Promoting Equality & Justice
Mission Statement
Grounded in the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching, our mission is to educate and work in solidarity and inclusiveness for justice, equality, respect and dignity for all our brothers and sisters and care for God’s creation.
Purpose
We accept the obligation to follow Pope Francis’ insistence that we open our closed hearts by EDUCATING our community about the social justice issues that affect us, especially the most vulnerable, and PROMOTING projects, programs, policies that respect the dignity of all, by addressing issues regarding discrimination related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion; poverty, education, housing, policing, immigration, and care of the planet.
Committee Members
Parish Staff: Father Gerard Lecomte, Deacon Peter Hodsdon
Co-Chairs: Christy Bantugan-Bohan, Shirley Giese
Ana Zentella, Bob Gilleskie, Teresa Perez, Luna Espinosa, and Sheyla Tellez
Subcommittees:
Pax Christi San Diego
We are a national and international Catholic peace and justice movement that seeks to model the Peace of Christ in our witness to the mandate of the nonviolence of the cross. This is a local chapter of Pax Christi USA. Coordinator: Christy Bantugan-Bohan. www.paxchristisocal.org. Meetings are on the third Thursday of the month from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. Email christybohan@cox.net for more information.
Creation Care
The Creation Care Ministry advocates through civic and charitable acts, loving concern for, and protection of, all the natural gifts of God. The focus of this ministry is Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical PRAISE TO YOU (Laudato Si) On Care for Our Common Home. Email Bob Gilleskie rjgilleskie@san.rr.comfor more information.
Immigrant Advocacy
We advocate for the safety and well-being of our sisters, brothers, and children in immigrant families including their health, housing, education, employment, and protection from discrimination. Email Ana Zentella Azentella@ucsd.edu for more information.
Have an interest in learning more or getting involved?
Contact:
Christy Bantugan-Bohan christybohan@cox.net
Shirley Giese shirleyjgiese@gmail.com
Helpful Links:
USCCB Catholic Social Teaching https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/upload/catholic-social-teaching-handout-adults-digital.pdf
Laudato Si https://laudatosi.com/watch
The Faith in Action Committee, created in June 2020, is a subcommittee of the St. James-St. Leo Pastoral Council.