The Social Ministry Commission of Saint Robert Parish strives to identify with people’s basic survival and social needs and then responds with Christian Service and Social Action offering Direct Services, Advocacy for Justice, Community Organizing, Global Solidarity, and Educating for Justice, all in accordance with Guidelines from the Diocese of Lansing.

Direct Services:
The specific Direct Service Activities available through Saint Robert Parish include: The Food Pantry; the Christmas Giving Tree; Saint Vincent DePaul Society; the Friendly Eucharistic Visitors; Friends-In-Deed; Victorious Missionaries Disability Support Activities; Funeral Dinner Workers; Bereavement Support Group; St. Robert Seniors, and the Knights of Columbus.

Advocacy for Justice:
The Public Advocacy Network includes parishioners, (hopefully all) who are willing to "voice" their concerns to US Congress, state legislature or local legislators regarding public policy and law that affects poor and vulnerable people, families, children, elderly, etc. related to our values as Catholic Christians.  Both Respect Life (Promotion of the Culture of Life) and Right to Life (Anti-abortion, Anti-euthanasia) connections can be made through St. Robert Parishioners. October is Respect Life Month. Respect Life Sunday occurs in late January. Volunteers are needed to plan, implement or assist with Respect Life activities.

Community Organizing:
Reaching out to those groups of people who are denied access or who are unable to access their share of the public goods - and work with them, enable them to develop their own capabilities to speak for themselves and to represent their own interests. We help them help themselves.  Development of physically accessible facilities at St. Robert parish is an ongoing concern: plans for our new church and school facilities include an elevator, accessible rest rooms and accessible entry to the church.

Global Solidarity:
We are our brothers and sisters keepers - and so we are connected to all people everywhere not only in our own country but across national boundaries, racial and ethnic boundaries, cultural and even religious boundaries. We find ways to keep those relationship before us always whether it be through community relationships with another churches, contributions which target another part of the world, or programs that advocate for human rights and for world development and peace (e.g., lobbying for third world debt relief, support of international peace efforts, )

Educating For Justice
We are always "teaching" the seven basic themes or principles of Catholic Social Teaching, so that we know and understand why it is that our social activism is so much a part of our faith in Jesus Christ and our call to live the Gospel.

1)      Respecting the Life and Dignity of the Human Person.

2)      Calling all to Family, Community, and Participation

3)      Each person has both Rights and Responsibilities –to share one’s time, talent, and treasure for the Kingdom of God.

4)      Opt to serve the Poor and Vulnerable first.

5)      There is Dignity in Work and there are Rights for Workers.

6)      Solidarity – we are all God’s people, and

7)      We Care for God's Creation.

 

Basically, a Legislative Advocacy Network at a parish level is a group of parishioners who are willing to "lobby" US Congress, state legislature or local legislators regarding public policy and law that affects poor and vulnerable people, families, children, elderly, etc. related to our values as Catholic Christians.

I.           For Issues At the National Level:

A.        National Conference of Catholic Bishops- United States Catholic Conference: Social Development and World Peace Department http://www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/index.htm 

B.       Catholic Charities USA
http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/programs/advocacy

II.          For Issues At the State Level:
Michigan Catholic Conference- Public Policy Department http://www.micatholicconference.org

III.         For Issues at the local Level:
Read your local Newspapers, and pay attention to "Signs of the Times."