 Like
to work with your hands? Have we got a job for you...
by Lynda Bray
As we find ourselves in the midst of building our
new church, as a faith community we find this both necessary
and exciting.
We carry this enthusiasm further into the community and help
fill pressing needs through another rewarding project, the
Habitat for Humanity at St. Matthew's.
Habitat for Humanity
is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry founded
in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.
Their goal
is to eliminate substandard housing by encouraging people
to work together.
The Greater Columbus Habitat has completed
110 houses in this community but the need continues to grow.
Over 800 applications
pour into the Habitat offices locally every year. Habitat
does
maintain a small staff but relies on volunteers to do most
aspects of its work. Even the chosen new homeowners are
expected to contribute "sweat
equity" to their home and to the Habitat organization.
Habitat gives families and volunteers the chance to work
together to
solve the serious problem of poverty housing. Habitat is
a hand up, not a hand out.
You can participate in this important
ministry in several
areas from ground breaking to welcoming the new homeowners.
All areas
of ability and expertise are encouraged to participate. There
is a need for manual labor and other skills. If you cannot
imagine hanging drywall or hammering nails the maybe you
can donate your
time to landscaping or babysitting the children of the other
volunteers while they do "the dirty work".
We ask
you commit two days out of a year to volunteer. We usually
work one Saturday afternoon a month, following the
progress
of a single home from start to finish. Even those as young
as 16
can help with permission of a parent or guardian.
If you
would like more information, please contact Tim Bray at 614-939-5299
after 7 p.m. on weekdays or e-mail
us at
STEWARDSHIP@stmatthew.net.
PEACE & JUSTICE
The parish is where the Church lives. Parishes
are communities of faith, of action, and of hope. They are
where the gospel
is proclaimed and celebrated, where believers are formed
and sent to renew the earth. Parishes are the home of the
Christian community; they are the heart of our Church.
Parishes are the place where God's people meet Jesus in word
and sacrament
and come in touch with the source of the Church's life.
Across
the country, countless local communities of faith are serving
those in need, working for justice, and sharing
our
social teaching as never before. More and more, the social
justice dimensions of our faith are moving from the fringes
of parishes to become an integral part of local Catholic
life. In our streets and neighborhoods, violence destroys
the hopes,
dreams, and lives of too many children. In our local communities,
too many cannot find decent work, housing, health care,
or education. In our families, parents struggle to raise children
with dignity, hope, and basic values.
“You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine
before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-14,
16)
The Peace and Justice ministry was started to foster the basic
themes of Catholic social teaching: Life and dignity of the
human person; call to family, community, and participation;
option for the poor and vulnerable; and care for God’s
creation. In these challenging days, we believe that the Catholic
community needs to be more than ever a source of clear moral
vision and effective action. – U.S. Catholic Bishops.
Members of this ministry work to build community and to respond
to social injustice through service, advocacy, and grass roots
collaboration. Activities include: volunteer recruitment, networking,
leadership development, issue identification and response,
and program planning.
If you are interested in more information
on this ministry conatct Mary Thompson at 614-471-0212 or
at MARY@stmatthew.net
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