 Our Catholic faith and biblical tradition extend an extraordinary invitation to each of us and our faith communities to become agents of God's compassion and healing in a wounded world. The Good News of Jesus Christ is both a comfort and a promise for the poor and, at the same time, a call to those of us who are not poor to be linked with God's vision of justice and reconciliation. The Church's history shines with examples of courage and commitment of those who addressed themselves to the needs of our most desperate sisters and brothers. JustFaith, a thirty-week adult formation program, offers an opportunity for parishioners to experience this spiritual journey into compassion. Most of us long to be a generous and compassionate people. However, occasions to explore this tradition in a deliberate and engaging way have largely not been available. JustFaith provides a lively and challenging format to read, view, discuss, pray, experience and be formed by the justice tradition that changes lives, inspires faithful witness, and transforms the world through love and service. Across the country, JustFaith has proven to be a potent and successful strategy for expanding and energizing parishioner commitment to address human suffering. Indeed, many participating parishes choose to repeat the JustFaith process year after year. JustFaith is an extensive, conversion-based process that provides a context in which participants can grow in their commitment to care for the vulnerable and to become advocates for justice. This program serves to strengthen the growing commitment of parishes and churches to be agents of social transformation, mercy and compassion. JustFaith consists of weekly sessions and employs books, videos, lectures, discussion, prayer, two weekend retreats and four immersion experiences. The intent is to provide a tapestry of learning opportunities that emphasize and enliven the remarkable justice tradition of the Church. Participants are not only exposed to a substantive and demanding course of study but are also afforded the privilege of becoming community with other participants and sharing a journey of faith and compassion that is both life-giving and challenging. Engaging in the Church's social mission is, without argument, one of the most challenging aspects of our Gospel tradition. JustFaith is a process that recognizes the difficulty of the call to compassion and provides a wide range of compelling resources to communicate this tradition. The call of our faith to bring justice to a broken world deserves a preparation that honors the complexity of this task.
On May 13, 2006, after 30 weeks of study, the JustFaith group was proudly presented with their certificates of completion. Following are reflections of some of the participants about their experience. Click here for additional information about JustFaith.  The JustFaith experience was well worth the 32 weeks of study and reflection! We examined the seven principles of Catholic Social teaching. Each week there was something new to learn about my faith, my relationships with God, family, neighbor and the world. Through readings, videos, music, prayer, discussions, we examined what it means to "love your neighbor". The experience changed the way I view the world and the way I read the newspaper and listen to the news. I want to know the why of what is happening in the world. How these events affect me, my community, my country, the world-esp. those who have no voice in the political process. Then the question arises-"What can I do to make things better?" "How can I be a voice to influence how current events unfold?"
I would recommend that everyone who wants to follow Jesus' instruction to "Love Your Neighbor" consider JustFaith. When I initially started on this 30 week spiritual journey I was somewhat apprehensive about that kind of commitment. Almost immediately the JustFaith program became part of my regular routine. What I was experiencing was so uplifting I always looked forward to my JustFaith "time". The personal and spiritual growth I was experiencing was far beyond anything I could have initially hoped for. JustFaith is a 30 week adult formation program that offered me the opportunity for a spiritual journey into compassion. I had always talked about taking time to be a more compassionate person and wanting to know more about real justice issues. Living where I do there just never seemed to be real opportunities to do this kind of exploration. The JustFaith program opened that world to me through weekly meetings, readings, discussions ,videos, guest speakers and border crossings: where we as a group experience face to face contact with real people on the margins, living close by. Today I am thankful for the chance to have learned more about so many people who are so committed to making our world a better place by helping those who are truly in need. I feel blessed to have taken this journey with a group of people who have helped me become better educated about the injustices in the world around us and who have helped me take the first steps towards becoming a more compassionate person and an advocate for justice. Sue Houlihan
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