Get involved and make a difference
Biblical justice directs us toward the elimination of oppression, poverty, and everything that keeps men and women from their full development as human beings.
- Education to housing
- Health care to environmental justice
- Racism to global relations
For more information on the services we provide, please visit our Charity & Service website page.
"Lay people have the principal responsibility to transform the social order in light of the Gospel."
Align Minneapolis
Align Minneapolis is an interfaith collaboration of 18 Minneapolis churches, synagogues and mosques and people with lived experiences working together to end homelessness and poverty. Align Minneapolis focuses on shifting from an immediate needs approach to long term solutions through a combination of education, advocacy and action. Through learning and volunteer opportunities for congregants, community partnerships, and development of effective strategies and programs, Align Minneapolis is committed to impacting the community around us to end homelessness.
There will always be people who are homeless. But, we can change the system so fewer people fall into homelessness and more people move out of homelessness quickly.
- Prevention costs less and is more humane than allowing people to become homeless and then addressing shelter needs.
- People need safe, affordable housing before services can effectively address life issues.
Our declaration as a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation provides transparency to our work. It allows us to intentionally partner in a deeper way with people in need of support and other congregations doing this work.
Why did The Basilica become a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation?
As Disciples of Christ we are called by our faith to help those in need. Pope Francis reminds us that “Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age. (Matthew 25:35-43) ” A Sanctuary Supporting parish cares for those most at risk and those living in fear.
We have encountered those living at risk and in fear at our sister parish, Church of the Ascension in North Minneapolis. Many in their congregation have lived, worked and raised their families in the US for decades. Close to 50% of the Ascension parish identify a fear that they, or someone they love, could be impacted by the threat of deportation. Besides basic needs, we have learned that they need assistance from lawyers and from notary publics to prepare guardianship papers for their children. Declaring our willingness to do this work allows The Basilica to develop deeper relationships and trust with The Ascension Church community.
In addition, The Basilica has already been doing the work expected of a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation. Our Liturgies, Sacramental programs, Caring Ministries and St. Vincent de Paul Ministries receive and respond to all people—regardless of their status. There is integrity in naming what we do as a faith community.
Finally, declaring our parish as a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation is grounded in our faith. It is a direct response to the call to compassion by Christ, articulated by Pope Francis. It seeks to place our faith above any considerations of politics or division.
Let your voice be heard.
Get involved two ways:
1. Join a leadership team that provides resources and tools to empower our community to work for justice through education and formation.
2. Join an e-network and receive one or two e-mails each month inviting you to contact your elected officials about justice issues relevant to our community. You’ll also learn about upcoming justice activities related to our advocacy work.
Sign up for Voices for Justice e-mails.
Raise your voice for these issues:
- Refugees and immigration
- Education gap
- Human trafficking
- Health care reform
How does our faith connect to advocacy?
Tools for Advocacy
Advocacy Partners
We work for peace and justice in our world
The Basilica was dedicated as a Peace Site on April 19, 2008.
Restorative Justice
Help The Basilica engage in local restorative justice efforts.
Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers (MAP)
MAP is a non-partisan, ecumenical coalition of 69 peace, justice, environment, and U.N.-advocacy organizations. MAP plans workshops, speakers, and other events during the year. The Basilica’s Justice Teams are a member of MAP.
Street Voices of Change (SVoC) is a group of individuals who have current or past personal experiences with homelessness who come together to build community and make positive changes in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and the systems that contribute to and keep people in homelessness.
Weekly Meetings at The Basilica
Fridays from 8:30am-10am
Meal is from 8:30-9am. Enter at the door under the left of the grand stairs and go downstairs to the large hall.
Streets to Housing
Hennepin County residents who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness can receive troubleshooting help, assessment, and housing navigation support through the Streets to Housing program.
Streets to Housing works with single adults, youth, and families who are living in outside, in their vehicles, or other places unsheltered and not meant for human habitation.
They are at The Basilica on most Fridays from 10:00am to noon. No need to make an appointment
Click HERE for a schedule of other locations and times to meet with the Hennepin County Streets to Housing Team.
Questions? Please Contact:
Janice Andersen
Director of Christian Life
Janice Andersen has been on staff at The Basilica of Saint Mary since 1994, working with programs…
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