Social Ministries Advisory Commission Minutes August 4, 2008 

Present: Sue Keefe, Debbie Metz, Jerry Metz, Tom Monaco, Judy O’Brien, Margaret Stepp, Teri Fox, Connie Sherrie Heyse, Fred Heyse, Connie Pineda-Alvarez, Mercedes Gonzales, Jeannine Plummer, Lisa Henkes and Debbie Birck

Formation: The Commission meeting opened with a reading on “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” selected by Sue Keefe

Minutes: approved

1. Child Protection - Kathy Weyer

A report was distributed that contained the following points.

• The revised archdioceses policies on child protection are now available.  The committee will be working to get these revised policies out to groups/individuals. Kathy plans to write an article for Heartbeat about the policies/changes and child protection.
• Child Protection will continue to be working to get Child Protection Advocacy and Opportunity page up and running by late August. The committee has established on line information on the new web site- with portals through social ministries as well as through general parish information and linkage to school, and boosters.
• Finalized goals for 2008-2009 for child protection have been submitted. They are listed in other attachment.
• Denise Jenkins from Dayton, OH (a former DRE, currently working at CARE House and a certified family life educator) will present the “Stewards of Children” program on November 12, 2008. More details to come later.
• Child Protection provided handouts to PRP for both June and July summer sessions, along with the official child protection brochures.
• Child Protection continues to provide volunteers to help with fingerprinting monthly in the parish office, as well as during the school open house nights to accommodate parents.
• Child Protection participated in family Festival events on Sunday afternoon—handing out pinwheels to children and child safety information to parents. The committee provided fingerprinting available in the church office. (Despite the heat the initiative went well)

2. Darfur/Africa – Sherrie Heyse

• The Darfur advocates are planning to hold a seminar at Xavier University in the near future.
• Steve Chabot passed a Congressional resolution asking for more input on the crisis.
• The UN Criminal Court has charged Pres. Brashear with genocide. 
• The group will have another meeting on the 14^th of August.

 

3. Empowerment Fund Teri Fox

The following Empowerment Fund requests were made. 

Beginning Amount  $30,000.00 

Local

MERCY NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRIES  $750- REQUESTED

                                          $750 RECOMMENDED

Requested by Sr. Carole Temming

MNM has a growing English as a Second Language program reaching out to newly-arriving Hispanic and African immigrants to help them learn English and advance their basic studies.  They now meet evenings and want to expand into daytime hours in late summer. Generous volunteers tutor and instruct support the program.  They are in great need of instructional materials.  With $750, we could purchase 25 copies of Basic Grammar in Use and Master the Basics – English 

CORNERSTONE RENTER EQUITY   $1,000 REQUESTED

                                          $1,000 RECOMMENDED

Requested by Sue Keefe

Cornerstone gives low-income renters an opportunity to invest in their housing by participating in management.  Cornerstone coaches the residents to add financial value to

their housing and invests management fees in a fund that helps residents build financial security.  The program takes place to St. Anthony Village, developed by the Franciscan Friars. 

CORNERSTONE CONSTRUCTION TRAINING

Requested by Sue Keefe      $1,000 REQUESTED

                                          RECOMMENDED HOLDING 

 

A Cornerstone program provides construction training and employment to people in Over-the-Rhine who are unemployed and low skill levels.  They come from backgrounds that prevent them from having role models for these professions.  This program helps people turn their lives around. 

Global

NOTRE DAME ACADEMY- UGANDA-   $1,000 REQUESTED

                                                $1,000 RECOMMENDED

Books

Requested by Jim Goeppinger   

Sr. Mary Rita Geoppinger,  a Sister of Notre Dame, is the principal of this secondary school in Uganda. Started by the Sisters with a third grade, each year they expanded one grade level.  When they reached High School year, Sr. Mary Rita left Covington, (where she was principal of Notre Dame Academy), went to Uganda, and started the high school. The elementary school is boys and girls and the high school is for girls. The request is for funds for books.  Presently, 3 students share 1 book, so the need is great.   

COMBONI PARISH IN EGYPT    $1,000 REQUESTED

                                                $1,000 RECOMMENDED

Darfur refugee assistance

Requested by Sherrie Heyse

Fr. Achilles’ parish in Cairo, Egypt assists refugees from Darfur and other parts of Sudan. They help with housing, education, employment, job skills, and activities to maintain cultural ties between refugees. Families come with nothing and struggle in the urban

environment. The parish helps any refugee that comes to them. Fr. Achilles is a Comboni Missionary and the Comboni Mission overseas his work.  

OUR LADY OF THE MOUNTAINS    $2500 REQUESTED

RECOMMENDED HOLDING UNTIL AFTER VISIT

See below 

Requested by Sue Keefe

Sr. Mary Beth Kreidler's parish, Our Lady of the Mountains, Stanton KY request for assistance in empowering financially disadvantaged area residents to help themselves. She is Fr. Tom’s sister and is pastoral associate at the parish which is the only Catholic church in Powell County. 

4. Immigration

Margaret Stepp recently attended the latest immigration discussion for the visit of Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez of Honduras

If you can help please contact Dr. Terry Callan 233-6116 for the event

• Tuesday September 16 1-3:30 pm “Church’s Teaching on Migrants and Immigration Reform:  Enabling our parishioners to understand and respond to these vital issues in a U.S. election year.” Archbishop Pilarczyk will be speaking for the USCCB and there will be local input from local Hispanic ministries. Please register with mission@catholiccincinnati.org
• Tuesday 7-9pm Xavier University “What is a Latin Cardinal’s view on U.S. elections issues, especially on immigration.” Contact person Dr. Marie Giblin 745-2021 Cintas Center.  Help needed to pass out information.

Margaret mentioned a project called “bags of hope”.  As a Commission we could put together bags for the homeless with small much needed items and information on social services.  There was interest and further discussion will occur next month.

5. Social Forums 2008-2009 “Living a Faith that Does Justice”

Planned speakers

• October 26, 2008 Deacon Royce Winters; African American Deacon Archdiocesan Office of African-American Ministries
• November 16, 2008 Virginia Wiltse work in Madagascar; clinics and education of children teacher at Seton High School
• January 25, 2009 will be the Respect Life Forum. Alison and Kurt Groetsch are working on a speaker and will help with the Forum. Kurt will write a Heartbeat article for the forum.
• February 22, 2009 Kerry Kane Miller head of IHM group, MAGIC; Healthy Moms and Babes previously,

Sue suggested that one person takes care of all the Social Ministry Forums so that all the marketing is done in a consistently good fashion.  Jeannine Blatt has volunteered to do this.

6. SMC Objectives 2008-2009 Sue

The attached Objectives were approved as commission recommended Objectives. 

7. Award for IHM parishioner who lives a life of justice – Sue Keefe

Sue asked for volunteers to be on the awards committee.  Teri and Jeannine volunteered.

8. Servant Leadership – Tom Monaco

Tom briefly discussed his written report below

Met with principal.  Will meet with teachers and children and have a workshop.  Trying to get in-service time.  Tina Ramundo of PRP would also like to come. 

Tom Monaco sent the following written report.

Update report on the Servant Leadership goal: 
Since our last commission meeting where we introduced and briefly discussed the goal of servant leadership for next year Sue has arranged two meetings which I can certainly provide a brief report out on to all members.

First, on Thursday, May 8 Sue and I met for about an hour with Co-Principal Nancy Goebel at her office. Nancy's role includes all non-academic student activities and areas of engagement so she is a key person for any school related discussion on this goal and its outreach to the school.

We heard some basic details and information regarding servant leadership and provided Nancy with some written materials as well. She seemed quite interested, and a discussion about student / faculty training and implementation took place.  Nancy was kind enough to offer to meet with us again, after the typically hectic end of the school year comes to completion here shortly, with the purpose of seeking specific program means for introducing the concept and language of servant leadership to the faculty and students next year.

Note: It would seem that the 'common sense' approach here is to not add things for teachers who are already busy and fully engaged, to have to "do", but rather seek platforms for the teaching and implementation of the servant leadership model and language where the activities and teaching of the school is already so engaged. Nancy promised to call Tom to set up this meeting in June.  Then, as her invitation stated, Sue was kind enough to host an evening of discussion around the servant leadership goal for all members of this commission at her home on Thursday, May 20.  The attendance was small but the group did some further learning on the subject and then spent some time in brainstorming areas of applicability for the parish. Getting in front of other groups from Parish Council on down seemed to be a strong suggestion as we work to educate the community on what servant leadership means and looks like in practice.  There is still the sense that some need to read and learn more about the concept and to that end any I offer to meet and discuss the theory and praxis as needed. There will be opportunities for more feedback and all is welcomed.

Sue added that Nancy Goebel called Tom back to set up another meeting.  PRP will also get involved once the date is set.

9. Multi-cultural Mass Jeannine Blatt/Sue Keefe

October 19^th mission Sunday  Mercedes Gonzales and Gloria will also assist. 

10. Pledge on Non-violence – Teri Fox

We no longer ask people to sign pledges after Mass.  The pledge is said at the end of Mass.  The pledge will take place the first weekend in October.  Saturday is the feast of St. Francis, and this seems rather fitting.  We have approval from Father Tom and Father Rey.  The pledges will be placed in the pews.  The Commission is interested in saying or singing the prayer of St. Francis. 

11. Website - Jeannine Blatt/Sherrie Heyse

SMC thanks Jeannine Blatt, Sherrie Heyse, Roxanne Barnes, and Judy O’Brien for their work on the SMC portion of the IHM website. It is already live, but it is being standardized.  Jeannine and Sherrie asked if we would all review the website.  ihom.org/parish life/social ministries. 

12. Greening Committee - Judy O’Brien

Pad and fencing will go in got grant, PTO and KFC.   The committee additionally be offering a Saturday workshop on October 18^th. It will be 9:00-3:00 in Heritage hall, then move to Hageman Hall .Information will be in bulletin in September. 

13. Twinning - Sue Keefe

Sue briefly discussed her written report below

The Center in Batahola is doing very well.  Also the trip in June went well with 29 individuals seeing the presence of the Holy Spirit when there was a small eruption at Volcano Masaya.

There are 24 signed up for the next trip June 11-18, 2009, 12 teens.  Puppets and a theater will be donated and taken down for the Center.  The teens will do a little play for the students instead of the art project that we have always done.  Puppets will be donated to the Youth program here as well so that each year the students can practice here and put on a play there.

Project Education has received thank you notes from the students and is having them translated now to mail to the donors. 

John Veleta and Wes Cronk will have the video done on the Center the end of September.

The committee has been doing a breakfast from Batahola since 2000.  Instead, this year the committee hopes to have “Soul Pocket” play at a concert/social.  This event is planned for May 16^th.  The theme will be “Get Down with Batahola”. 

14.   Sr. Mary Beth Kreidler’s parish, Our Lady of the Mountains,

Sue is coordinating a visit to Fr. Tom's sister, Sr. Mary Beth Kreidler's parish, Our Lady of the Mountains, Stanton KY on August 20.  The group would leave IHM at 7am, drive 2 1/2 hours to be there by 10 am and hope to be back by 4pm.  Let Sue know, if you would like to attend..  We will be discussing how we two parishes can work together and get to know one another. 

15. Collections – Lisa Henkes/Sherrie Heyse

Christmas in July: Lisa Henkes organized the collection including putting a note in the bulletin.  Unfortunately, the collection was down by 1/3.  Lisa thanks all who donated items.  Bethany House, Welcome House, St. John’s and a Caring Place all appreciated the donations.

The schoolhouse collection is under way for Aug 9-10.

Sherrie ordered a DVD of Joan Rosenhauer's presentation at St. Andrew Church, hopefully for presentation for Faithful Citizenship.

16. Ministry Fair

Sue asked for a volunteer to organize the Commission’s ministry fair table on September 20^th to 21^st.   Perhaps committees could provide audio-videos to represent their activities.  Also, perhaps information on the Empowerment Fund could be presented. 

Next meeting September 8 at 7:15 pm. 
 

Approved Social Ministries Calendar 2008-9 

School House Collection August 9-10, 2008

Used Coat Collection October 11-12, 2008

Giving Tree December 6-7, 2008

Project 5000 February 21-22, 2009

Baby Shower May 9-10, 2009

Christmas in July 25-26, 2009 

Sunday Social Forums 10:30-11:30am

October 26, 2008

November 16, 2008

January 25, 2009

February 22, 2009

Sr. Paula Gonzalez’s workshop Oct. 18 9-3

Mission Trip to Batahola June 11-18, 2009

Batahola Garage Sale May 2, 2009

Get Down with Batahola May 16, 2009 

Journey to Justice March 14-15, 2009 

IHN April 13-19, June 22-28, August 24-30, October 12-18, Nov. 30-Dec. 6

City Gospel Mission 4-21, 5-21, 6-18, 7-16, 8-20, 9-17. 10-15. 11-19, 12-17

Walnut Hills Soup Kitchen April 27, June 22, August 24, Oct. 26

 

2007-2008 EMPOWERMENT FUND FINAL REPORT

Submitted by Carol Kelly 

The empowerment fund is in its 20^th year of giving a hand up to the poor and underserved, following the guidelines of Catholic Social Teaching.  Immaculate Heart of Mary can be proud of our commitment to help others beyond the parish walls.  The Empowerment Fund budget was $27,000.   If you want to recommend a grant for a cause your believe in, please contact Carol Kelly or the Social Ministries Commission for an application. Or check the parish website ihom.org and then click parish community>

Commissions>social ministries>empowerment fund. 

LOCAL GRANTS 

INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK-  $1,000

IHM is a partner with other churches in this project to provide emergency shelter to homeless families and work with them to retain stable housing. IHM volunteers provide meals for homeless families at Anderson Hills United Methodist church. www.ihncincinnati.org/welcome.htm. 

BOYS HOPE/GIRLS HOPE – $500        

Boys Hope/Girls Hope helps at-risk and academically capable teens to realize their potential by providing value centered family-like homes and quality education through college.  www.cincinnatibhgh.com  

GRACE PLACE CATHOLIC WORKER HOSPITALITY HOUSE  - $500

Grace place offers a house free of charge as temporary residence to women and families who are in transition from homelessness, with principles of  justice, spirituality, and community living.  They currently house a family of 9 from Burundi.  home.fuse.net/graceplacecw/welcome.htm  

ST. FRANCIS SERAPH SCHOOL, OVER THE RHINE  - $1,500

This grant will fund wireless presentation equipment to allow teachers to use notebook presentations on overhead monitors in classrooms. www.stfrancisseraph.org/School/school.html  

HEALTHY MOMS & BABES - $1,000

Healthy Moms & Babes is a Catholic ministry working to battle the high incidence of infant mortality in the Cincinnati area.  Their education, social work and home visiting services empower women to healthier lives for themselves and their children.  healthymomsandbabes.org 

MERCY ANDERSON/CENTER FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH - $500

Mercy extends the healing ministry of Jesus by improving the health of our communities with emphasis on people who are poor and underserved. This grant funds mammograms for those who can’t afford them. 

ST. FRANCIS/ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC WORKER HOUSE - $1,150

The grant was issued to help replace mattresses for the house, a shelter for homeless men.  This emergency need arose when Cincinnati experienced a citywide bedbug problem. www.ewbgcp.org 

FERNSIDE - $1,000 

Fernside supports children and families through Grief. Over 800 children, teens and adults attend support groups annually. Services include community outreach and crisis programs in schools, retreats, workshops and trainings. www.fernside.org 

SARAH CENTER - $500  Sarah Center, a part of Outreach St. Francis in Over-the-Rhine, empowers women to engage in working with others and earning income by making and selling jewelry. www.stfrancisseraph.org/Sarah Center/SarahCenter.html 

INTER PARISH MINISTRY - $250 This grant is for Summer Enrichment Camp, a 6-week day camp that offers children social and academic enrichment in a safe and wholesome environment.  IHM is one of the 40 churches that make up Inter Parish Ministry. interparish.org 

IHM STUDENT - $100      

This IHM student met a Kenyan girl who was treated in Cincinnati for burns to her face.  The girls became friends.  When she learned that the African girl’s school lacked basic supplies, she and three friends raised money to buy school supplies ($400-$500).  The grant helps with shipping fees. 

TRANSFORMING JAIL MINISTRIES - $500

This Cincinnati organization provides direct jail ministry to the prisoners and corrections staff in Hamilton County.  The grant is for education for jail ministers. tjmi.org 

CENTRO de AMISTAD de CRISTO REY - $1,000

This outreach ministry to immigrants and the poor in Erlanger, KY will use  The grant to purchase materials for the Citizenship Preparation program including textbooks for 25 people, weekly basic reading level newspapers, and DVD’s about American history, geography, and culture.   

NATIONAL GRANTS 

FRANCISCAN BORDER PROJECT/LA PURISIMA SOCORRO MISSION-$1,000

This Texas mission assists local poor and immigrants from Mexico.  They offer services including Mass and religious studies, gardens, ALANON, a thrift store and pantry. The missionaries also work to reunite youth with family members,  

CHRISTIAN OUTREACH WITH APPALACHIAN PEOPLE, INC. (COAP) - $1,000 COAP is dedicated to providing safe housing to low-income families in Harlan County, KY.  The grant is for the materials that volunteers need to repair homes.  Area high schools often do mission trips with COAP.  www.coapinc.com. 

CHRISTIAN HELP, INC. - $1,000

Christian Help, Inc. serves the poor in the area of Kermit, WV. with emergency assistance, social services and advocacy.  The funds will help provide dental care and dentures for clients of the center.  

EMORY LAW SCHOOL PUBLIC INTEREST COMMITTEE – & IHM PARISHIONER-$500

An IHM parishioner who is a law student at Emory, volunteers with New Orleans Legal Aid to assist attorneys preparing cases concerning housing rights in New Orleans.  The grant will help him and another student make the volunteer trip.   

MARY JANE PROGRAM - $200

This Catholic Charities Program in Honolulu assists women experiencing unplanned pregnancies.  It provides residential care and helps with parenting skills, adoption, or other care. www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org/site/395/mary_jane_program.aspx 

INTERNATIONAL GRANTS 

NURSES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT - $1,000   

NID trains nurses and health care workers in Africa with a mission to create and support a self-sustaining health sciences college in Africa. NID was part of the African Summit hosted by the Archdiocese. nid-michs.org  
 
 

ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA SECONDARY SCHOOL, UGANDA - $2,400

The grant funds scholarships for 10 boarding students at this Comboni mission school in Uganda.  It covers tuition, books, school clothing and two meals a day.  As several students had to drop out last year due to lack of funding, the scholarships are very important.   

VOLUNTEER MISSION MOVEMENT- $1,000

VMM, an ecumenical group of lay missionaries, working in the Catholic social justice tradition, ministers in developing countries to address hunger, poverty, disease, injustice and suffering. They train Christian men and women and send them to Central America, the U.S. and Africa. 

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES DARFUR WATER PROJECT - $1,000

This request will help fund wells and water projects in Darfur being built by CRS. Extensive water and sanitation projects, including construction of water systems, latrines, and hand-washing facilities are being completed. crs.org/sudan/projects.cfm  

J/B/L. SCHOOL IN GUINEA W.A. - $1,500

A parishioner founded the school in memory of her father, Guinea’s former Minister of Education. The grant is to build restrooms and a shower for students who don’t have running water at home.   

BATAHOLA MISSION TRIP SCHOLARSHIPS - $2,600

This grant helped 13 parish students make a mission trip to our twinning community in Nicaragua.  Their experience enriches their concern for people in need. 

EMBRACE THE CHILDREN/ VILLAMARIA CHILDREN IN NEED, UGANDA - $1,000

Villamaria cares for 150 orphans and water is their first priority, as Uganda has been suffering from drought. This grant will provide an efficient water supply and an irrigation system for their 15 acres of crops and 2500 chicks.  

ST. FRANCIS BOYS HOME IN MUMBAI, INDIA - $1,500

140 boys live at the orphanage and are cared for by the Brothers of St. Francis.  Cincinnati Franciscan Fr. Jim Bok oversees the operation. 

SCHOLARSHIP FOR ST. FRANCIS BOYS HOME RESIDENT, AJAY RAJE - $500

This student has been taken care of by the brothers for 6 years.  His mother is ill and is also helped by the brothers.  The father abandoned them some years ago.  Ajay has to drop out of school if there is no scholarship. 

SOLAR COOKER PROJECT –JEWISH WORLD WATCH - $300

This program provides solar cookers to the camps in Chad for refugees from Darfur.  With solar cookers, women do not have to travel to find firewood and expose themselves to rape and death.  Women in the camps manufacture cookers, teaching them a new skill, and an opportunity to generate income for their families. www.jewishworldwatch.org/donate/solarcookerproject.html 

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BOARDERS /RWANDA-$1,000.  This water project will convey and store water to supply drinking water to 200 families and a large orphanage with 50 children who are left homeless from the Rwandan genocide. A Franciscan Sister started the orphanage.  www.ewbgcp.org 

. 

 

Social Ministries Commission 2008-2009

1. Social Ministries Commission will address the Archdiocesan Social Action Collaborative issues of Catholic Social Teaching, immigration, and Darfur. 

By:

1. SMC will organize Sunday Social Forums speakers discussing CST.

2. SMC will submit bulletin blurbs about justice twice a month to the bulletin

3. SMC will submit one article for each Heartbeat issue discussing these issues.

4. SMC will continue advocating writing letters/sending emails/placing phone calls to our congressmen on immigration and Darfur at least twice a year. 

       

2. Social Ministries Commission will begin the educational process for our parish community on servant leadership.

By:

1. SMC will meet with DRE, leaders of Youth formation and Children’s Formation, and Brother Ed Kessler and Nancy Goebel to discuss servant leadership and how it can be taught to our children.

2. SMC will meet with Fr. Tom Kreidler to discuss servant leadership.

3. SMC will offer workshop on servant leadership to teachers, both school and PRP. Goal 10 individuals

4. SMC will offer workshop to Pastoral Council and chairs of commissions on servant leadership.  Goal 10 individuals 
 

3.  Social Ministries Commission will address the issues of protection of children and healing for victims.

By:

1. SMC will provide volunteers to assist the parish staff with fingerprinting, and will distribute educational materials and flyers through the school, PRP, parish bulletin, website, etc. to encourage child protection awareness and compliance with the archdiocese policies.

2. SMC will organize at least one educational/formation event that addresses the issues of child protection and/or victim healing.

3. SMC will promote National Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in April, including a liturgy for healing and protection in conjunction with all school Mass.  SMC will continue to encourage the parish community to take the issues of child abuse, protection and victim healing into prayer.

4. SMC will submit at least one Heartbeat article on the topic and will provide information about opportunities for education, advocacy, and outreach on website.

5. SMC will provide input and feedback to the diocese on issues of child protection, victim healing and advocacy, with focus on sharing our experiences so that we can maintain and improve our level of compliance and serve as a model.