Social Justice Discussion I

Strenna 2010  Naming the present Action

Today more than ever the world needs Christ and the Gospel: For this people are required who make the Kingdom of God the cause for which they live, as did Jesus. The witness is needed of disciples, new men and women, born not of the flesh but of the "Spirit"; apostles are required who are seriously engaged in the preservation of creation, in justice, in solidarity among all people.  ( Strenna 2010 Rector Major )

For Reflection Justice and peace are currently understood as responsibilities of Christian faith, because they are a priority of biblical faith in the sence that justice is essential to God and thus to how people in covenant with God are to live. This God of Justice calls the people into covenant to live as Gods people with the promise, " I will set my dwelling among you, ever present in your midst, I will be your God and you will be my people." 

The covenant however brings a law, a way the people should live if they are to be faithful parties in it because God is just, to be in covenant as a people of God is to be in a bonded relationship with God and one another, it means to live in ' right relationship" The biblical idea of justice can be described as fidelity to the demands of a relationship. It is the ' harmony" which comes from a right relationship to God and to the neighbour to whom a person is related by covenant. If the people are to live the law of this kind of covenant with this kind of God then justice and justice alone shall be their aim. By empowering justice towards " the weak and the poor' people come to truly know God in the holistic sence of right relationship.  ( Sharing Faith )

FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION

1 What is your personal story of witnessing to the Gospel? What are some the joys and challenges?

2. What do you see as the story of your groups witness to the Gospel?

3. Do either of these stories remind you of a particular Gospel Story ? What are the common elements / symbols ?

4. In the light of this Gospel story what is your future vision / dream / hope in witnessing to the Gospel? What actions will make this real?

Concluding Prayer

Creator God - Grant us a vision of your world -As your love would have it.

A world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor.

A world where the riches of creation are shared and everyone can enjoy them.

A world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect

A world where peace is built with justice and justice is guided by love

give us inspiration and courage to build this world together

Social Justice Discussion 2 Strenna 2010

Strenna 2010 Naming the present Action

Apostles sent out to all corners of the world to bear witness to the faith, to explain their hope, to collaborate in the transformation of culture and of society, to build a world where justice and peace reign, to be alive to solidarity among social groups and among all people. ( Rector Major 2010 )

Reflection 

Jesus whole life was one of right and loving relationship with God, self, others, and creation, with a special outreach to the poor, oppressed, and marginalised. His care for the poor was accompanied by " hard sayings" regarding money and possessions, and by public opposition to all forms of sexism, racism and to all social / religious structures and cultural means of discrimination. He presented his life and mission as fulfillment of the jubilee year promise of Isaiah-of bringing glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives sight to the blind and release to prisioners. In the beatitudes he said that the reign of God belongs to the poor. He  promised satisfaction to those who work for justice and declares peacemakers to be Gods own people. His greatest commandment of radical love engages a disciples whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and unites us as one, love of God, self and neighbour without limit, this is the strongest possible statement of the rightness demanded by the covenant relationship. ( Sharing Faith - Groome )

For Discussion and Action

1. Share a story of personal transformation in your life.

2. What do you see as todays call to the Salesian family; considering the needs of the young

and our worlds call to transformation and solidarity?

3. Is there a particular Gospel story that speaks to your group of transformation and solidarity ?

4. What is your dream / vision for young people living in a world open to transformation and solidarity ?

What actions can we do to make this happen?

 Concluding Prayer

Eternal Word,  Who came to seek and save the lost

To set the captives free, To feed the hungry

To touch the sick with healing

To love the unloved, To speak out at injustice

To give life where there was death

Help us to be like your son Jesus

To see as he sees, and act as he acts in the world

We ask for your help in these things

AMEN

Strenna 2010

Social Justice Discussion 3 

Naming The Present Action

How can the Salesian family represent the Risen Lord if it is not concerned about young people. If it doesn't ask itself about their joys and hopes, sadness and anxiety, in other words if it is not concerned about their lives. ( strenna 2010 )

For Reflection  - It is about loving and choosing life for and with children and youth. it is about drawing life from spirituality and religion. It is about finding and nurturing life in human culture, even in the more troubling aspects of the world in which we live. We intend to find paths of hope in the lives of the young, in their spiritual traditions and communities, and in the world as it is. What we intend to do is to build on those hopes, for the sake of the future. We want to journey with young people as they do God, and the world through engaged reflection on action. In the early christian community we find Pauls letters, Paul analyzed the contexts and practices of the communities to which he wrote, he reflected on them and he made proposals to the communities for action. Paul's letters were grounded in praxis, knowing and located in the particular communities that inspired Paul to write them.

Our central hope is that children and youth might treasure their lives and be treasured by others so that they might choose life again and again. Treasuring the young underscores the harm that may befall them in a troubling world and the urgent need for young people,  and people of all ages to imagine and actively contribute to a healed world marked by love, justice and peace. With this vision and hope we live.    ( children youth and spirituality in a troubling world )  

FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION

1. Tell of some of the hopes, joys, anxiety and sadness that you share with young people?

2. Share a Gospel story or symbol that speaks to one of these joys, hopes, anxieties or sorrows?

3. How might you make this Gospel story known to the young that you minister to?

4. What is your vision of a world concerned for the joys and sorrows of young people?

What actions might we need to do to bring this about?

Concluding Prayer

God of Justice

Help us not to overlook the hidden ones;

Those who are marginalized in our society

Those who we often choose to forget or ignore

Let us not be indifferent to their cries of brokenness

Help us to listen to their words and anxieties and not to judge them

Soften our hearts to be tender to those in need

We pray for your continued presence in their lives, show them your grace

As you have shown us

Amen

 Social Justice Discussion 4     Strenna 2010

NAMING THE PRESENT ACTION 

Every context presents its own challenges to the presentation of the Gospel.  We also feel challenged to respond to certain opportunities, inter religious and inter cultural dialogue, the new sensitivity for peace, safe guarding human rights and protecting the environment and all of creation, the many expressions of solidarity and voluntary movements are challenges for the whole church to find new ways of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.                           ( Rector Major Strenna 2010 )

For Reflection

The joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties of the people of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ, indeed nothing genuinly human fails to raise an echo in their hearts. For this is a community composed of human beings united in Christ, they are led by the Holy Spirit on their journey to the Kingdom. They have welcomed the news of salvation that is meant for every person,  that is why this community realizes that it is truly and intimately linked with humankind.                       ( Gaudium et Spes )

 FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION

1. Share an experience of when you tried to proclaim the Gospel in a new or different way ? What was its effect?

2. Is there a story in the Gospel that you relate to as facing the challenges of presenting the Gospel in a new way?

3. How does your own experience relate to the Gospel experience of proclaiming Christ in a new way?

4 What phrase especially spoke to you in the above quote from the Strenna - How do you put this into action?

CONCLUDING PRAYER

God of the Young

We celebrate and praise the God who wipes away every tear

We celebrate the God of life who gives us hope for the future

On this Resurrection day we pray for justice and mercy in our land

We pray that you keep our hearts and minds attentive to the needs

of those who are poor.

We pray for help to be generous in our actions and with our material

possessions.

Hear our prayer of Justice

AMEN

Youth Message Stick       

September 27       ' 09

Dear All,

 Welcome to Social Justice Sunday, In this years social justice statement the Bishops show their support of young peoples commitment to social justice and reassert the central theme of World Youth Day.

Australia saw thousands of young people inspired by the Holy Spirit gather for World Youth day - 

yet many young people are marginalised, excluded and deprived of dignity. the statement calls us to consider the voice of Indigenous young people, those facing mental health issues those striving for secure employment for young people, those young people concerned with care for our environment.

 As leaders of social justice initiatives in our salesian ministries we are  invited to visit the Australian catholic social justice council website

www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au

And view the power point and social justice statement for use in our salesian ministries.

As you journey with Don Bosco and Main ( Maria Mazzarello ) see, judge and  act  for a better salesian social justice outcome-

May you reflect deeply on what legacy we as leaders for salesian social justice will leave for the next generation.

As we carry on Don Bosco's and Mary Mazzarellos advocacy and empowerment of young people.

Peace

Louise