Committee Mission/Function
The Social Justice Committee coordinates the Parish’s social justice efforts; and, provides a forum for receiving parishioners’ interests and concerns regarding social justice activities and working toward a resolution according to Parish decision-making principles.  Responsibilities of the five sub-committees follow.

Advocacy

• Works with members of Holy Trinity Parish to discover and support ways they can promote social justice, consistent with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
• Coordinates parish efforts to improve the way our culture addresses social and economic inequities.
• Educates the parish community about opportunities for advocacy and facilitates the involvement of parishioners in these efforts.

Chair:  John Hisle

Communications

• Designs, implements, and maintains communication strategies to inform the Holy Trinity community about the Social Justice Committee goals and activities.
• Assists other Parish committees and staff as requested to communicate the mission of the Parish and information about Parish programs.
• Organizes social activities (i.e., annual dinner, refreshments in meetings, etc.).
• Maintains comprehensive records of SJC activities (meeting minutes, list of members, grantees list, special reports, documentation).

Chair:  Patricia (Pat) Jayne

Grants

Annually, Holy Trinity tithes 10% of its ordinary parish collection, which is allocated to groups engaged in direct service to low-income people and needy students attending Holy Trinity School. Grants in 2007 totaled nearly $300,000.  The Social Justice Committee implements the grants program with the approval of the Pastoral Council.  Volunteers work from November to April visiting organizations that have received grants in the past and evaluating proposals for future funding.

Social Justice Grants Program and Grant Applications for 2009
Social Justice Grants Program Pamphlet 2008 ^PDF

Co-chairs:	Ed Metz
	Lori Santamorena

Spirituality

• Annual Retreat, Evenings of Reflection, Liturgy

  Provides opportunities for participants to:

  • Learn how the concept of social justice evolved in the Judeo-Christian tradition,
  • Become aware of the most pressing social justice issues of our own day, and
  • Discern where God is calling us to act, given our own unique interests and abilities.

• Education
  • Informs the Social Justice Committee and Parish community in an ongoing manner about specific issues of social justice such as hunger and housing.
  • Provides content for the Social Justice Committee website located within the Holy Trinity Parish website.
  • Develops a section of the Holy Trinity Library devoted to social justice, and communicates the availability of these resources to the Parish.

Volunteering

• Encourages parishioners to share time, talent, and treasure with the needy in the Washington, DC metro area.
• Helps parishioners to find opportunities to serve.

Chair:  Sue Miller