Following in the Footsteps of Jesus

An Overview of Catholic Social Teaching

Sponsored by Parish Social Ministry of

St. Mary of Sorrows Parish, Church of the Nativity Parish

 and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington

Noted speakers will help us explore the main ideas that are found in the Church’s documents on Catholic social teaching.  Each session will provide an opportunity for discussion and a question and answer period.

This 8-session series was developed in response to the results of a survey in June at Nativity and St. Mary of Sorrows parishes. Guest speakers will be encouraged to include a broad range of issues reflecting the concerns of parishioners as expressed in the survey.

Following in the Footsteps of Jesus

An Overview of Catholic Social Teaching

Sponsored by Parish Social Ministry of

St. Mary of Sorrows Parish, Church of the Nativity Parish

 and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington

 PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Tuesday Evenings, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
* At  St. Mary of Sorrows Church             + At  Church of the Nativity

                5222 Sideburn Rd., Fairfax, VA 22032                       6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, VA 22015

            *          October 9, 2007          Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

Dr. Stephen Colecchi, Director of International Justice and Peace

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

Web Resources

*          November 13, 2007    Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Rev. Matthew Hillyard, OSFS, Principal

Bishop Ireton High School

Web Resources

*          December 4, 2007      The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

Thomas Shellabarger, Policy Advisor

Urban and Economic Issues, USCCB

Web Resources    Slide Presentation

*          January 15, 2008        Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Joan Rosenhauer, Coordinator, Special Projects,

Department of Social Development and World Peace, USCCB

Web Resources    Slide Presentation

+         February 12, 2008       Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Donna Grimes, Poverty Education and Outreach Manager

Catholic Campaign for Human Development, USCCB

Web Resources

+         March 25, 2008          Rights and Responsibilities

Walt Grazer, Grazer and Associates, LLC

formerly a USCCB Policy Advisor on Human Rights

Web Resources

+         April 8, 2008                Care for God’s Creation

Rev. Pat Watkins, Virginia Interfaith Power and Light

and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy

Web Resources

+         April 29, 2008              Solidarity

Carole Zemont-Ndiaye, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), U.S. Operations

Web Resources

Discussion Group

Lazarus at the Table:

Catholics and Social Justice

Sponsored by Church of the Nativity Social Justice Network

Graduates of Nativity’s JustFaith program will lead a discussion group based on Bernard F. Evans’ book, Lazarus at the Table: Catholics and Social Justice (Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2006).  This short 125-page book contains chapters on the themes of Catholic social teaching articulated by the Bishops of the United States in their statements, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions, and Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility.  The monthly discussions will be designed for those who cannot attend the series on Catholic Social Teaching AND for those who want to consider the topics in greater depth and from additional viewpoints. 

Discussion Schedule

Wednesday Evenings, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Green Room, located at the back of the church between the organ and side exit,

Church of the Nativity, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, VA 22015

Catholic Social Teaching

Biblical Foundation, Early Christian Writers, Historical Developments, The Beginnings, The Documents

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Human Dignity, Threats to Human Dignity Today, Defending Human Dignity

The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

Human Work, Worker’s Rights, Protecting the Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Community/Society, Family, Participation

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Poverty, Sharing/Giving, Preferential Option, Responding to Poverty

Rights and Responsibilities

Rights of Human Dignity, Rights and Healthy Communities, Responsibilities, Rights Under Threat

Care for God’s Creation

Creation is God’s, Creation is Good, Humans and Creation

Solidarity

One Human Family, Our Brothers’ and Sisters’ Keepers, Seeking a Just Social Order, Globalization, Subsidiarity, Peace, Everyone’s Responsibility

Meeting Lazarus

Living Catholic Social Teaching, Tapping the Resources, Reading the Documents