Social Justice Committee: Who We Are And What We Do

​Inviting you to put your Faith into Action!
 
The purpose of the Social Justice Committee is to:
  • Encourage the parish community to serve the needs of the most vulnerable and voiceless in our society.
  • Educate and empower parishioners and the outside community in the Church’s Social Teachings.

We meet at St. Elizabeth Seton Church on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM.  If you are looking for opportunities to put your faith into action in service of the poor and vulnerable and to find out more about our work and the programs we sponsor and organize, please contact the Social Justice Committee at socialjustice@catholicsofpleasanton.org.
 
Through your generous donation of time and treasure in 2019, the following was achieved with these programs sponsored and organized by the Social Justice Committee.
Social Justice Grant Program
​In accordance with Catholic Social Teaching and our moral obligation to create a “preferential option for the poor and vulnerable” our parish allocated $22,000 from the Sunday plate collections to help improve the lives of people living in poverty in the US and around the world.  Thank you!
Rice Bowl: A Global Solidarity Initiative
​Through the Rice Bowl program we journeyed with members of our human family around the world, and committed our Lenten prayers, fasting and almsgiving to serving those in need.  Our CCOP family contributed $6,582 to feed the hungry.  Thank you!
Homeless: A Local Solidarity Initiative
​The Lenten collections for the homeless served by St. Mary’s and Livermore Homeless Refuge yielded such tremendous results that our storerooms were overflowing with much needed items such as toiletries and underwear.  Thank you!
Fair Trade Easter & Advent Sales
​Our Fair Trade programs provided parishioners with the opportunity to purchase chocolate produced without the use of forced child labor and trafficking.  Through your generous support a total of $11,093 was raised for programs that will directly help disadvantaged workers in developing countries earn a fair wage for their labor.  Thank you!
MedShare
MedShare is a national organization providing medical supplies and equipment for hospitals primarily in the developing world but also for free clinics in the US.  On weekends throughout 2019 CCOP parishioners gathered at their San Leandro warehouse to sort and pack donated medical supplies for shipment. Thank you! ​
Habitat for Humanity
​Access to shelter is a basic human right.  Many adults and teens from our CCOP family volunteered their weekend time to help build affordable homes for families with limited income in Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties.  Thank you! ​
Kids Against Hunger: A Global Solidarity Initiative
​Every 6 seconds a child dies, nearly 16,000 every day, because of hunger and related causes.  In August 2019 over 200 CCOP parishioners came together to pack over 24,000 nutritious emergency meals for children and families in the Philippines.  Thank you!
Concern America Fair Trade Sale
​For over 30 years our parish has sponsored Concern America to help underprivileged workers in developing countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico and Bangladesh to earn a fair price for their labor.  Through your generous support $4,404 was raised in 2019 and invested back into programs that will directly benefit these artisans and their families. Thank you!  ​