Racial Justice Ministry
Purpose Statement:
While the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Teachings of the Roman Catholic Church speak clearly about the sin of racism, we understand that addressing racism can be deeply uncomfortable and controversial because of its political dimension.
The USCCB states that “as Catholics we are called to participate in public life in a manner consistent with the mission of our Lord.” So, we invite one another to engage in this ministry to serve that mission, and to honor the voices of some in our own parish crying out for this justice.
Mission Statement:
In alignment with Church teaching and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the St. Rita Racial Justice Ministry will raise awareness, inform, and work toward removing racism from our community.
Get Involved!
Our Racial Justice Ministry team usually meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 in church. Please contact Dcn. Jim Fien ([email protected]) if you are interested in joining us.
You can find great resources online here from our neighbors at St. Monica’s: https://www.stmonicaofrochester.org/black-lives-matter-resources
Learn about the Saintly Seven.
Click here to read “I HAVE LOVED YOU”: A REFLECTION ON DILEXI TE AND THE CRY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
"Open Wide Our Hearts" and "Salt and Light" publications from Catholic Family Center are available online here.
Click here for the pastoral letter, Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Click here for the accompanying study guide. See links to more resources below.
"Two-pagers" from the USCCB:
Racism and Economic Inequality
Racism and the Native American Experience
Other Resources:
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man
Catholic Resources for Racial Justice 2020
Speak Up!: Responding to Everyday Bigotry
Sr. Thea Bowman Speech to US Catholic Bishops 1989
1. Getting Started
• “To fight racism, Catholics must hunger for justice like we do for the Eucharist” by America: The Jesuit Review (article)
• On Earth as It is in Heaven: Restoring God’s Vision of Race and Discipleship by Fr. Josh Johnson (book)
2. Intermediate
• Know Justice, Know Peace by The Jesuit Post
• Racism in Our Streets and Structures by Global Georgetown (video)
• The Church After 2020 Dialogue from Pax Romana (video)
• Unequal Impact: The Deep Links Between Racism and Climate Change in Yale Environment 360 (article)
• Racial Justice and the Catholic Church (2010) – Bryan N. Massingale
• Uncommon Faithfulness: The Black Catholic Experience (2009) – M. Shawn Copeland
• The Cross and the Lynching Tree (2011) – James H. Cone
• Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 – Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
• Racism & Structural Sin: Confronting Injustice with the Eyes of Faith – Conor M. Kelly
3. Challenging
• Black Women and Criminal (In)justice by Georgetown University (video)
• Black Communities and the Clerical Abuse Crisis by Fordham University (video)
• Owning Slavery, Pursuing Justice, Seeking Reconciliation by Georgetown University (video)
• “The assumptions of white privilege and what we can do about it” by Bryan N. Massingale (article)
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism (2018) – Robin DiAngelo (book)
• How to Be an Antiracist (2019) – Ibram X. Kendi (book)