St. Mary's Church, Los Gatos, CA
PEACE & JUSTICE COUNCIL

“The beauty of JustFaith is that I was not alone on my journey. I was with others who were seeking, struggling, and growing right along with me. We formed a special bond united by our desire to learn more about and follow Jesus’ example of justice and compassion. It is an experience that is always with me, coloring my thoughts, feelings, and actions. And while I continue to be challenged on my journey to justice, I feel I have a stronger sense of direction and a compass of faith to guide me.”

 

St. Mary’s Peace & Justice Council puts Catholic Social Teaching into action by creating opportunities for parishioners to learn, advocate and contribute to a peaceful, loving and just world.

St. Mary's Peace & Justice Events

Catholic Campaign for Human Development

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) works to create lasting solutions to the problem of poverty through real community change. Please donate prayerfully and generously to CCHD at all the masses next weekend, November 22-23, to help those in poverty help themselves.

In keeping with the Catholic Social Teaching of putting the needs of the poor and vulnerable first, CCHD was launched in 1970 by the bishops of the United States. It addresses the problem of poverty by attacking the root causes and funding community projects that promote independence as a means to end poverty. It may surprise you to know that 37 million Americans, including 13 million children, live below the poverty line. Many are considered the “working poor”, which means that they work but do not have enough money to cover essentials like housing, health care, child care and food.

CCHD projects are helping to lower that number. It not only provides funding, but invests in the dignity of the poor and helps people to break the cycle of poverty by becoming self-reliant.

Over the course of 40 years, CCHD has funded nearly 8,000 projects that empower the poor to come together to solve community problems. CCHD funds projects that produce real and lasting change, such as developing and maintaining affordable housing, providing vocational training, creating worker owned cooperative businesses, giving support to low-income working families and children, and promoting many other creative anti-poverty initiatives.

These projects are funded by parishioners like you, who graciously donate to the collection. In parishes across the country, CCHD holds an annual collection, giving us the opportunity to make a difference in ending the cycle of poverty. Out of your donations, 25% is kept in the diocese to fund local projects and the remaining 75% goes to the CCHD national office to support anti-poverty initiatives throughout the United States.

Through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, we can make a difference and put and end to poverty in this country. Visit www.povertyusa.org to learn more.

St. Mary’s 2007 Christmas Giving Tree

Please Take a Heart & Fulfill a Wish

The Christmas giving tree will be set up in the main vestibule of the church next weekend. Please consider taking one of the many brightly colored paper heart ornaments and fulfill the gift wish. All gifts are due back on Sunday, December 14. This year the parish will support eleven agencies that minister to those in need in Santa Clara County. In addition to gifts, we gratefully accept monetary donations made out to “St. Mary’s”, note: Giving tree. Anyone who wishes to receive a receipt for tax purposes please call Terri Trotter @ 354-4061x122.

 

To volunteer or for more information contact Jane Ferguson at (408) 354-4061 x123, or jferguson@stmaryslg.org.