OVERVIEW OF CHARITY

APRIL

Virtue: Justice

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)

Catholic Graduate Expectation: A Reflective, Creative and Holistic Thinker

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching: Participation

Overview of the Virtue of Justice

Justice means that we deal fairly with others, recognizing the equality and dignity of all.

It requires that we work to insure that all people, especially the poor and the weak, have access to opportunities.

It assumes that none of us is free until all of us are.

One of the central tenants of Catholic Social Teaching is the dignity of the human being; we are all created in the image of God, and therein rests our inalienable dignity.

Justice is extended to people, animals, the environment; the whole universe.

Catholic Graduate Expectation -- I HAVE IDEAS!

A REFLECTIVE AND CREATIVE THINKER WHO:

Recognizes there is more grace in our world than sin and that hope is essential in facing all

challenges.

Creates, adapts, and evaluates new ideas in light of the common good.

Thinks reflectively and creatively to evaluate situations and solve problems.

Makes decisions in light of gospel values with an informed moral conscience.

Adopts a holistic approach to life by integrating learning from various subject areas and

experience.

Examines, evaluates and applies knowledge of interdependent systems (physical, political,

ethical, socio-economic and ecological) for the development of a just and compassionate

society.

Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

PARTICIPATION:

All people have a right to participate in the economic, political and cultural life of society. It is a

fundamental demand of justice and a requirement for human dignity that all people be assured a

minimum level of participation in the community. Conversely, it is wrong for a person or a group to be

excluded unfairly or to be unable to participate in a society.

Witness to Charity

St. Catherine of Siena

Saint Catherine of Siena, T.O.S.D. (25 March 1347 in Siena – 29 April 1380 in Rome), was a

tertiary of the Dominican Order and a Scholastic philosopher and theologian. She also worked

to bring the papacy of Gregory XI back to Rome from its displacement in France, and to

establish peace among the Italian city-states. Since the 18th June 1866 she is one of the two

patron saints of Italy, together with St. Francis of Assisi.[1] On the 3rd of October 1970 she was

proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI,[2] and on the 1st October 1999 Pope John

Paul II named her as a one of the six patron saints of Europe, together with Benedict of Nursia,

Saints Cyril and Methodius, Bridget of Sweden and Edith Stein.

Catherine’s life was marked by intense mystical experiences, an extraordinary gift for human

friendship that attracted people to her from all walks of life, and a very public role as a Church

ambassador.

- Mary Malone

Reflection Inspired by the Charity of Catherine of Siena

But even more,

God has so identified Himself with us

that our love for one another truly binds us to God as well.

Jesus told me:

“I have put you among others

so that you can do for them

what you cannot do for me….

Love them without any concern for thanks,

and without looking for any profit for yourself,

and whatever you do for them,

I will consider done for me”.

- Catherine of Siena

“Caring Charitable Teacher” Action of the Month:

“Say things to students that avoid causing defensiveness and resistance on their part.”

- Michael Ungar, Strengths-Based Counseling With At-Risk Youth

Liturgical Calendar and Saints of the TCDSB

Liturgical Calendar

Palm Sunday, the final Sunday before Easter Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week.

Christian churches distribute palms on Palm Sunday to commemorate Christ's triumphal

entrance into Jerusalem, when palm branches were placed in His path, before His arrest

and Crucifixion on Good Friday. This year, Palm Sunday falls on March 29th, 2015

Holy Thursday is the day that we celebrate the Last Supper, at which Christ instituted

the Mass and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. It is the first day of the Triduum, the

three days before Easter Sunday, during which we commemorate Christ's Passion. Holy

Thursday falls on April 2nd, 2015.

Good Friday is on April 3rd, 2015

Easter, the greatest feast day in the Christian calendar, celebrates the Resurrection of

Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday falls on April 5th, 2015

The "liturgical year" begins on the first Sunday of Advent and ends on the last week in Ordinary Time with the Feast of Christ the King. The liturgical year consists of two times: one can call the first time “special season times” and the other is known as ordinary time. The special season times are, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Triduum, and Easter, during which a particular mystery of salvation is celebrated. Ordinary Time, in turn, does not hold any particular mystery, but rather the same mystery of Christ in His fullness, especially on Sundays. Ordinary Time is divided into two parts throughout the liturgical year and in total lasts 33 or 34 weeks.

Saint Days Of The Toronto Catholic District School Board

St. Richard – April 3

Cardinal Carter – April 6

D’Arcy McGee – April 7

Holy Redeemer, James Culnan, James Cardinal McGuigan – April 8

Blessed Margherita of Castello – April 13

St. Kateri Tekakwitha – April 17

St. Anselm. St. Conrad – April 21

St. Fidelis – April 24

St. Mark – April 25

Our Lady of Wisdom – April 26

Catholic Charities of the Month

Romero House

Romero House welcomes refugees from all over the world – men, women and children, families or parts

of families. It respects and welcomes all regardless of race, religion, political opinion, gender, sexual

orientation or membership in a particular social group. At Romero House differences are seen as a

source of strength rather than a reason for division.

Volunteers can join Romero House in a variety of ways:

Be an English conversation partner to help residents practice what they learn in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes

Tutor children in school subjects and literacy. Tutors meet with students weekly or biweekly

Mentor children through playing games and spending time with them

Help with special events and projects as needed

Help fix bicycles and play sports with the kids (summer only)

Help with numerous other activities in the office! e.g. reception, office help, second harvest

If you are interested in volunteering part-time, please call or stop by our office to request an application

form. After you have filled out the form our volunteer coordinator will contact you to set up an

interview.

Donations of many kinds are gladly accepted:

Financial

Clothing boutique

Furniture

Visit the website for more specific information www.romerohouse.org

Street Patrol

●What is it? Men, women, and youth (13 years of age and up) walking the streets of downtown Toronto, offering food and friendship to those in need. ● When is it? Wednesday evenings, from the first week of July to the last week of August. They begin at 6:30pm, and end at 9:30pm.

If you wish to help the homeless during the winter months, please contact the “OUT OF THE COLD”

program: http://www.ootc.ca/volunteers.htm

Join the many volunteers who feed and befriend the homeless.

Contact: Lucio Abbruzzese

Street Patrol Organizer

(416) 738-9197

inmylife@rogers.com

Office located at: 131 McCaul Street (in the building immediately to the right of St. Patrick’s Catholic

Church, Toronto, Ont.)

“Hunger is not only for a piece of bread but for love. Homelessness is not only not having a home, but

also about being rejected and unwanted. Loneliness is a greater burden than hunger.”

- Blessed Mother Teresa

Charity Projects - Get Involved Make a Difference!

Co-operative Planting – Stewards of the Earth

Create “Solidarity” class posters that have been created in co-operation with paired

grades/classes

Create care packages for homeless children/teens: toiletries, blankets, socks, gift cards

to Tim Horton/Chapters. Grade 8’s would be responsible for the advertisement (class to

class presentations to raise awareness). Have boxes in each classroom and send flyers

home to include parent engagement.

Evangelize Gospel Values anchoring parent engagement through school events.

Days of Discovery: sponsored by BMO

Simple Everyday Acts of Charity

Eat Locally There are health, environmental, and social bene fits to eating

locally. Locally grown foods often don't need the added

preservatives to elongate shelf-life as they don't travel far to get

to you. Eating locally benefits the environment as less fuel is

needed to transport the food. And socially you are helping your

community and your local economy. In some cases you will

literally meet the farmers you are helping to support. Try new fruits and vegetables as they come into

season and freeze or preserve fresh produce for consumption of local foods throughout the year. In a lot

of areas if you wait for the right season you can even pick your own fruits and vegetables: apples,

peaches, blueberries, strawberries, pumpkins, etc. If you aren't able to commit to going 100% local, take

small steps in that direction. Summer is the easiest time to eat locally with so many fruits and vegetables

produced in that season. When you are at the grocery store, take note of the "grown locally" or "local

pride" signs that may appear in the produce section. Whenever possible, choose the local apple or

orange as opposed to the one grown on the other side of the world.

Use Less Plastic

Our environment deserves our charity too! Plastic is so commonly used in packaging food and beverages, it seems nearly impossible to avoid it. But consider the effects it has on the environment, and even our communities around the world.

Since plastic isn’t biodegradable, it often ends up in the ocean, or sits in our landfills, where it releases toxic chemicals into our soil – the same soil that is used to grow our food.

By cutting down on the amount of plastic we use on a daily basis, we’ll be protecting our environment as well as our communities. It means less plastic going into landfills and less pollution in the oceans. Since the materials used to make plastic come from petroleum and natural gas, using less plastic also means wasting less of these precious resources.

Charity and Justice – Scripture Passages and Quotes

“ Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the

LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said! Hate evil, love good, and establish

justice in the gate!” (Amos 5:14-15)

“God has told you, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice,

to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

“Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands

of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? “Is it not to divide your

bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the

naked, to cover him…” (Isaiah 58:1-4)

“If you see charity, you see the Trinity”, wrote Saint Augustine.

“Charitable activity on behalf of the poor and suffering was naturally an essential part of

the Church of Rome from the very beginning, based on the principles of Christian life given

in the Acts of the Apostles.” – Deus Caritas Est

“If you want peace, work for justice.” - Paul VI

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi

“Every outcry against the oppression of some people by other people, or against what is

morally hideous is the affirmation of the principle that a human being as such is not to be

violated. A human being is not to be handled as a tool but is to be respected and revered.”

--Felix Adler

Charity and Justice - Discussion Starters

Have you ever planted a tree or something that has the potential to grow for years to come?

Many people plant trees in whose shade they will never sit during their lifetimes. This act

can be seen as reflecting confidence and hope for the future. Who would you like to plant a

tree for and offer hope to for the future?

Do you think people your age are treated justly by adults? Explain your answer with an

example and offer a suggestion about how to improve the situation.

Do you think everyone has determination and strength to overcome disadvantages? Why?

What might help a person to overcome the disadvantages of poverty?

What temptations are there in our society to get caught up in having the latest things? Do

you think it’s hard to live a simple lifestyle in our society?

Imagine that you had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada to talk about relative

poverty in Canada and the need for better programs. What would you say?

Identity an injustice that troubles you. What emotion first made you aware of it? Then talk

about one action you can take to bring about justice.

Do you think that all people are born with a yearning for justice or does it have to be

taught?

According to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., life's most persistent question is, "What are you

doing for others?" Search your soul and then write an honest answer in your journal.

Discuss the terms “marginalized” with your class and brainstorm other words that suggest

negative attitudes towards individuals or groups of people (e.g. racist, bigotry).

Charity and Justice - Prayers and Affirmations

Prayer options:

1. Scripture Reading: Psalm 8

O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set your glory

above the heavens.

When I look at your heavens,

the work of Your fingers,

the moon and the stars that you have established;

What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that You care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honour.

You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;

You have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

2. Easter is the gift... Easter is the gift of HOPE Easter is the gift of PEACE Easter is the gift of LOVE Let us rejoice in Him, Who gives them all. May God bless you at Easter, And keep you all year through. May God give you all the faith it takes, To make your dreams come true. May God’s love and wisdom always help, to guide you on your way. May God’s light shine down upon you now, to bless your Easter Day. —Author Unknown

3. God of Justice,

help us to always see those around us with loving and compassionate eyes. If they need us, help us to reach out to them. May we always work towards breaking down the barriers that make people feel alone. In showing kindness and care to each other we will make a difference; we will be demonstrating our love for you. We make this prayer in your name, Jesus. AMEN.

4. Come Holy Spirit Come Come Holy Spirit,

Fill the hearts of your faithful,

And kindle in them the fire of your love.

our Spirit and they shall be created,

And you shall renew the face of the earth. Holy Spirit.

5. Magnificat My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is His Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm;

He has cast down the might from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

for He has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise He made to our father,

to Abraham and his children forever. AMEN.

6. A Prayer Service for Earth Day

Leader: Come, let us praise God for the gift of Creation.

All: Creator God, we praise you for the grandeur of the universe.

We praise you for the gift of this Earth. We praise you for the land, and we praise you for the seas. We praise you for the great miracle of teeming life on our prolific planet. We praise you for the cycle of growth and for the beauty of bursting blooms in the Spring time. We praise you green growth of summer and for the holy harvest in the Fall. We praise you for the infinity of different creatures on the land and in the sea, each unique in its own way, each fitting into the complex ecosystems you have gifted us with, each dependent on each other and the whole. We praise you, our Creator. Grace us with a sense of our responsibilities to preserve and protect your precious gift, This Garden, this Earth. We praise you, Creator God, and we offer you our hearts and hands for the preservation of your Creation. AMEN.

Affirmations:

I will treat others in a just, equitable and unbiased manner.

I will play by the rules, take turns and share.

I will be respectful of others.

I will seek peaceful solutions to problems.

Reading a letter from an advocacy organization, I vow to make my hopeful yearnings into concrete demands for change.

I am a peace-maker.

I am forgiving.

I follow rules and do my share.

I will stand up for what is right.

I respect and protect the world and all that is in it.

Concluding Prayer:

The Lord’s Prayer (or your choice)

Charity and Justice - Media Links

The Shawshank Redemption

A powerful prison drama reminds us that hope is a precious and buoyant emotion that can give our

lives substance and meaning. (

Contemporary Music about Hope: "I Shall Be Released" by Bob Dylan

Lives in the Balance: Charity or Justice

Although most of us enjoy a standard of living that is comfortable and secure, there are many among us, who for a variety of reasons live in poverty. And there are many more whose lives are in the balance between fulfillment and indignity. Lives in the Balance looks at these differences through the eyes of an immigrant family, a single mother and someone who relies on disability support. As you watch the video we invite you to rejoice in how human beings help each other but reflect upon what we could all do to bring greater justice to our society. Keep in mind the statement from Vatican II document: Gaudium Et Spes (On the Church in the Modern World):

"The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and the anguish of the followers of Christ as well." The Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, Social Affairs Commission

Length: 30 min.

http://saltandlighttv.org/prog_special_lives_in_the_balance.html

earth

Film length: 1 hr. 30 min. Rating: G Director: Mark Linfield Genre: Nature Documentary

Synopsis & Central Plot:

Earth follows three animal families around the world, through changing seasons and a changing planet.

The diversity and vivacity of our planet is highlighted, from the North Pole to Antarctica, from the

forests of North America to the deserts of Africa. The audience is privy to the incredibly fragility and

simultaneous robustness of life on our planet. Elephants, polar bears, and humpback whales provide a

lens through which the audience experiences the harsh

elements and extraordinarily precious moments of animal life. Throughout the film, humans are

invisible, but our impact on the climate and natural resources is regrettably prominent.

Main Themes to Engage through the Film:

• The climate change crisis

• The harmony of life on our planet

• The perfection and beauty of God’s creation

• The cycles of life and death, destruction and creation

• The impact of humanity on the rest of the Earth’s living plants and creatures

• The interdependence of all life