MISSION STATEMENT:
Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, the Peace & Justice Committee serves to help parishioners link their faith to their lives as workers, consumers, and global citizens, striving to open up opportunities and issues which might otherwise be overlooked. This committee helps to spotlight issues of worker rights, immigrant rights, non-violence, and racial justice including eradicating systemic, institutionalized, and individual acts of racism. We partner with other faith-based coalitions for meetings with legislators and participation in lobbying and other events. In the parish, the group helps facilitate speakers, letter-writing campaigns, and the formation of committees as needed. ALL ARE WELCOME! The group meets one Sunday a month. Let us know if you would like to join by email: [email protected] Below you will find educational materials and resources about:
Critical Issues & Resources
Why Black Lives Matter
Without justice, there is no peace. The issue of systemic and personal racial injustice is being raised as never before. We have been given an opportunity to make real, lasting change. In the words of Cardinal Cupich: "We need to take up the hard work of healing the deep wound that has afflicted our people since the first slave ships docked on this continent. And we need to start today." (Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, on the murder of George Floyd and its aftermath, Sunday, May 31, 2020) Please find below resources and inspiration to assist us in finding ways to heal these wounds in our society, our parish, ourselves. (Click here for an abridged list of BLM resources in a printable format).
Learning About Reparations
Other Organizations Working for Equity
Books
Resource Collections
Films & Documentaries
Additional Reflections and Wisdom
75th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Japan
Skokie and Evanston are two of a growing number of U.S. cities to have passed resolutions calling for a prohibition on nuclear weapons.
Protecting Immigrant Families
Learn about policies and glean info about healthcare, housing, and legal resources for non-citizens in Illinois.
Responding to COVID-19—How shall we keep this unusual time in human history?
Be inspired by others whose words and prayers and art call us to be better selves and to a better future:
Partnerships with Faith-based Coalitions
Arise Chicago: partners with workers and faith communities to fight workplace injustice through education and organizing and advocating for public policy changes. CRLN (The Chicago Religious Leadership Network): mobilizes interfaith support for local deportation defense efforts, works towards a vision of sanctuary for all, and makes a prophetic call for an end to detention People for a Safer Society: a gun violence prevention organization that facilitates education, awareness and advocacy; pushes for common sense gun laws, informs communities about non-legislative solutions, such as divestment from gun manufacturers. United Power for Action and Justice: is a non-partisan community organization composed of 40 religious congregations, not-for-profit groups, hospitals, health centers and civic organizations from across Cook County. St. Nicholas Parish is a member of this organization. |