Social Justice Ministry

The New Roads Social Justice Ministry was formed during the spring of 2012 out of Scripture readings, reflection, and prayer based upon the documentary, “Scenes from a Parish” and its spiritual guide, and through the movement of the Holy Spirit.
The ministry is made up of men and women who have a desire to follow the Gospel teachings of Jesus. Our mission statement sets the focus and tone of the group: As Disciples of Christ, we have a responsibility to respect the dignity of all people, to work to secure everyone’s rights and to work for a more just and peaceful society and world. We undertake this mission through prayer, worship, education, and action, for love of our neighbor is our love of our Lord.
The complete Social Justice group meets once a month throughout the year. Each meeting begins with an opening prayer, a scripture reading from the coming Sunday, and a reflection and sharing of that reading. The meeting continues with reports given by the facilitators of the subcommittees. These subcommittees exist because of the passion held by individual members for particular causes, and topics emerge as the Spirit moves in the hearts of the members. Currently four subcommittees exist focusing on: homelessness, human sexual trafficking, immigrants and refugees, and Laudato Si' – Our Common Home/the environment.
Subcommittees meet as needed at times other than the full Social Justice ministry meetings. Usually, these subcommittees first shed light on an issue that creates an unjust society; then, it educates so that the larger community is moved to action. Membership to this ministry is opened especially to those who are moved by the Spirit to make a difference in the lives of those in most need.
Full committee meeting: no meeting scheduled at this time
Subcommittees:
The ministry is made up of men and women who have a desire to follow the Gospel teachings of Jesus. Our mission statement sets the focus and tone of the group: As Disciples of Christ, we have a responsibility to respect the dignity of all people, to work to secure everyone’s rights and to work for a more just and peaceful society and world. We undertake this mission through prayer, worship, education, and action, for love of our neighbor is our love of our Lord.
The complete Social Justice group meets once a month throughout the year. Each meeting begins with an opening prayer, a scripture reading from the coming Sunday, and a reflection and sharing of that reading. The meeting continues with reports given by the facilitators of the subcommittees. These subcommittees exist because of the passion held by individual members for particular causes, and topics emerge as the Spirit moves in the hearts of the members. Currently four subcommittees exist focusing on: homelessness, human sexual trafficking, immigrants and refugees, and Laudato Si' – Our Common Home/the environment.
Subcommittees meet as needed at times other than the full Social Justice ministry meetings. Usually, these subcommittees first shed light on an issue that creates an unjust society; then, it educates so that the larger community is moved to action. Membership to this ministry is opened especially to those who are moved by the Spirit to make a difference in the lives of those in most need.
Full committee meeting: no meeting scheduled at this time
Subcommittees:
- Homelessness and Affordable Housing
- Care of Our Common Home
- Refugees/Immigrants
- Anti-Human Sexual Trafficking
Latest News & Events
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July 2021
Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) New England, a yearlong volunteer opportunity for women and men 50 years of age and better, is recruiting volunteers for the upcoming (September to June) year. Volunteers give two full days/week of service and commit to a monthly spiritual reflection program in the Jesuit tradition. IVC works with nonprofits in the Boston/Worcester/Providence areas that address problems of homelessness, education, immigration and more. Get info and application by contacting regional director Dave Hinchen @ [email protected], or check out the IVC New England website @ www.ivcusa.org/new-england.
Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) New England, a yearlong volunteer opportunity for women and men 50 years of age and better, is recruiting volunteers for the upcoming (September to June) year. Volunteers give two full days/week of service and commit to a monthly spiritual reflection program in the Jesuit tradition. IVC works with nonprofits in the Boston/Worcester/Providence areas that address problems of homelessness, education, immigration and more. Get info and application by contacting regional director Dave Hinchen @ [email protected], or check out the IVC New England website @ www.ivcusa.org/new-england.
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Archdiocesan Justice Convocation 2019

Members of the Social Justice Ministry preparing the Exhibit for the Convocation

Members of the Social Justice Ministry preparing the Exhibit for the Convocation

Convocation begins with Mass celebrated by Rev. J. Bryan Hehir

Some of the three hundred participants attending the Mass

Keynote Speaker Janine Carreiro, Co-Director of Massachusetts Communities Action Network, and this year's recipient of the Pope Francis Social Justice Award: Faith in Justice

One of Five Workshops offered on topics: Environmental Justice, Worker Justice, Solidarity with Immigrants, Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Justice for the Homeless, Community Organizing to Overcome Social, Racial and Economic Injustice
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The Homelessness and Affordable Housing subcommittee of the Social Justice Ministry
will be sponsoring
a collection of personal items for the Women's and Men's Bristol Lodge Shelters located in Waltham
on the weekends of October 27/28 and November 3/4.
will be sponsoring
a collection of personal items for the Women's and Men's Bristol Lodge Shelters located in Waltham
on the weekends of October 27/28 and November 3/4.
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February 7 is the Deadline for Legislative Committees
to report Bills out of their Committees with a favorable recommendation.
The SJ subcommittee on Homelessness/Affordable housing and the TriCommunity Coalition to End Homelessness has endorsed House Bill 2077/Senate Bill 2039 –“An Act Relative to Assisting Elders and People with Disabilities in the Commonwealth,” and the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs still has not released the Bills after its public hearing back in the Fall, we are asking members of the TriCommunity of Belmont, Waltham, and Watertown to:
1) Call the Co-Chairs of this Joint Committee (Sen. Barbara L’Italien - 617-722-1612, and Rep. Danielle Gregoire - 617-722-2810) to release House Bill 2077/Senate Bill 2039 and ask the Committee on Elder Affairs to give a favorable report to An Act Relative to Assisting Elders and People with Disabilities in the Commonwealth. After 30 years of no change, the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) needs an upgrade that impacts more than 20,000 EAEDC participants across the Commonwealth of which about 307 reside in Belmont, Waltham and Watertown. In particular, Waltham has two individual shelters. And for any EAEDC participant who comes to these shelters, their benefit gets reduced from $303.70 to $92.80/month! These bills remove this shelter reduction penalty.
It is also important to remember that for every EAEDC participant who finally gets on Social Security, the Social Security Administration reimburses Massachusetts General Fund for almost all that the State paid out on these benefits resulting in millions of dollars. Make sure you mention that you are in support of the TriCommunity Coalition to End Homelessness.
2) Call both state legislators and ask them to contact the Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs to give House Bill 2077/Senate Bill 2039 a favorable report. The following legislators are also co-sponsors of the EAEDC Bill and here are approximate EAEDC participants who are in their district:
MAKE SURE YOUR LEGISLATORS REPORT BACK TO YOU THAT THEY TOOK THIS ACTION.
3) Please take the time to do this on-line letter to your legislators, you can also type in that you support the TriCommunity Coalition to End Homelessness i.e. first sentence: “I support the Tri-Community Coalition to end Homelessness, and in Belmont, Waltham and Watertown there are approximately 307 EAEDC participants.” You can add other pieces of information, or you could send the letter as is. Here is the link: http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51618/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=23953
THANKS FOR DOING THIS IMPORTANT ACTION, FOLKS!
Let us know if you get a response from your legislators or the Co-chairs of the Elder Affairs Committee.
to report Bills out of their Committees with a favorable recommendation.
The SJ subcommittee on Homelessness/Affordable housing and the TriCommunity Coalition to End Homelessness has endorsed House Bill 2077/Senate Bill 2039 –“An Act Relative to Assisting Elders and People with Disabilities in the Commonwealth,” and the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs still has not released the Bills after its public hearing back in the Fall, we are asking members of the TriCommunity of Belmont, Waltham, and Watertown to:
1) Call the Co-Chairs of this Joint Committee (Sen. Barbara L’Italien - 617-722-1612, and Rep. Danielle Gregoire - 617-722-2810) to release House Bill 2077/Senate Bill 2039 and ask the Committee on Elder Affairs to give a favorable report to An Act Relative to Assisting Elders and People with Disabilities in the Commonwealth. After 30 years of no change, the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) needs an upgrade that impacts more than 20,000 EAEDC participants across the Commonwealth of which about 307 reside in Belmont, Waltham and Watertown. In particular, Waltham has two individual shelters. And for any EAEDC participant who comes to these shelters, their benefit gets reduced from $303.70 to $92.80/month! These bills remove this shelter reduction penalty.
It is also important to remember that for every EAEDC participant who finally gets on Social Security, the Social Security Administration reimburses Massachusetts General Fund for almost all that the State paid out on these benefits resulting in millions of dollars. Make sure you mention that you are in support of the TriCommunity Coalition to End Homelessness.
2) Call both state legislators and ask them to contact the Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs to give House Bill 2077/Senate Bill 2039 a favorable report. The following legislators are also co-sponsors of the EAEDC Bill and here are approximate EAEDC participants who are in their district:
- Sen. William Brownsberger (737)
- Rep. John Lawn (250)
- Rep. Jonathan Hecht (240)
- Rep. Dave Rogers (389)
- Rep. Thomas Stanley (139)
MAKE SURE YOUR LEGISLATORS REPORT BACK TO YOU THAT THEY TOOK THIS ACTION.
3) Please take the time to do this on-line letter to your legislators, you can also type in that you support the TriCommunity Coalition to End Homelessness i.e. first sentence: “I support the Tri-Community Coalition to end Homelessness, and in Belmont, Waltham and Watertown there are approximately 307 EAEDC participants.” You can add other pieces of information, or you could send the letter as is. Here is the link: http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51618/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=23953
THANKS FOR DOING THIS IMPORTANT ACTION, FOLKS!
Let us know if you get a response from your legislators or the Co-chairs of the Elder Affairs Committee.
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Sign the petition to tell Congress to end sex trafficking online
Sex trafficking is exploding on the internet, facilitated by online classifieds. Join the voices of survivors in advocating to amend Section 230 of the CDA.
Please join us in this fight by adding your name to our petition, asking the House and Senate committees to pass HR 1865 and SB 1693 out of committee on to the House and Senate floors for a full vote.
Sex trafficking is exploding on the internet, facilitated by online classifieds. Join the voices of survivors in advocating to amend Section 230 of the CDA.
Please join us in this fight by adding your name to our petition, asking the House and Senate committees to pass HR 1865 and SB 1693 out of committee on to the House and Senate floors for a full vote.
Once you sign the petition, please take a few minutes for these important additional actions:
Thank you for your advocacy!
- Share on Twitter – Visit our campaign page for sharable tweets you can retweet.
- Call your Representative and Senators – Calling Congress is one of the most effective ways to make your voice heard. Visit our campaign page for call scripts.
Thank you for your advocacy!
Laudato Si – A Study Group
The Social Justice’s newest subcommittee has focused their attention on our common home, the Earth. The group began with an idea of facing the challenges of working to preserve our environment – caring for “our common home.”
To begin this work, it was obvious that a careful reading of Pope Francis’s encyclical, On Care of or Our Common Home (Laudato Si’) was necessary
“On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si') is the new appeal from Pope Francis addressed to "every person living on this planet" for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. This encyclical is written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility”.
http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/pope-francis-encyclical-laudato-si-on-environment.cfm
After nine months of biweekly meetings used to prayerfully read the encyclical and share insights with one another, the group took some summer “field trips.” The first of three was taken at the Giordano’s organic garden. Jane and John Giordano are members of this subcommittee study group. Jane and John are using composting, raised beds, and techniques that maximize the use of elements in nature. Their raised garden is a 4’X4’ design that allows 16 square feet of gardening space. Each of the 16 spaces grows a different vegetable or herb.
The Social Justice’s newest subcommittee has focused their attention on our common home, the Earth. The group began with an idea of facing the challenges of working to preserve our environment – caring for “our common home.”
To begin this work, it was obvious that a careful reading of Pope Francis’s encyclical, On Care of or Our Common Home (Laudato Si’) was necessary
“On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si') is the new appeal from Pope Francis addressed to "every person living on this planet" for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. This encyclical is written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility”.
http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/pope-francis-encyclical-laudato-si-on-environment.cfm
After nine months of biweekly meetings used to prayerfully read the encyclical and share insights with one another, the group took some summer “field trips.” The first of three was taken at the Giordano’s organic garden. Jane and John Giordano are members of this subcommittee study group. Jane and John are using composting, raised beds, and techniques that maximize the use of elements in nature. Their raised garden is a 4’X4’ design that allows 16 square feet of gardening space. Each of the 16 spaces grows a different vegetable or herb.
Photos and Recap of the Forum on Refugees & Immigrants
The Social Justice Ministry presented the forum, “Refugees and Immigrants: Their Rights and Our Responsibility” on October 2, 2016.
The Forum opened with remarks given by Joan Horgan, a member of the refugees and immigrants subcommittee. Fr. Thom Mahoney, Pastor of New Roads Catholic Community, gave the welcome address.
Marjean Perhot, Director, Refugee and Immigration Services, Archdiocese of Boston, presented the global perspective for refugees (number of displaced persons, number of refugees); the national perspective (arrivals to date, ethnicities, projections); and the local perspective (MA/Boston). She addressed the selection process for refugees who are admitted to the United States and the resettlement process once they arrive. Ms. Perhot explained what Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston’s Refugee & Immigration Services (CCAB RIS) does to assist refugees and immigrants, the challenges they face, and the ways people can assist in these efforts.
Gabriel Camacho, Immigration Programs Coordinator, American Friends Service Committee, provided political background on how we as a nation of immigrants and refugees have arrived at this point historically. Root causes of forced migration were explored, and the structure of Comprehensive Immigration Reform proposals was examined critically. Mr. Camacho used the presidential campaign to provide examples of how immigrant and refugee communities are responding, and how allies can support and get involved in their struggle for dignity and justice.
Attorney Christopher Lavery from the Irish International Immigrant Center served as responder to the keynote speeches and moderator during the discussion of the legislative panel.
Six powerfully emotional testimonies were given by refugees/immigrants from Syria, Congo, Burma, El Salvador, and Haiti.
Service providers and volunteers gave the forum participants information on what is offered to the refugees and immigrants as well as suggestions for ways to volunteer and help.
The Forum opened with remarks given by Joan Horgan, a member of the refugees and immigrants subcommittee. Fr. Thom Mahoney, Pastor of New Roads Catholic Community, gave the welcome address.
Marjean Perhot, Director, Refugee and Immigration Services, Archdiocese of Boston, presented the global perspective for refugees (number of displaced persons, number of refugees); the national perspective (arrivals to date, ethnicities, projections); and the local perspective (MA/Boston). She addressed the selection process for refugees who are admitted to the United States and the resettlement process once they arrive. Ms. Perhot explained what Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston’s Refugee & Immigration Services (CCAB RIS) does to assist refugees and immigrants, the challenges they face, and the ways people can assist in these efforts.
Gabriel Camacho, Immigration Programs Coordinator, American Friends Service Committee, provided political background on how we as a nation of immigrants and refugees have arrived at this point historically. Root causes of forced migration were explored, and the structure of Comprehensive Immigration Reform proposals was examined critically. Mr. Camacho used the presidential campaign to provide examples of how immigrant and refugee communities are responding, and how allies can support and get involved in their struggle for dignity and justice.
Attorney Christopher Lavery from the Irish International Immigrant Center served as responder to the keynote speeches and moderator during the discussion of the legislative panel.
Six powerfully emotional testimonies were given by refugees/immigrants from Syria, Congo, Burma, El Salvador, and Haiti.
Service providers and volunteers gave the forum participants information on what is offered to the refugees and immigrants as well as suggestions for ways to volunteer and help.
- Cheryl Hamilton, International Institute of New England
- Youla Hana, Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment
- Vicky Kelberer, Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies
- Joan Engler, A.R.R.U.P.E. (Assisting Refugee Resettlement Using Parish Energies) St. Ignatius Church, Chestnut Hill