Justice Collaboration

Justice Collaboration Making a difference in the city and the world

Lenten Justice Collective

The Basilica has six active justice ministries focused on different aspects of justice important to our Catholic tradition: Dignity, Solidarity, and Belonging (Imago Dei); Women in the Church (St. Phoebe’s Footsteps); Restorative Justice, Immigration Justice, Criminal Justice, and Creation Justice. Heeding the undeniable call to deeper justice work in our world today, these six ministries are intentionally finding ways to collaborate and work together to break out of silos, maximize impact, strengthen The Basilica’s collective justice efforts and fortify strategic goals unique to each ministry. One of the first goals of the Justice Collaboration is to launch The Basilica’s Lenten Justice Collective, which we intend to help all of us center Justice in Lenten preparations for a deeper union with the Risen Christ. During each week of the Season of Lent, one of the six Justice teams will create a reflection to invite all to engage in Lent through the lens of that particular ministry’s justice focus. Reflections will center the three Pillars of Lent – Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving – providing opportunities for both inward reflection and outward action in partnership with the ministries themselves and with partners in and around the Twin Cities.Check the bulletin each week for a short blurb and link to the week’s reflection and pick up a prayer card with details about each week at the back of the church. We invite each of you to join collaborative efforts, as we journey toward a more Christ-filled, just world. For more information, please contact Janice. 

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For more information on the individual justice ministries mentioned above, please visit these website pages:

• Dignity, Solidarity, and Belonging (Imago Dei) 
• Women in the Church (Saint Phoebe’s Footsteps)
• Restorative Justice
• Immigration Justice 
• Criminal Justice 
• Creation Justice 
• Consistent Life Ethic (see tab below for more info)

For more information about the other services we provide through our St. Vincent de Paul Ministries, please visit our Charity & Service website page.

“Lay people have the principal responsibility to transform the social order in light of the Gospel.”

– USCCB 2002

Lenten Justice Collective Reflection & Action

Consistent Ethic of Life  Habitat for Humanity Ending Homelessness Sanctuary Supporting Congregation Voices for Justice Street Voices of Change (SVoC) Consistent Ethic of Life 

Consistent Ethic of Life: 

The Consistent Ethic of Life, or “seamless garment” approach, is a Catholic moral framework asserting that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death. It calls for a consistent, holistic defense of life against threats like abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, poverty, and war. 

Key Aspects and Applications:

• Core Principle: Based on the conviction that all human life has inherent dignity and is created in God’s image.
• Origin: Articulated by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin to connect various life issues into a unified, non-contradictory moral stance.
• Scope: It extends beyond bioethical issues to include social justice, environmental care, racial justice, and opposing systemic violence.
• Key Issues Addressed:
  • Beginning of Life: Abortion.
  • End of Life: Euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide.
  • Life Protections: Capital punishment.
  • Quality of Life: Poverty, hunger, lack of healthcare, human trafficking, and environmental destruction.
• Goal: To promote a “culture of life” rather than a “culture of death”. 

The framework encourages moving from a culture of violence to one of nonviolence. 

Habitat for Humanity

Since 1995, The Basilica has worked on Habitat for Humanity houses throughout our community, helping to make the joy and stability of home ownership a reality for local families. The Basilica has partnered with Twin Cities Habitat For Humanity by sponsoring a week-long annual “work camp.” Every summer, the Basilica provides a sponsorship fee and volunteers each day for five days to work on a home. Throughout the past two decades, the Basilica team has taken part in building a variety of home types including townhomes, duplexes, and single-family dwellings. 

Volunteers who participate in the “work camp” are treated to complimentary breakfast and lunch each day, provided by generous donors, and many volunteers return year after year. Basilica teams have been instrumental helping local families achieve their dream of affordable home ownership. 

Within the Habitat “work camp” there are volunteer activities for everyone of all ages-those 16 and up are welcomed to build. No experience with construction is required-we’ll train you and you may work at your own comfort level. Anyone of any age can help to greet the builders and/or make/serve snacks or breakfast/lunch. 

Ending Homelessness

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.

 

Sanctuary Supporting Congregation

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.

Voices for Justice

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?

• Catholic Social Teaching
• Faithful Citizenship – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Tools for Advocacy

• Find my elected officials
• Heading Home Hennepin

Advocacy Partners

• ​Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC)
• Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis 
• The Minnesota Catholic Conference
• Bread for the World
• Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light

Street Voices of Change (SVoC)

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 on Fridays at the Cowley Center – building located east of The Basilica

• Fridays from 8:30am-10:00am
• Meal is from 8:30-9:00am

 

Questions? Please Contact:

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Justice Collaboration