineteenth century. Every Pope since then has continued the work and written on the principles to strengthen the Catholic social justice voice. Its roots are in the Hebrew prophets who announced God’s special love for the poor and called God’s people to a covenant of love and justice. It is a teaching founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ, who came “to bring glad tidings to the poor…liberty to captives…recovery of sight to the blind” (Lk 4:18-19), and who identified himself with “the least of these,” the hungry and the stranger (cf. Mt 25:45). Catholic Social Teaching is built on a commitment to the poor, the marginalized and the disadvantaged throughout the world. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the Eucharist.
You can read more on each point of social justice and how it relates to the Catholic faith here: Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:29
The core principles of Catholic Social Teaching are:
The Church’s social teaching shows us how to build a just society and live lives of holiness in the 21st century.
- Each person is SACRED, made in God’s image, equal in dignity.
- Each person is SOCIAL, called to participate in family and community.
- All people have RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES, the right to life and its necessities, the responsibility to respect the rights of others and work for the common good.
- We care for the people who are POOR and vulnerable, before all else.
- Workers have rights. WORK has dignity. We are partners with God in creation.
- SOLIDARITY is our call. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.
- We are for CREATION. We live in interdependence with all God has made.
Our Actions
“It is not how much we do but how much love we have…” Saint Teresa of Calcutta
- We pray individually and in community for the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit and for those we serve.
- We educate by writing articles in our parish bulletin, maintaining a web page on the SMCC website, collaborating with the Jubilee Garden Ministry to put on the annual Harvest Potluck and social justice presentation, as well as coordinating other presentations on social justice for the parish community.
- We advocate through opportunities such as those provided by the Montana Catholic Conference and the Network Lobby. We use our voices to discuss social justice issues with neighbors, friends, family, fellow parishioners and others who cross our paths.
- We act by providing assistance to individuals and families at God’s Love in a various ways throughout the year, by sending cards to Montana military members serving overseas and by supporting social justice and charitable activities sponsored by our parish. We include as many ministry members and parishioners as possible in our activities.
No One Is Buried Alone
People whom we prayed for and remembered at our parish’s Mass of Remembrance and Hope 2022.
Bury the Dead – Corporal Work of Mercy
Funerals give us the opportunity to grieve and show others support during difficult times. Through our prayers and actions during these times we show our respect for life, which is always a gift from God, and a comfort to those who mourn. USCCB
Pray for the Living and the Dead – Spiritual Work of Mercy
Prayer is one of the most powerful ways we can support others. Joining together in prayer for the living and the dead entrusts us all into God’s care. USCCB
Comfort the Sorrowful – Spiritual Work of Mercy
Be open to listening and comforting to those who are dealing with grief. Even if we aren’t sure of the right words to say, our presence can make a difference. USCCB
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mt 5:4
Inspired by sacred Scripture and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, the purpose of No One is Buried Alone is to pray and be present for those who have died and for those who mourn them at the time of burial. Ministry members and other parishioners attend burial services for indigent people organized by the Lewis and Clark County Coroner’s Office which are scheduled annually and the Longest Night Memorial Service for homeless people who have died in our community during the past year. This service is celebrated around our country on National Homeless Persons Memorial Day which is on the winter solstice. Watch the December bulletins for date, time, and location details for the service in Helena. We also support our parish tradition of attending funerals at our parish to offer prayers and the support of the parish community even if we don’t know the person who died. All of these people are remembered each year at our Mass of Remembrance and Hope and at masses throughout the month of November.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
At these services many of us have experienced the presence of God as a powerful outpouring of grace, mercy, and the spirit of divine and human love. It is sacred time in a sacred space. We have experienced the bonds of unity we share as people created and loved by God. We also appreciate the healing power of community as we connect with the deceased’s family and friends whenever that is possible.
Whatsoever you do for the least of my people, that you do onto me. Mt 25:40
Do You Want More Information?
If you want more information or want to attend an SFPTJ meeting (either in person or by Zoom), please email Sandi Ashley at sndashley@gmail.com.
