Social Justice

Operation Rice Bowl is the official Lenten program for CRS which calls on people to Pray, Fast, Learn and Give in solidarity with the poor around the world. 25% of funding gathered remains in the local dioceses from which they were collected for distribution.

CRS is the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community. It is one of the largest and most effective international relief and development agencies in the world, helping people in need regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity.

Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, the agency provides assistance to 80 million people in 99 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. CRS is a member of Caritas International, the worldwide network of Catholic humanitarian agencies. It provides relief in emergency situations and helps people in the developing world break the cycle of poverty through community-based, sustainable development initiatives.

CRS is seeking to help Catholics more actively live their faith and build global solidarity. CRS informs and engages American Catholics about poverty and injustice overseas. U.S. programs provide opportunities for Catholics to live their faith by getting involved - as individuals, with their families, in their schools and parishes - to help build a more just world.

The Social Justice Ministry receives information periodically from various organizations regarding many public policy-making issues that are being addressed by national and state legislators that affect the least of those in our society. This information is then sent out to those who have expressed an interest in these justice, equality and peace matters. If you want to get involved in learning about and making your voice heard on some of these issues, please email us to be added to this list.

There is an enormous difference between fair trade and free trade. The Diocese of Fairbanks has been promoting fair trade practices for the past few years as a result of Catholic Relief Services' involvement in a project called the Work of Human Hands. This project promotes the sale of food items like coffee, tea, nuts and chocolate and arts and crafts from people living in third world countries. The main goal of the project is to give a fair wage to the farmers and artisans so that they can better provide for their families.

Work of Human Hands catalogs are available to view at the chancery or the gifts can also be found online. If you would like to purchase items, we have been placing combined orders two to three times per year. Samples of arts and crafts as well as individual chocolate bars are available for sale at the chancery's Social Justice Ministry office as well. Please visit any of the following links or contact Tom for more information.

Fair Trade and Catholic Social Teaching

Coffee Price Breakdown

Divine Chocolate

Catholic Relief Services - Fair Trade - Learn More

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community. It is one of the largest and most effective international relief and development agencies in the world, helping people in need regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity.

Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, the agency provides assistance to 80 million people in 99 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. CRS is a member of Caritas International, the worldwide network of Catholic humanitarian agencies.

It provides relief in emergency situations and helps people in the developing world break the cycle of poverty through community-based, sustainable development initiatives.

Overseas

Overseas work is done in partnership with local church agencies, faith-based partners, non-governmental organizations, and local governments. CRS emphasizes the empowerment of partners and beneficiaries in programming decisions. Program examples include:Agriculture, Community Health, Education, Peacebuilding, Microfinance, Emergency Response, Civil Society, HIV/AIDS, and Safety Net Programming.

In the United States

CRS is seeking to help Catholics more actively live their faith and build global solidarity. CRS informs and engages American Catholics about poverty and injustice overseas.U.S. programs provide opportunities for Catholics to live their faith by getting involved - as individuals, with their families, in their schools and parishe - to help build a more just world.

Please visit Catholic Relief Services (CRS) web site

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the official domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It is funded through an annual collection in parishes each year. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in the United States through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations of poor people and through transformative education.

Founded in 1969 by the USCCB, CCHD's pastoral strategy is empowerment of the poor through a methodology of participation and education for justice, leading toward solidarity between poor and non-poor as impelled by the Church's biblical tradition, modern Catholic social teaching, and the pervasive presence of poverty in the United States.

This ministry for justice is rooted in our baptism and faith commitment. CCHD is a member of the USCCB, an assembly of the Catholic Church hierarchy who work together to unify, coordinate, promote, and carry on Catholic activities in the United States; to organize and conduct religious, charitable, and social welfare work at home and abroad; to aid in education; and to care for immigrants. The bishops themselves constitute the membership of the Conference and are served by a staff of over 350 lay people, priests, deacons, and religious. CCHD has worked to transform lives and communities, focusing steadily on breaking the cycle of poverty in thousands of communities across the United States.

The Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks has been associated with CCHD for many years. CCHD funds are available for community organizing and/or economic development groups through a grant process, both on a national and diocesan level.