Social Justice Ministry
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The mission of the Archdiocesan Social Justice Ministry is to strengthen our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching by education, awareness, engagement with others, and collaborative ACTION for change. Our objectives are to:
- Help eradicate root causes of poverty and injustice in the Archdiocese, nationally and globally
- Build a network of diverse and inclusive faith-based Social Justice organizations
- Mobilize grassroots support in local parishes and collaboratives
- Advocate for systemic change in unjust policies and structures.
Social Justice Convocations
The first Archdiocesan Social Justice Ministry Convocation in Boston was held at Boston College High School in October 2009. Focusing on the theme of “In the Footsteps of Christ,” the Convocation was intended to (1) enable parishes to learn more about Catholic Social Teaching, (2) increase awareness and celebrate the existing work for justice and (3) find out concrete ways to connect faith with action in the service of justice. Annual Convocations have been held every year since then. During the Covid Pandemic, Convocations were conducted in the Webinar format (2019-2022). The presentations were recorded and are available below along with speaker biographies and resource material.
15th Annual Social Justice Convocation - October 21, 2023
Why Does Poverty Exist?14th Annual Convocation, 2022
Migrants & Refugees: Who are They—Where are They?
- Sean Callahan, President and CEO, Catholic Relief Services: “Migrants and Refugees—Who are they?”
- Marjean Perhot, Director Refugee and Immigration Services, Catholic Charities, Boston: “Migrants and Refugees—Where are they?”
13th Annual Convocation, 2021
“Let Us Dream”: The Path to a Better Future
- Austen Ivereigh, Biographer of Pope Francis
- MC Sullivan, Chief Healthcare Ethicist, Archdiocese of Boston
12th Annual Convocation 2020
Racial Justice – What Can We Do?
- Rev. Oscar Pratt, II, Pastor, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Roxbury: “Are you Aware?”
- Prof. Jeannine Hill Fletcher, Fordham University: “Are you Committed?”
11th Annual Convocation 2019
Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with God
- Janine Carreiro, Co-Director, Massachusetts Community Action Network (MCAN)
Social Justice Workshops
Workshops were initiated in March of 2021. These presentations were recorded and are available below along with links to speaker biographies and resource material.
March 12, 2022
We’re all part of God’s Plan(et); Heal Our Common Home and Respond to the Poor
- Gary Gardner, Researcher at Worldwatch Institute and GreenFaith
- Paz Artaza-Regan, Program Manager, Catholic Climate Covenant
May 15, 2022
Environmental Workshop: Our Common Home—Equity for All
- Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Ph.D., Founder and Pastor, New Roots AME Church, Dorchester
March 13, 2021
Workshop on Racial Justice—A Journey Through “Open Wide Our Hearts” Call to Love and Action
- Danielle M. Brown, Esq., Assoc. Dir. Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, U.S.C.C.B.
Speakers Bureau
A Speakers Bureau was launched in January 2023.The objectives are to prepare a core group of people trained in Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and experienced in Social Justice to engage parishes in educational conversations and provide practical, relevant guidance and resources about CST and specific Social Justice issues such as Immigration and Refugees, Racism, Environmental Justice, Homelessness and Affordable Housing, Workers Rights, Global and Local Poverty and others, The inaugural presentation on Catholic Social Teaching by Fr. J. Bryan Hehir was recorded and can be accessed below.
January 14, 2023
Launch of Speakers Bureau
- Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, Secretary for Health and Social Services, Archdiocese of Boston, on Catholic Social Teaching
Awareness and Engagement
An extensive and diverse database of Social Justice organizations and ministries with links to their websites was created and is now maintained to encourage people to learn about and engage if they wish. There is also a database of Parishes and Collaboratives with Social Justice Ministries with contact information. And there are periodic calls to action for specific time-sensitive calls for action such as the Refugee Crisis and humanitarian disasters. The links to all these these groups are listed in the downloadable databases below:
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Social Justice Convocation 2020, November 4, 2020
- Keynote Speakers
- Commitment Card
- General Resource Documents on Racial Justice
Listing of Representative Social Justice Organizations
Afghan Resettlement: How you can Help
- Welcoming Our Afghan Brothers & Sisters” by Jacqueline Cuniff
- Catholic Charities Afghan Resettlement Fund: How You Can Help
- Anyone interested in helping Catholic Charities and their partners to resettle the Afghanistan evacuees can email [email protected]
Pat Dinneen, Chair
(617) 746-5730
[email protected]