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Whenever there are people in need of food and drink, clothing, housing, medicine, employment, education; wherever people lack the facilities necessary for living a truly human life or are tormented by hardship or poor health, or suffer exile or imprisonment, there Christian charity should seek them out and find them, console them with eager care and relieve them with the gift of help.
~ Document on the Laity, #8 (from Vatican II)

Parish Social Ministry

Co-ordinator: Jean Lashley (905) 392-1909

Parish social ministry helps parishioners, as disciples of Jesus, to fulfill the mission of the Church, by responding in an organized way, in the parish, to societal and individual human needs. Locally, parish social ministry is a joint effort of three parishes:

ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, Newmarket (905) 898-4137

ST. ELIZABETH SETON, Newmarket (905) 853-5009

HOLY MARTYRS OF JAPAN, Bradford (905) 775-2065

	The Archdiocese of Toronto promotes parish social ministry as a strategic direction. Parish Social Ministry is co-ordinated through the Archdiocesan Office for Lay Ministry. Catholic Community Services of York Region and Catholic Family Services of Simcoe, both agencies funded by Share Life, provide support for parish social ministry through staff and referral to other resources. Sister Mary Mallany, IBVM, is the area coordinator for social ministry in York Region.
	Education The first component of Parish Social Ministry is education, which seeks to bring a greater understanding of the scriptural basis for social ministry, the social teaching of the Church, and the social issues which confront us in our society today. We need to understand these within our parish, community, nation and world in order to stand in solidarity as children of God.
	Service The second component of Parish Social Ministry is service, which responds directly to social issues. It meets the immediate and emergency needs of people. Collaborative partnerships are critical, as many social issues are complex and referrals to professional agencies are essential. As well, the more we work together, the better we are able to wrap care around individuals and families in need.
	Social Action A third component is one that is often forgotten or lost in the service. Social action is required to move us beyond the meeting of the basic emergency needs of people, as important and non-negotiable as those are. It is the dimension of Parish Social Ministry that addresses the root causes of social issues and works for individual, community and social transformation. It calls us to work for long term structural and institutional change, to ensure the dignity of all our brothers and sisters. One such example is our ministry to the migrant workers: El Sembrador.
	Understanding Our Communities In order to understand our communities well, we conducted a needs assessment during the fall of 1999. This included an in-pew survey at mass, various meetings with key groups in the parishes and input from external sources such as Catholic Community Services. We reported on the results of this process in January of 2000 and are continuing to use these results in planning our response to the needs of the parishes		top of page
	Counselling Services One of the findings of the needs survey was that many individuals and families are struggling to cope with complex issues with insufficient support. We have arranged with Catholic Community Services of York Region to subsidize the provision of professional counselling services one day a week in Newmarket at St. John Chrysostom Parish Centre. While we wish to improve the informal support available to individuals and families, we also want to make it easier for individuals and families to access professional support when that is needed. To arrange to see a counsellor in Newmarket, please call Catholic Community Services at 1 (800) 263-2075.		Catholic Community Services 1 (800) 263-2075 CCRYR - web page at St. John's

	Developing The Gifts Of The Individual In order to prepare people for special roles in parish social ministry or to support and strengthen individuals in roles they have already taken on in the community, the parishes have offered the Parish Social Ministry Minister of Care Training and Formation Program in 2000, 2002, 2004 and fall 2006. It incorporates education in Catholic social teaching; discussion of the challenges commonly faced by people such as illness, bereavement, and family crisis; personal growth and faith development; and discernment of personal gifts. The goals include the development of lay leadership and the skills and understanding to work in collaborative ministry. Over 100 people have completed the social ministry program. Some are involved in the ministry to the hospitals or nursing homes, others have worked with the Italian Social group or Young at Heart. They have initiated Ministries of Consolation and Hope to support those experiencing grief. They have assisted with transportation for isolated individuals, become involved in service programs within the community and otherwise made themselves available to support individuals and families in the parishes. They have become involved in justice initiatives such as Development and Peace or Kairos. They have joined many of the existing ministries within our parishes such as St. Vincent de Paul and RCIA teams.		Parish Social Ministry Minister of Care Training and Formation Program The three parishes of St. John Chrysostom, St. Elizabeth Seton and Holy Martyrs of Japan offer the Parish Social Ministry course, which runs one day a week for eight consecutive weeks and concludes with an all day session. The programme was first offered in the fall of 2006. This programme is sponsored by the Office of Lay ministry, Archdiocese of Toronto. The course emphasizes Catholic social teaching, and preparation for individual or group ministries within our homes, parishes or communities. Topics include healthy lay ministry, listening skills, charity/justice, ministry with those who are marginalized or suffering, and gift discernment. For more information, contact Jean Lashley at 905-392-1909 or email jlashley@neptune.on.ca. the programme will be offered again in ? top of page

	Do You Have A Problem? If you have a problem or concern, please contact Jean Lashley at (905) 392-1909 or one of the parish offices. We would like to help, or find some other source of support for you. Jean may also be reached by e-mail.		Help is as close at hand. Jean Lashley (905) 392-1909
	Questions? For more information about parish social ministry or to become involved, please contact Jean Lashley.		top of page