St. Joe’s Catholic Social Teaching Committee Updates
Join the St. Joe’s Social Justice Committee for “Reflection and Action for Catholic Social Justice” on October 12, 2025, 12:45p-1:45p, in the St. Joe’s Community Room. Snacks provided.
We are living in troubling and despairing times. Do you wonder what our Catholic tradition has to say or how it might guide how we show up in this moment? Are you looking for a space to reflect and be in community with others? Do you want to take action to defend and support human dignity? Join us for “Reflection and Action for Catholic Social Justice.”
Catholic Social Justice is the foundation of how people of faith are called to live the Gospel and work for justice in a broken and suffering world. In our gathering, we will read scripture and teaching from the Church, reflect with one another, and take concrete actions for justice. No prior knowledge is needed. Come as you are!
We hope for this to be the first of a series of gatherings on Catholic Social Justice. At this first gathering, we’ll focus on the principle: Uphold the dignity of each person as an equally valuable member of the human family.
Contact Josie Diebold with any questions (josal.diebold@gmail.com).
🙏✨ Gratitude for Our Women Religious ✨🙏
We give thanks for the incredible witness of our Women Religious—guiding lights, servant leaders, and true inspirations in our Church and community. 🌟 Their faith, dedication, and unwavering service continue to shape us all.
📰 Read the recent Buffalo News article (8/24/25) honoring their impact:
👉 Thank God for our Women Religious
#FaithInAction #WomenReligious #Gratitude
| Companies continuing to support DEI programs – as of 3/20/25 | Companies Revising or Dropping DEI – as of 4/11/25 (Forbes list) | |||
| https://www.advocate.com/news/companies-keeping-dei#rebelltitem13 as of 4/2/25 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/04/11/ibm-reportedly-walks-back-diversity-policies-citing-inherent-tensions-here-are-all-the-companies-rolling-back-dei-programs/ | |||
| Apple | Amazon | |||
| Ben & Jerry’s | Amtrak | |||
| Cisco | Bank of America | |||
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Black Rock | |||
| Costco | Boeing | |||
| Delta Air Lines | Chipotle | |||
| Deutsche Bank | CitiGroup | |||
| e.l.f. Beauty | Comcast | |||
| Francesca’s | Constellation Brands (Corona beer) | |||
| Kroger | Deloitte | |||
| Levi’s | FBI | |||
| Lush | Ford | |||
| Macy’s | Gannett (largest US newsp publisher) | |||
| Marriott International | GE | |||
| Meijer | GM | |||
| Microsoft | ||||
| NFL | Harley Davidson | |||
| Nordstrom | IBM | |||
| Old Navy | Intel | |||
| Patagonia | Jack Daniels | |||
| John Deere | ||||
| Procter & Gamble | Lowe’s | |||
| Sephora | McDonald’s | |||
| Southwest Airlines | Meta | |||
| TJ Maxx | MLB (major league baseball) | |||
| Ulta Beauty | Molson Coors | |||
| Paramount | ||||
| PayPal | ||||
| PBS | ||||
| PepsiCo | ||||
| State Street | ||||
| Target | ||||
| United Health Group | ||||
| Walmart | ||||
| Warner Bros. Discovery | ||||
| Disney | Disney | on both lists | ||
| Morgan Stanley | Morgan Stanley | on both lists | ||
| Coca-Cola | Coca-Cola | on both lists | ||
| Goldman Sachs | Goldman Sachs | on both lists | ||
| JP Morgan Chase | JP Morgan Chase | on both lists | ||
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A Song for Kalen: Lessons Learned From the Life and Death of My Son
An incredibly touching and absolutely devastating story.
“In his highly anticipated debut memoir A Song for Kalen: Lessons Learned From the Life and Death of My Son, former CPS worker and gun safety advocate Tim Sherlock recounts the vivid and tragic true story of the shooting of his five-year-old son Kalen.On that fateful day, Tim awoke in New York, unaware of the news to come. By noon, he was thrust into a living nightmare where soul-crushing experiences would be measured in seconds. He rushed to South Carolina where he encountered a scene no parent should ever witness. Tim embarked on a series of brutal decisions only to find himself immersed in an emblazoned battle to retrieve and rescue his eight-year-old son Karter from the clutches of foster care in another state.
Released two years ago (available on Amazon and the BECPL), this tell-all book follows the public trial and conviction of Kalen’s mother and her boyfriend. Tim shares the exact moment he found forgiveness and the implications his forgiveness had on countless lives. He brings us to the brink of despair, then sets us off on the wings of a butterfly to discover our own humanity through the heart-wrenching tale of father and son.
“A Song for Kalen: Lessons Learned From the Life and Death of My Son is an incredibly touching and absolutely devastating story. Once the story starts unfolding it doesn’t stop and you feel the constant turmoil and emotional highs and lows intensely, from beginning to end, because it never takes a breath. This story is important because of the way it addresses the failing of the court, foster care, and law enforcement in general. I think anyone reading this story today would feel it reflected in today’s society,” stated the book’s publisher, NFB Publishing.
A fierce advocate for common sense gun safety and the establishment of a National Database of Child Protective Reports, Tim works with father’s rights attorney Tina C. Bennet and co-founded E-court Coach Consultants and Mediation on Demand. With degrees in Psychology, Clinical Psychology and English Literature, he has worked as a diagnostician and therapist in children’s treatment centers, a CPS Investigator, a service coordinator writing plans of action for adults and children with disabilities, an addictions counselor and a child advocate. He is currently working with elected officials in New York State to address legislation around CPS and parent’s rights.
Tim Is available as an expert commentator on topics of gun violence, child death, murdered children, and issues within the family and justice systems in the United States. He also speaks on broad themes such as grief, organ donation, addiction and gay parenting. He currently resides in Olean, N.Y., with his son Karter and his niece.
Dear St. Joseph’s Pax Christi Member,
Note: We will be meeting in September, Date TBD
Gun Violence Awareness Committee presents Pastor James Giles, CEO of Back to Basics Ministries and Peacemakers, Sunday, June 22
Saint Joseph University Parish representing at Buffalo Rally Saturday June 21
Action Alert from NETWORK Catholic Lobby
Senate Republicans are set to vote on their budget reconciliation bill. They are pushing for some of the biggest cuts in our nation’s history to Medicaid and SNAP, and plan to rip away substantial funding for the Affordable Care Act, the Child Tax Credit, incentives for clean energy, and more. Why are they doing this? To have enough money in our shared budget to extend tax cuts to billionaires and large political donors. Today, will you call Congress, and tell friends and family to call, too?
Call 1-888-897-9753 to your Senators (call 2 times to reach both Senators!)
Here’s a faith message you might share on your call:
“Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] from [YOUR TOWN]. I’m asking that [SENATOR___] protect Medicaid, SNAP, and the Child Tax Credit from harmful budget cuts and additional red tape.
Hardworking families, people with disabilities, kids aging out of foster care, seniors, and others who need the life-affirming resources that our budget provides, are our neighbors and family members. As a person of faith, I know there are enough resources for all of us to thrive in God’s beloved community.
Catholic Social Teaching demands that we exercise a preferential option for the poor–not the wealthy! Our district, state, and country need Congress to protect the people–not serve the billionaires. We must love our neighbors and protect Medicaid, SNAP and the Child Tax Credit.
Will [SENATOR __] vote ‘no’ on the House Budget Reconciliation bill?
More information can be found on NETWORK’s website.
Action Alert from Justice for Immigrants (USCCB)
Right now, members of the Senate are considering the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a budget reconciliation bill passed by the House of Representatives in May. This sweeping piece of legislation covers many different areas, including immigration. Before the bill passed in the House, several bishop chairmen of the USCCB wrote to Congress to commend certain provisions and to urge reconsideration of others that would irreparably harm the poor and disadvantaged, as well as our immigrant brothers and sisters.
Use this tool to email and call your Senators.
In the context of immigration, some of the things the House-passed bill would do include:
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Allocate $25 billion for immigration enforcement efforts and $45 billion for detention, including family detention. This amounts to a nearly 400% increase annually when compared to current funding levels. Families, including those with young children, would be left to languish in costly and harmful detention facilities. Enforcement efforts would be expanded well beyond those who committed crimes to include people who have peacefully contributed to American communities for years, even decades.
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Provide $100 million to facilitate the expedited removal of unaccompanied children without any access to legal counsel, overriding current protections for this population.
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Impose prohibitive fees for families seeking to reunite with an unaccompanied child. Family members and other safe sponsors would first be required to pay a $3,500 fee as “reimbursement” for the time a child spent in federal custody, as well as a $5,000 bond, before being able to care for that child. This combined $8,500 would keep many children from their families and increase costs for the government to continue caring for them.
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Make life-saving protections contingent on one’s ability to pay for them without any potential for fee waivers. For instance, all requests for asylum would require a mandatory $1,000 fee (currently, there is no fee for asylum applications).
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Require a $550 initial work authorization application fee for those with pending asylum claims and renewal every six months (instead of five years), leading already vulnerable people trying to support themselves and their families to rely on public or charitable assistance and making them more susceptible to labor exploitation.
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Impose a $250 “visa integrity fee”—on top of the fees already paid—for every person who receives a nonimmigrant visa, such as religious workers.
In their letter to Congress, the bishops described these provisions as doubling down on an “unsustainable, enforcement-only approach to immigration” and “contrary to the common good.” Ask your senators to remain consistent in protecting human life and dignity and promoting the common good by addressing these harmful provisions before moving the reconciliation bill forward.
The Immigration, Refugee and Human Trafficking Committee, held their bike collection on Saturday, May 17. Approximately 200 bikes were collected in all sizes, states of repair and “ages”. We were able to repair 40 on site and these were delivered directly to members of Our Lady of Hope parish serving many refugees and immigrants on the West Side of Buffalo and to Felician Sisters Services food pantry on the east side of Buffalo serving many people who walk miles to procure food.
Our remaining bikes will continue to be repaired by our great partners; Wheels for Workers 716 who operate at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4001 Main Street, Eggertsville. Our parish mechanics put in many hours refurbing the bikes there. Once bikes are road worthy and safe they are delivered to our most needy and vulnerable neighbors throughout WNY. Bikes provide essential transportation to health care service, food pantries, jobs, ESL classes and much needed recreation.
The work and dedication of our friends at Wheels for Workers 716 has forged a terrific ecumenical effort with our parishioners John Aman and Doug Snyder leading the way.
This year we had some high school volunteers helping us; we certainly will expand that program next year.
Thank you to all who donated bikes!
💙 THANK YOU 💙
We want to thank everyone who joined us for the viewing of My Brother, Lost in Time and the powerful discussion with filmmaker Dan Lukasik. Your presence and engagement were a meaningful step in reducing stigma around mental health in our community.
Together, we are building a more compassionate, understanding, and supportive space for all.
For more info about the Community Mental Health Committee, contact Kathy at kda431@aol.com.
SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY JUNE 21. BUFFALO UNITED MARCH AND RALLY, NIAGARA SQUARE.. CHECK THIS SITE FOR UPDATED INFO.
OVER 60 ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS JOIN BUFFALO UNITED RALLY, NIAGARA SQUARE, APRIL 5.
SCENES FROM BUFFALO UNITED PRE-RALLY PRESS CONFERENCE, HELD AT LEDWON COMMUNITY ROOM APRIL 1
Remembrance Conference 2025: In Unity Against Gun Violence
The Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB and the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine are proud to co-host Remembrance Conference 2025, June 6–8 in Buffalo, NY. Born from shared tragedy and a commitment to healing, this nationwide gathering of medical students, residents, and faculty confronts gun violence as a public health crisis. Featuring keynote speakers, advocacy workshops, and community engagement, the conference equips future physicians to be advocates for change. Join us in honoring lives lost and shaping a future free from violence.
For more info CLICK HERE
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended Samuel Radford’s powerful presentation on Martin Luther King Jr.: The Giant Triplets of Racism, Extreme Materialism, and Militarism on March 9 in the Ledwon Community Room.
Your presence, engagement, and thoughtful discussion made this event truly impactful. Dr. King’s message continues to challenge us to work for justice, peace, and the dignity of all people. Let’s carry forward the conversation and take action in our own communities.
We are grateful for your participation and look forward to seeing you at future events! Stay connected for more opportunities to gather, learn, and grow together.
Scenes from “Non-Violence: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Passionate Lifelong Commitment “ presented by Heron Simmons Price, Sunday, March 16, Ledwon Community Room
ACT NOW! Tell Your Representative to Stop President Trump’s and Elon Musk’s Cruel and Malicious Policies
*Dial 1-888-738-3058 to reach your member of Congress.
____________________________
Here’s what to consider when your Member of Congress is a Republican:
Make them own the Trump-Vance attacks on people and the planet.
Republicans in Congress are enabling the Trump-Vance administration’s efforts to slash critical programs, attack basic rights, and handover control of government spending to billionaire ally Elon Musk.
Demand they stop enabling these attacks and pass a responsible budget that protects working people—not billionaires.
- In your phone calls: Over the next 40 days, call and demand your Member explain why they are giving billionaires more power over government spending than the voters who elected them.
- Write a Letter to the Editor: Part of truth telling is to publicly call out bad actions. Write to your local newspaper asking your Member to stand up and pushback against efforts to defund and dismantle vital programs that protect our communities.
Here’s what to consider when your Member of Congress is a Democrat:
They must use their power to protect families.
House Democrats can block any budget deal that enables the Trump-Vance Administration to cut programs that protect working families and vulnerable communities.
- In your phone Calls:
- Demand they vote ‘NO’ on any funding bill that doesn’t include ironclad protections against Elon Musk’s illegal actions.
- Tell them to hold hearings to expose corruption.
- Make them commit to using all the tools they have to slow down House business, and expose cruel actions from House Leadership and the Administration.
CLIMATE CHANGE SUPERFUND ACT
The Climate Change Superfund Act, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on Dec.26, 2024, holds climate polluters – big oil and gas companies – responsible to pay $75 billion over 25 years for costs incurred by climate damages in New York State. While these climate damage bills have been piling up for taxpayers, the industry responsible for this situation has made $1 trillion in profits from 2021 to the present. A recent poll indicated that “a whopping 89% of New Yorkers support fossil fuel companies covering some of the costs for climate damages. “
In signing the bill, Gov. Hochul stated:
“With nearly every record rainfall, heatwave, and coastal storm, New Yorkers are increasingly burdened with billions of dollars in health, safety, and environmental consequences due to polluters that have historically harmed our environment. Establishing the Climate Superfund is the latest example of my administration taking action to hold polluters responsible for the damage done to our environment and requiring major investments in infrastructure and other projects critical to protecting our communities and economy.” Gov. Hochul
It was through the efforts of hundreds of climate activists across the state that brought this Superfund Act into law – this through many letters, petitions, personal visits to legislators, rallies, protests, prayers, sit-ins, etc. over the last few years. It passed the NYS Senate in June 2023 and the NYS Assembly in June 2024
SCENES FROM ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS MARKETPLACE December 14 & 15 2024
PROACTIVE RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM
Thank you to parishioners and everyone who signed the letter that went to Mayor Brown and the Common Council this past spring. The Proactive Rental Inspection Program has not been implemented since Mayor Brown signed it in 2020.
This year 3,000 residents have received letters, with 600 recently sent to North Buffalo. The letters notify landlords that their rental units will be inspected. A license to rent property is approved once the landlord has addresses any violations of code including lead removal. 6000 letters are expected to be sent in 2025.
Progress is being made!
A Message from our Racial Justice and Solidarity Committee
St. Joseph University Parish participates in Get Out The Vote Event, November 2, UB South Campus
Social Justice Committee Welcoming Event Sunday September 29. Over 35 people attended to learn more about the activities of our Social Justice Committees, and to join up!
From the St. Joseph Unversity Parish Refugee, Immigration, and Anti Human Trafficking Committee
NYS Immigration Sheet
Mulumba Global Charities in action at Nyagurusu Camp in Tanzania.
UPDATE ON CITY OF BUFFALO PROACTIVE INSPECTION LAW FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Refugee, Immigration, and Human Trafficking Committee Bike Drive
Bike Collection for Refugees 2024 Report
Thank you to everyone who donated bicycles and time at our bike collection! Our efforts with our partners at Wheels to Work 716 resulted in gathering over 150 bikes; 43 were immediately repaired and sent out to the community served by Catholic Charities and Our Lady of Hope parish. The remaining bikes will be repaired and distributed soon to newly arrived immigrants and refugees. Every bike provides much needed transportation to work, school, grocery stores and clinics as well as much needed recreation.
To date our community has gathered and distributed over 1200 bikes to our newest neighbors! 
As you are probably aware, our Parish Gun Violence Awareness Committee organized a spirited campaign and petition drive in early 2022 to convince local retail stores (Wegmans, Tops, Barnes and Noble) to remove magazines from their racks that promoted the possession, distribution, and use of automatic rifles, guns, and ammunition. This effort was very successful, resulting in the retailers removing the magazines from their shelves. During the week of April 8, one of our Committee members was in the Barnes and Noble store on Niagara Falls Boulevard, and noticed that there were gun related magazines back on the shelves. Our Committee was contacted with this information, and quickly sprung into action. Staff and management of this outlet were contacted, and the magazines were promptly removed.
“What is Trauma” presented by Cameron Burns, Crisis Services, March 10, 2024Brought to you by the Committee Mental Health Community, St. Joseph University Parish
Thanks very much to all of you who came to the Community Room last weekend to sign the letter demanding that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, the Buffalo Common Council, and the Buffalo Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services fully enforce the Proactive Rental Inspections Law. Enforcing this law will help reduce childhood lead poisoning due to lead-based paint hazards that exist in the City. WE COLLECTED OVER 200 SIGNATURES. The letter and signature pages were hand-delivered to City Hall.
With gratitude,
The St. Joseph University Parish Social Justice Committee
UPDATE FROM OUR GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS COMMITTEE
Donations given to Mulumba Global Charities during 2023 Alternative Christmas Marketplace helped to purchase uniforms for children in 3 schools in Namibia. Seraphin Mulumba, President of Mulumba Global Charities, sends his deepest gratitude to all who supported this effort.
Scenes from Alternative Christmas Market Place December 9th and 10th
Congratulations and thank you to Sister Eileen O’Connor for your many years of service, and leadership, of our Social Justice Ministries at St. Joseph University Parish……a good time was had by all at the October 29th celebration
Andrew Prinzing, who chairs our Racial Justice and Solidarity Committee, recently returned from the annual National Catholic Mobilizing Network Conference in Minneapolis, where he presented a workshop on “Restorative Practices.” During his presentation, he spoke about how our Committee implements these practices during discussions about racial healing. Congratulations Andrew! We are so glad that you are with us.
Theresa Flores, founder and director of the SOAP Project (Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution) speaks to us about the prevalence of human trafficking- October 10, 2023
MHA to Offer Two New Grief Support Groups
Gun Violence Awareness Committee
The NRA, perhaps the best-known “gun rights” organization in the US, tracks bills introduced in state legislatures and offers a tool for people to contact their state legislators about pending gun bills. They urge people to oppose gun safety bills, and support bills that would have the effect of expanding access to guns. We want the opposite, so let’s turn the tables. Let’s consult the NRA’s list of pending legislation. If there’s a bill pending in our state, let’s contact our state legislators and tell them to support the bill if it furthers gun safety, and oppose the bill if it makes it easier to get and use guns.
- YOUR VOTE IS CRITICAL IN THE MOVEMENT TO END GUN VIOLENCE
Every day, more than 120 people in the United States are killed with guns. We are dedicated to creating a future free from gun violence – and that starts with electing candidates who will implement better gun laws. Learn more about what it means to be a Gun Sense Voter. Go to www.gunsensevoter.org
- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has recently announced the 3D Printed Gun Safety Act, federal legislation that would ban online distribution of blueprints for the 3D printing of firearms and help prevent the proliferation of ‘ghost guns’. Ghost guns are homemade firearms that have no serial number, making them untraceable and extremely difficult to regulate. The components are often purchased in ‘ghost gun kits’, or can be 3D printed using instructions found on the internet. In the past year, according to the New York Police Department, there has been a 75% increase in ghost gun seizures in New York City”. Please consider contacting Senator Gillibrand to let her know you are supportive of her efforts: (202) 224-4451 (phone) or email via gillibrand.senate.gov
- Members of our Gun Violence Awareness Committee representing at the End Gun Violence Gathering and Candlelight Vigil held June 2nd at Buffalo’s Front Park
Scenes from the Gun Violence Awareness Committee information weekend held June 3, 4
Refugee, Immigration, and Human Trafficking Committee Bike Drive
Bike Collection for Refugees 2023 Report
Our Refugee, Immigration, and Human Trafficking Awareness Committee completed its 2023 Bike Drive by collecting over 200 bicycles that were distributed to refugee children and adults via Our Lady of Hope Parish, Catholic Charities, Jewish Family Services, International Institute, St. Luke’s Mission, and Peace House. Since this effort began in 2019, 892 bicycles have been collected, made road worthy, and distributed. Thanks to Colleen and Paul Colligan for their leadership; the dozens of volunteers who have cleaned, restored, picked up, and delivered bikes, Fr. Jack for letting his garage bay be used for storage, and all of you who donated bikes and cash to ensure the ongoing success of this effort. See you again in 2024!
Racial Justice and Solidarity Team
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
The Racial Justice and Solidarity Team cannot thank you enough for the incredible turnout at the “One Body In Christ” Concert. Your presence, love and support confirmed what we stand for at St Joseph’s University Parish, Diversity.
The Concert itself, consisted mostly of people from around the globe gathered in worship, praise, adore and testify as
One Body in Christ for the Glory of God.
It was an astounding cultural display in music, language, traditional outfit and color from God’s incomprehensible creation of man. That diversity is beautiful is not an understatement. God truthfully has the eyes of beauty.
Thank you Parishioners and Friends for your presence
The Gun Violence Awareness Committee
Pictures from presentation organized by our Gun Violence Awareness Committee held on May 4 : “The Toll of Gun Violence in WNY” by Dr. Allison Freeman and Dr. William Kelly
Understanding Coercion-Based Trafficking – On January 24th, St. Joe’s welcomed guest speaker, Assistant US Attorney Meghan Tokash, who shared her insights on coercion-based human trafficking. The presentation explored what might make a person vulnerable to human trafficking and the ways traffickers use various psychological and emotional factors to target and compel victims. AUSA Tokash also shared tips about what members of the community can do to help in the fight against trafficking, including being conscious of the sources of food in our stores and labor practices in our favorite restaurants.
From our Racial Justice and Solidarity CommitteeNew Lending Library opens!The community room will now host a cart containing several dozen books, for both children & adults, with the shared theme of racial justice. Feel free to browse through the offerings & find one to inform and inspire you. Just fill in the sign out sheet on the cart’s clipboard, listing the name of the borrowed items. When you return the book(s), input the return date. If you have any recommendations of other books to be added to the library, or even wish to donate one, just advise the parish Racial Justice Committee.
