In Celebration of A Month for Human Dignity – Care for All
Join our parish family to discover how to put your Catholic faith into action. We invite you to attend as many of these special programs designed to help you understand how being Catholic means advocating for peace and justice.
Monday, 5/11, 6:30pm, Old St. Mary Parish Center
Living Catholic Social Teaching: Disciples on a Mission to the World
Featured Speaker: Rich Harter, Director of the John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization
Explore the origins and content of Catholic Social Teaching with an eye toward applying the teaching to the specific issue of racism. In addition, discover seven key practices for living Catholic Social Teaching in our daily lives as intentional disciples. View the handout.
Thursday, 5/14, 6:30pm, St. Rita Hall
Environmental Justice
Featured Speakers: Katie Heinen and Barbara Richards, Interfaith Earth Network; Margaret Swedish, Spirituality and Ecological Hope
A review of Catholic social teaching and statements by Church leaders on the environment and how we can apply these teachings to the world today.
Sunday, 5/17, 5:00pm, Holy Rosary Hall
The Seamless Garment of Life
Featured Speakers: Dan Miller, State Director, Pro-Life Wisconsin; Gary Nosacek, Deacon at Saints Peter & Paul; Dr. Cynthia Jones-Nosacek, President of The Milwaukee Guild of the Catholic Medical Association
A look at many of the important issues that threaten the Catholic belief that all life is sacred, from conception to last natural breath. Presentations will include beginning of life issues, end of life issues and a personal testimony about the realities of struggling with the death penalty. View the handout.
Wednesday, 5/20, 6:00pm, St. Casimir Hall
The Prophetic Roots of Catholic Social Teaching and
Living out the Catholic Social Teaching Today
Featured Speakers: Fr. Chuck Shramm, Senior priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee; Rob Shelledy, Coordinator Social Justice Ministry and Director John Paul II Center, Dignity of the Human Person
The Old Testament Prophets had a message of challenge and a message of comfort. They challenged the authorities and the people because they were being unfaithful to God. They comforted the people by reminding them of God’s constant mercy and fidelity. Many aspects of our world today do not reflect God’s love for all people nor the inherent dignity of each human being. How are we being challenged and comforted by the prophetic words of God today? View the handout.
Tuesday, 5/26, 6:00pm, Sts. Peter & Paul Church Center
The Dignity of Work
Featured Speaker: Joan Braune, Saints Peter & Paul parishioner, Asst. Professor of Philosophy at Mt. Mary University
A short presentation on some of the key points from the papal encyclical – Laborem Exercens (On Human Work) – by Pope John Paul II which states that all work, skilled and unskilled, has dignity and is a path to union with God. There is a “mysticism of work” that means work is a right and binds the worker to God. This will be followed by guest speakers who will share what they are doing as workers in Milwaukee. Overall, we will discuss how the dignity of labor impacts immigrant workers, the right to belong to a union, and other topics.
Wednesday, 5/27, 6:00pm, Milwaukee Catholic Home (2462 N Prospect Ave. see below for more information)
Vatican II and Pope Francis
Featured Speaker: John Celichowski, OFM Cap, Office of Post-Novitiate, Ministry and Continuing Formation
Presentation connecting the call of Vatican II for the laity to be more engaged in transforming society with Pope Francis’ call in Evangelii Gaudium for the Church to “go to the peripheries” and for everyone to (re)claim our baptismal call to be “missionary disciples.” Following there will be a conversation with/among those gathered using the Principles of Catholic Social Teaching as guidelines on how to do this important work.
Parking information for Milwaukee Catholic Home: Parking is available in the circular drive, the Visitor spots at the end of the driveway and any unreserved spots in the back parking lot as well. There is also available parking on the street. It should be a good time of day for parking purposes.
If you want peace, work for justice. If you want justice, defend life. –Pope Paul VI
Every threat to human life and dignity must necessarily be felt in the Church’s very heart. –St. Pope John Paul II