CONTACT:  Delis Alejandro  |  310-566-1530  |  t  

JustFaith is an intensive and successful model of justice education and spiritual formation that consists of weekly small group meetings and employs books, videos, speakers, discussion, prayer, retreats, and hands-on experiences. The intent is to provide a tapestry of learning opportunities that emphasize and enliven the remarkable justice tradition of the Catholic Church. Participants have the privilege of becoming a community with others and sharing a journey of faith and compassion that is both life-giving and challenging. Together the small group explores the Gospel call to compassion and justice.

St. Monica Catholic Community has hosted over an 18-year period over 30 JustFaith programs. In 2025 we plan to host the following programs:

Fall of 2025

Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope–an exploration of Catholic Social Teaching

Winter of 2026

Sacred Land: Food and Farming–explores our connection with the land and our responsibility for it.

Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope

St. Monica JustFaith Ministry presents:

Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope

Wednesdays Sept 24–Nov 12
7 p.m.–9 p.m.

Zoom

We are happy to announce that our next JustFaith program, Encuentro de Esperanza or Encountering Hope, explores the themes of Catholic Social Teaching, the core Catholic values that inspire us to put our faith into action especially for those most vulnerable. Often considered the Church’s best kept secret Catholic Social Teaching has been in the news because of Pope Leo XIV. The pope chose the papal name Leo in honor of Pope Leo XIII's social teachings, particularly his advocacy for workers' rights during the first industrial revolution

Encuentro de Esperanza includes eight sessions and an encuentro, or encounter, in the local community. Each session explores a key Christian principle based on seven themes of social teaching. Sessions include an interactive Scripture study, a witness for faith-rooted justice, and a guided discernment of action steps based on the day’s learnings. Throughout each week, participants will engage in reflections and spiritual practices around the upcoming session’s theme. The program also celebrates the spirituality of various Spanish-speaking cultures and presents wisdom and voices not typically highlighted in United States churches.

Overview of Sessions

Session 1: Dignity of the Human Person: Through community guidelines and an activity around active listening, participants practice recognizing and honoring the image of God in one another – even when they disagree.

Session 2: Caring for Creation: The group reflects on humanity’s original vocation of caring for God’s creation and considers the costs of neglecting this responsibility. They also learn about opportunities to honor the legacy of Berta Cáceres and support other Indigenous leaders protecting our sacred land, air, and water.

Session 3: Solidarity: The group engages with the Advent tradition of Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging, and considers God’s call to solidarity with those experiencing injustice, poverty, and shelter today.

Session 4: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers: It has often been said that “work was created for people, but people were not created for work.” The group learns how workers, particularly farmworkers, are demanding justice and respect, and discerns how they can support their efforts.

Session 5: Preferential Option: After hearing from a guest speaker working for justice, peace, and healing in the local community, participants engage in a biblical reflection on God’s special care for those experiencing poverty and oppression.

Session 6: Call to Family, Community, and Participation: The group gathers for a community dinner, sharing foods that reflect their cultural heritage, family traditions, and childhood memories. As they do so, participants discuss the interrelated themes of food, family, and the heavenly banquet as illustrated in Scripture.

Encuentro in the local community: Participants visit a local organization working for peace, justice, and healing in the community.

Session 7: Rights and Responsibilities: Participants celebrate the legacy and witness of St. Oscar Romero as they consider what it means to follow Jesus’ instructions to “deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

Session 8: Hope-filled Action: Participants discern two goals for how they will put their faith into action in response to their JustFaith journey: one they will complete as an individual, and one they will complete together as a group.

Registration

The fee for the course will be approximately $35 and official registration begins September 9. Those interested will go directly to the JustFaith website (https://justfaith.org)  to pay and register.

If you are highly interested in this course and would like to be on an interest list, we will contact you when registration opens. To get on this list contact Delis at .

All materials will be online. No added books or materials needed.

CONTACT:  Delis Alejandro  |  310-566-1530  |  t  

JustFaith is an intensive and successful model of justice education and spiritual formation that consists of weekly small group meetings and employs books, videos, speakers, discussion, prayer, retreats, and hands-on experiences. The intent is to provide a tapestry of learning opportunities that emphasize and enliven the remarkable justice tradition of the Catholic Church. Participants have the privilege of becoming a community with others and sharing a journey of faith and compassion that is both life-giving and challenging. Together the small group explores the Gospel call to compassion and justice.

 

St. Monica Catholic Community has hosted over an 18-year period over 30 JustFaith programs. In 2025 we plan to host the following programs:

 

Fall of 2025

Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope–an exploration of Catholic Social Teaching

 

Winter of 2026

Sacred Land: Food and Farming–explores our connection with the land and our responsibility for it.

 

 

Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope

 

St. Monica JustFaith Ministry presents:

Encuentro de Esperanza: Encountering Hope

 

Wednesdays Sept 24–Nov 12
7 p.m.–9 p.m.

Zoom

 

We are happy to announce that our next JustFaith program, Encuentro de Esperanza or Encountering Hope, explores the themes of Catholic Social Teaching, the core Catholic values that inspire us to put our faith into action especially for those most vulnerable. Often considered the Church’s best kept secret Catholic Social Teaching has been in the news because of Pope Leo XIV. The pope chose the papal name Leo in honor of Pope Leo XIII's social teachings, particularly his advocacy for workers' rights during the first industrial revolution

 

Encuentro de Esperanza includes eight sessions and an encuentro, or encounter, in the local community. Each session explores a key Christian principle based on seven themes of social teaching. Sessions include an interactive Scripture study, a witness for faith-rooted justice, and a guided discernment of action steps based on the day’s learnings. Throughout each week, participants will engage in reflections and spiritual practices around the upcoming session’s theme. The program also celebrates the spirituality of various Spanish-speaking cultures and presents wisdom and voices not typically highlighted in United States churches.

 

Overview of Sessions

 

Session 1: Dignity of the Human Person: Through community guidelines and an activity around active listening, participants practice recognizing and honoring the image of God in one another – even when they disagree.

 

Session 2: Caring for Creation: The group reflects on humanity’s original vocation of caring for God’s creation and considers the costs of neglecting this responsibility. They also learn about opportunities to honor the legacy of Berta Cáceres and support other Indigenous leaders protecting our sacred land, air, and water.

 

Session 3: Solidarity: The group engages with the Advent tradition of Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging, and considers God’s call to solidarity with those experiencing injustice, poverty, and shelter today.

 

Session 4: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers: It has often been said that “work was created for people, but people were not created for work.” The group learns how workers, particularly farmworkers, are demanding justice and respect, and discerns how they can support their efforts.

 

Session 5: Preferential Option: After hearing from a guest speaker working for justice, peace, and healing in the local community, participants engage in a biblical reflection on God’s special care for those experiencing poverty and oppression.

 

Session 6: Call to Family, Community, and Participation: The group gathers for a community dinner, sharing foods that reflect their cultural heritage, family traditions, and childhood memories. As they do so, participants discuss the interrelated themes of food, family, and the heavenly banquet as illustrated in Scripture.

 

Encuentro in the local community: Participants visit a local organization working for peace, justice, and healing in the community.

 

Session 7: Rights and Responsibilities: Participants celebrate the legacy and witness of St. Oscar Romero as they consider what it means to follow Jesus’ instructions to “deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

 

Session 8: Hope-filled Action: Participants discern two goals for how they will put their faith into action in response to their JustFaith journey: one they will complete as an individual, and one they will complete together as a group.

 

Registration

 

The fee for the course will be approximately $35 and official registration begins September 9. Those interested will go directly to the JustFaith website (https://justfaith.org)  to pay and register.

 

If you are highly interested in this course and would like to be on an interest list, we will contact you when registration opens. To get on this list contact Delis at .

 

All materials will be online. No added books or materials needed.

 

 

 

Background on JustFaith Ministries

 

 

JustFaith Ministries is a nonprofit organization that forms, informs, and transforms people of faith by offering programs and resources that sustain them in their compassionate commitment to build a more just and peaceful world. They offer a variety of programs and resources that teach and inform on the justice tradition of the Catholic Church and Catholic Social Teaching. JustFaith Ministries is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and can be contacted at https://justfaith.org/ or by phone at (502) 429-0865.