The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Believing with the universal church that action on behalf of justice is an essential dimension of the mission of the church and the preaching of the gospel, the Social Justice Concerns Committee, through its many sub-committees, undertakes a program of education and action to bring about a more just society.
Focusing on the key themes that are the heart of our Catholic social tradition we strive to bring about the Kingdom of God by working for systemic change.
Social Justice Concerns Committee.
Believing with the universal church that action on behalf of justice is an essential dimension of the mission of the church and the preaching of the gospel, this committee undertakes a program of education and action to bring about a more just society.
This poem was written by Mary O’Herron, a parishioner and member of the Social Justice Committee and the Interfaith Climate Justice Community (ICJC) Steering Committee. -September 2020
“I Can’t Breathe”
Without trees and grasses and flowers
I can’t breathe
Without the Milky Way
I can’t breathe
Without the rains
I can’t breathe
Without the whole web of life
I can’t breathe
With a belly of plastic
I can’t breathe
Entangled in a net I can’t spout
I can’t breathe
Swimming in toxins
I can’t breathe
Slick with black oil
I can’t breathe
In forest fires and air of ash
I can’t breathe
In clear-cut forests
I can’t breathe
Carried away by flood
I can’t breathe
With COVID full lungs
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe Pachamama
I can’t breathe
Inhaling pesticides
I can’t breathe
Without food and clean water
I can’t breathe
In the refugee camp
I can’t breathe
Caged at the border
I can’t breathe
Choking on tear gas
I can’t breathe
Amidst coughing prisoners
I can’t breathe
On gated streets
I can’t breathe
Stopped by police
I can’t breathe
With a knee on my neck
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe, Mama
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
I can’t…
