Faith and Poverty: A Solidarity Response (Catholic Version)

Catholic Programming Series

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How can we stand in solidarity with those experiencing poverty?

The second program of the JustFaith Catholic series, Faith and Poverty: A Solidarity Response explores local poverty and introduces participants to the tips and tools they need to respond.

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Program Overview

The second program of the JustFaith Catholic series explores local poverty and introduces participants to the tips and tools they need to respond.

Together, participants navigate questions such as: “why are the poor poor?”, “why don’t people in poverty just get a job?’”, “what are some common hurdles that people in poverty face?” and “what are some practical tools for alleviating poverty in my community?”. 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 better equipped to help alleviate poverty in their communities, as well as stand in solidarity with those experiencing poverty.

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

JustFaith Catholic is also available in an ecumenical version.

Program goals

Goals for Faith and Poverty: A Solidarity 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 Solidarity Response consists of 8 2-hour sessions and an immersion experience.

Recommended group size is 8-14.

Framework & Session Topics

  • Session 1: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

  • Session 2: The Cost to Live

  • Session 3: The Social Safety Net

  • Session 4: The Cliff Effect

  • Session 5: Poverty and Health

  • Session 6: Trauma and Addiction

  • Immersion Experience in your local community

  • Session 7: Housing

  • Session 8: Grassroots Organizing 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 Solidarity@2x
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 program in the JustFaith series to continue on to this second program.

cost

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

There are two registration options:

Option 1: Participants in the group pay their own registration fees: Participants pay individually based on a sliding fee scale of $35, $55, or $75/person. (There is no charge for up to two facilitators.) A minimum of 8 participants is strongly recommended. Scholarships are available for individuals.

Option 2: A church/organization pays the registration fee for all participants: When the group is set up, a church or organization will automatically be billed a flat rate of $280, covering up to 8 participants. For groups with more than 8 participants, the organization will be invoiced an additional $35 for each extra participant when the group begins.

The registration fee includes:

  • Comprehensive materials for each session
  • Facilitation scripts, guidance, and training resources
  • Retreat and immersion guidance
  • Adaptations for virtual groups
  • Direct access to program staff for support

Books are an additional cost and available for purchase in the bookstore.

To ensure our programs are not cost-prohibitive for anyone, all programs are offered on a sliding fee scale ranging from $35-$75.

We ask you to choose the registration fee tier that best aligns with your current financial situation. Paying on the higher end allows us to keep the program affordable for all.

If the $35 tier is difficult for you, please consider the program anyway. We ask that you decide what amount you can contribute as a commitment to the program, and send us an email at info@justfaith.org to learn about partial scholarship opportunities for the remainder amount.

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