Just Faith
If you’ve ever wondered how to take a spiritual personal inventory, simplify your life, and develop the “kinship” Pope Francis teaches us about, plan to attend one of the “Come and See” sessions that will introduce the “Just Faith”program. This is the fourth year that Just Faithhas been offered in the Evansville area. This year, All Saints Parish and Catholic Charities are co-sponsoring the program.
“This program reflects on exactly what Pope Francis is always talking about,” said Sharon Vogler, All Saints’ Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education. “(It covers) how participants (in small groups - through books, videos and prayer experiences) can learn about people, charity, justice, prejudices, resources and consumerism.”
Participants form a community, and they share a journey of faith and compassion while broadening their understanding of charity and justice. Weekly sessions, immersion experiences and retreats widen the learning experience and the understanding of who the poor are in our community and in the world. After weeks of reading, sharing and learning together, participants realize what they can do to care for vulnerable people, become advocates for justice and have the courage and inspiration to step out and meet the needs of the justice ministry in our parishes and in our community.
“Awareness and compassion best describe what I experienced in 'Just Faith,' said Kim, a former participant. “(A) broader awareness of the social, economic and ecological injustices in the world and our own community. My personal awareness of those injustices had been limited to information gained through mainstream channels.
“The immersion experiences, videos and retreats took me to places I would not have gone (otherwise) because they are outside of my daily norm,” she added. “‘Just Faith’ opened my eyes and my heart to those suffering socially and economically – but who, in most instances, exhibit spirit, determination and faith in spite of these injustices. I'm trying to be open to the opportunities God places in my path, and I am exploring ways I can be part of the change.”
The “Come and See” sessions are open to anyone who is high school age and older. The 90-minute sessions are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Catholic Charities (610 E. Walnut St. in Evansville) and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30 at All Saints Parish, Saint Anthony Church Campus (704 N. 1st Ave. in Evansville).
Contact Catholic Charities Director Sharon Burns at (812) 423-5456, or Vogler at (812) 423-5209, for more information.
