Home / CSB Campus Ministry / Programs / Spirituality and Social Justice (SSJ)

Spirituality and Social Justice (SSJ)

Mission Statement

Spirituality and Social Justice (SSJ) is a ministry grounded in Gospel values and Catholic Social Teaching, which integrates social justice and spirituality to promote an active and lifelong commitment to living both prayerfully and justly.

"[A]t the center of all Catholic social teaching are the transcendence of God and the dignity of the human person.  The human person is the clearest reflection of God's presence in the world (#74, Empowered by the Spirit)."

www.americanpoverty.org
www.americanpoverty.org

Upcoming Events:

Bread for the World Workshop:  Saturday, February 25th from 9am-noon at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Bloomington. Sign up to go by emailing ssj@csbsju.edu by Wednesday 2/22. For more information about the workshop visit www.bread.org

Lenten Carbon Fast: Starting February 21st. This Lent, reduce your carbon intake by using a calendar SSJ is distributing.  We have assigned a specific task to each day of Lent designed to limit carbon production and ensure the safety of the environment.  There will be an email calendar sent out at the beginning of each week during Lent with the schedule of carbon reducing tips.

Human Trafficking Week: March 19th-23rd. We are partnering with the Institute of Women's Leadership and the Bonner Leader Program to plan a week of awareness and education about the issue of human trafficking in the United States and close to home in Minnesota. There will be a speaker from Breaking Free, an organization that helps to free women who are being trafficked, on Monday of that week and other events to follow.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

In SSJ, we strive to live out justice through prayer recognizing that the will and energy to work for justice come from God and that justice is unsustainable if not for the 'refueling' that comes from God. Our programs and events strive to promote that connection between spirituality and justice and include:

Advocacy:

Through educating ourselves and the wider campus community on justice issues, we can raise awareness and widen the support base for combating injustice.  We strive to be leaders on campus in advocacy and awareness work and to serve as a resource for people wanting to learn how to integrate social justice work into their faith.  In addition to others, we hold these events annually:

  • Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week: (November 13th - November 20th 2011)
    A national advocacy week centered around hunger and homelessness awareness issues, concluding with an in-depth devotion and community service opportunity
  • Catholic Social Teaching Week (CST Principles)
  • Human Rights Awareness Week:
    In collaboration with Amnesty International, CSB Campus Ministry brings a prophetic Catholic voice to human rights issues
  • Joint Religious Legislative Council (JRLC) Day on the Hill: 
    A trip to the MN State Capitol to advocate for our faith based values
  • Fair Trade Advocacy:
    Through our unique partnership with Catholic Relief Services and our Diocesan Mission office, SSJ promotes fair trade through education and an annual fair trade sale

Other past events have included:

prayer vigil

bishop taban

Justice Education

We, in SSJ, are committed to justice education on campus and in the wider community. Through education, we can increase awareness, increase action, strengthen our faith and reduce prejudices and stereotypes. 

Justice Walkin' Program:

J-Walkin' group fall '11

Justice Walkin' is a service group that initiates college students into a life transformed by the Gospel and its application in daily living.

The group meets every other Saturday morning to volunteer from 9-11am and then for a reflection meeting from 11-12:30pm.

 

Useful Organizations and Websites:

  • CRS College
    A variety of educational, co-curricular and engagement resources are available on the CRS College and University website.  Included are academic publications, videos, prayer and reflection resources, activities, and stories of global solidarity from colleges and universities around the country.
  • Catholics Confront Global Poverty
    Join the CRS/USCCB initiative and be one of a million Catholic voices working to end global poverty.  Prayer and education resources are available on their website.
  • RENEW International
    Download a series of reflection guides entitled "The World on Campus" that will help small faith-sharing groups explore global issues through the lenses of prayer, scripture and Catholic Social Teaching.
  • Education for Justice
    Access a wide range of educational prayer resources on Catholic Social Teaching and various social justice topics.
  • JustFaith Ministries
    Start a JustFaith group on campus with the newly developed "Justice Walking" program, specifically deisnged for college students.
  • Catholic Social Teaching on Campus!
    This new website offers a clearinghouse of great resources and best practices that can help you understand and share the Church's social teaching on campus! Also find:
    • Scripture, quotes from our Catholic faith tradition, and issues of Life and Dignity
    • Find prayer, small group, service reflection and action ideas
    • Learn about Church teaching, young Catholics living out their faith
    • Submit an idea for possible feature on the site
    • Get new ideas each week for your ministry
  • Fair Trade Resource Network
    This is an informational hub designed to grow the fair trade movement.  Find resources to help promote fair trade on campus and in your life!

Urban Plunges

Urban Plunges are weekend 'hands on' community service opportunities which focus on issues such as immigration, homelessness, poverty, AIDS, women's rights, and more!

Here is a list of places we have previously visited on Urban Plunges:

Retreats:

  • Subiaco: Modeled on Benedictine values with a three part theme of God, self & others, and our role in the world
  • Annual Woman's Retreat
  • Mother/Daughter Retreat: A special retreat for graduating senior women and their mothers which offers a chance to reflect and spend time together as graduating senior women draw close to graduation and big life changes

Mothers and their Daughters having fun at the annual Mother-Daughter Retreat

Volunteering in Service to Others (VISTO)

Spirituality and Social Justice Staff


Carlos J. Dabu
Spirituality and Social Justice Minister/Catholic Relief Services Campus Associate, Junior Environmental Studies Major
cjdabu@csbsju.edu


Natalie J. Peterson
Spirituality and Social Justice Minister, Junior Nursing Major
njpeterson@csbsju.edu


Alyssa M. Brown
Spirituality and Social Justice Minister/Catholic Relief Services Campus Associate, Sophomore Peace Studies Major
a2brown@csbsju.edu


Jessica A. Heggem
Spirituality and Social Justice Minister, Sophomore Psychology Major
jaheggem@csbsju.edu

If you have any questions, comments, programming suggestions that you would like to see on campus, or if you are interested in becoming an SSJ volunteer please email our team at ssj@csbsju.edu - we would love to hear from you!