Social Justice & Peace

The goal of the Social Justice and Peace Commision is to:

• identify resources to meet the human needs of all people in the parish community (assist with distribution of the diocesan directory of human services available in the community)

• promote empowerment efforts such as the Campaign for Human Development

• study issues that impact on the community of which the parish is a part, and recommend action (example participation in a food pantry, soup kitchen, Giving Tree, etc.)

• study world-wide justice, peace and environment and recommend action (example: become a "covenant parish" with Catholic Relief Services).

• provide for the visitation of the sick, lonely, and shut-ins

• educate the parish on justice issues - hold forums, study group sessions, and adult faith formation.

• work cooperatively with community organizations for the betterment of neighborhoods

• involve the parish in projects for the needy and the disadvantaged, next-door and around the world

• respond to the church's tradition of teaching on human dignity and justice

• connect the gifts of parishioners with the needs in the parish, involving parishioners of all ages

Check the bulletin for the next meeting of the commissions. If you are interested in working with the Social Justice & Peace Commission, please call Anne Wolf Johnson at (207) 929-3088.

Ongoing Projects:

New volunteers are always needed to help in the Food Pantry. Contact the Pastoral Center for more information.

Empty Bowl Supper: Each winter, we hold our annual fund raiser for our Haiti projects in February, featuring a delicious variety of soups and bread. Bowls are donated by local artisans and shops and those who attend may chose their favorite bowl to take home as a reminder of the hunger experienced by Haitians, and others living in extreme poverty, whose bowls are too often empty. Over $1800 was raised for our project in Haiti last year. Thanks especially to the volunteers and members of the Social Justice & Peace Commission who keep this project going year after year.

Haiti Project Yard Sale: The annual Sacred Heart / St. Dominic Parish Haiti Project yard sale is held on a Saturday each August in front of Deering High School on Stevens Ave. It was a huge success this summer.

Haiti Pizza Fundraiser: The Annual Flatbread Pizza Haiti Fundraiser is held on a Tuesday each fall, from 5PM to 9PM. The local eatery provides charitable contributions from the proceeds of meals served on that night.