Faith and Poverty: A Justice Response (Catholic Version)

Catholic Programming Series

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How can we help tear down the walls that trap our neighbors in poverty?

The third program of the JustFaith Catholic series, Faith and Poverty: A Justice Response, introduces participants to the systems and structures that perpetuate poverty in their communities.

Program Overview

This third small group program of the JustFaith Catholic series introduces participants to the systems and structures that perpetuate poverty in their communities.

Participants awaken to the systemic barriers that keep certain people from escaping poverty, as these barriers are often invisible to those of us who don’t have to face them. This faith and justice program gives special attention to communities of color who are disproportionately and unjustly affected by poverty. In addition to the readings, group members engage in prayer and reflection around Catholic social teaching throughout the week between sessions. Participants emerge from this program with the courage and tools to lead their parishes and communities in working for systemic justice on a local level.

For more about the JustFaith Catholic series, check out Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response and Faith and Poverty: A Solidarity Response.

JustFaith Catholic is also available in an ecumenical version.

Program Goals

Goals for Faith and Poverty: A Justice Response (Catholic Version) include:

To learn about the experiences of people in poverty

To have a better understanding of dynamics that make it difficult for many to move out of poverty

To discern personal and social actions to address poverty in your local community

Sessions

Faith and Poverty: A Justice Response consists of eight 2-hour sessions and an immersion experience.

Recommended group size is 8-14.

Program Framework & Session Topics

  • Session 1: Talking about Hard Things

  • Session 2: Systemic Racism 101

  • Session 3: Mass Incarceration

  • Session 4: Immigration and Poverty

  • Session 5: The Wealth Gap

  • Session 6: Poverty and the Environment

  • Immersion Experience in the Local Community

  • Session 7: Preferential Option for the Poor

  • Session 8: Local Advocacy 101

Sessions include:

Prayer and reflection
Discussion of reading
Videos & group activities
Spiritual practices
Integration of faith

Want to know more?

An overview, sample session, and program booklet are available for free download.

Promo JFC Poverty Justice@2x
Program Promotion

Need help inviting people to your small group?

This program promotion kit contains a program booklet, a program image, a promo video, and other materials. These will be helpful in inviting participants who have taken the first and second programs in the JustFaith series to continue on to this third program.

Cost

We believe strongly in making our programs inclusive and available to everyone

Cost should never be a barrier to participation, and we are committed to working with individuals and organizations to ensure meaningful access through flexible pricing options. Why do we use a sliding fee scale?

There are Two Registration Options:

Option 1: Individual Participant Registration

Participants register and pay individually using a sliding-scale fee of $45, $60, or $75 per person, based on ability to pay. If $45 is still inaccessible, participants can choose the Pay-What-You-Can option to choose a price that is right for them.

  • There is no charge for up to two facilitators.
  • A minimum of 8 participants is strongly recommended.

Option 2: Organization-Sponsored Registration

A church or organization may choose to cover registration for all participants using a sliding fee scale of $45, $60, or $75 per person, based on ability to pay.

  • The organization will be billed a flat rate of the amount chosen below, which covers up to 8 participants.
  • For groups larger than 8, the organization will be invoiced an additional $45, $60, or $75 per participant when the group begins, price depending on the chosen amount below.
  • If the lowest fee is inaccessible to your organization or ministry, choose the Pay-What-You-Can Rate to learn about shared-cost or reduced-fee options.

What the Registration Fee Includes

  • Comprehensive materials for each session (instant download upon purchase)
  • Facilitation scripts, guidance, and training resources
  • Retreat and immersion planning assistance
  • Adaptations for virtual groups
  • Direct access to program staff for ongoing support
  • Books are an additional cost and may be purchased separately through the bookstore.

To ensure our programs remain accessible while remaining sustainable, we utilize a sliding fee scale of $45 to $75 for our registrations. We invite you to choose the registration tier that best reflects you or your faith community's current financial reality. Paying on the higher end allows us to keep the program affordable for all.

We also offer a Pay-What-You-Can Rate. If the lowest rate does not seem accessible to you or your church at this time, don’t let this be a barrier to participation. Contact our staff here to learn about shared-cost or reduced fee options.

 

Register

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What our program participants are saying

What is different since I completed JustFaith? The way I pray; the way I eat; the way I shop; the way I parent; the way I serve; the way I view community; the way I view neighbor; the way I view enemy; the way I participate in church and community; the way I participate in policy issues; the way I begin and end my day.

Marisol H.   ·  Virginia Beach, VA

JustFaith was a major conversion in my life. The lens through which I look at the world—politics, economics, relationships, etc.—changed. I now see the world through the eyes of those who live on the margins, and ask myself how I can better serve my fellow members of my human family. Every segment of JustFaith awakened something deep within me that helped to form me in new ways, ways that were noticeably more compassionate than what I had previously been living.

Jack K.   ·  Austin, TX