Faith and Poverty:

A Biblical Response

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What is your Catholic faith calling you to?

This first program in the JustFaith Catholic series, Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response, lays the theological and biblical foundation for responding to poverty in our communities. If your parish is new to faith-rooted justice, or if you seek to ground your action in Catholic social teaching, this program is a great place to start.
Here are the links for access to the rest of the series, Faith and Poverty: A Solidarity Response, Faith and Poverty: A Justice Response and Faith and Poverty: A Global Response

Program Overview

Grounded in Catholic social teaching, Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response guides participants in exploring the Gospel’s call to respond to poverty in our communities, nation and world, and equipping participants with practical tools to take action in effective and sustainable ways.

Program Goals

Goals for Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response include:

Facilitation

Two volunteer co-facilitators are needed for Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response. JustFaith Ministries provides strong facilitation support.

Sessions

Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response consists of eight 2-hour sessions, a one-day retreat and an immersion experience.

Books/Resources

There are two books and a spiritual practice resource in Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response– all available through our JustFaith Ministries Bookstore.

Program Promotion

A comprehensive set of program promotion materials are provided.

Cost

When you register, you have two options:

  • Participants in the Group Pay Their Own Registration Fee: 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.
  • A Church/Organization pays the registration fee for all participants: When the group is set up, a church or organization will automatically be billed $280, which covers up to 8 participants. (There is no charge for up to two facilitators.) If you have more than 8 participants, your church or organization will be invoiced $35 for each additional participant when the group begins.
JUST FAITH TESTIMONIALS

What They’re Saying

- Marisol H.
Virginia Beach, VA
“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.”
- Jack K., Austin, TX
“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.”

Program Registration

Program Includes:

  • Comprehensive materials and session guides
  • Facilitation guidance
  • Retreat and Immersion guidance
  • Adaptations for virtual groups
  • Direct access to program staff for support
  • 12-month access to program materials

When you register, you have 2 options:

  • Participants in the Group Pay Their Own Registration Fee: 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.
  • A Church/Organization pays the registration fee for all participants: When the group is set up, a church or organization will automatically be billed $280, which covers up to 8 participants. (There is no charge for up to two facilitators.) If you have more than 8 participants, your church or organization will be invoiced $35 for each additional participant when the group begins.

Books & Resources
for Group Participants

Participant books/resources are sold separately through our JustFaith Ministries Bookstore. The cost for books for Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response is approximately $25/person. Note that there may be a small additional fee for an occasional video purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the JustFaith Catholic program series different from a book club or bible study?

JustFaith Catholic is a deep and personal exploration of our call to love God and love our neighbors. Reading discussion and reflection on the themes of Catholic social teaching are complemented by rich prayers, heartfelt sharing, videos, guest speakers, retreats, and immersion experiences into the local community – all of which build strong relationships among group members. JustFaith Ministries programs also compel people into action alongside those experiencing poverty. Each program in the series provides practical tools for action and guides participants in discerning how they are called to help alleviate poverty in their local community. Expect to leave the JustFaith Catholic series with a transformed understanding not only of poverty, but of who you are and how God is calling you to use your life.

Do groups need to meet weekly?

We recommend meeting weekly. However, your group can meet every other week if necessary.

Can I pick which JustFaith program I’d like to do first?

The fourth program in the series, Faith and Poverty: A Global Response, can be offered without previously having done the other JustFaith Catholic programs. However, the first three programs in the JustFaith series were designed to be taken in order. Groups should begin with Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response (program one), followed by Faith and Poverty: A Solidarity Response (program two) and then Faith and Poverty: A Justice Response (program three). Parishes are always encouraged to commit to offering all four programs in the series in the order they were developed.

Do we have to do all four programs in the series?

No. At the end of programs one and two in the JustFaith Catholic series there is time for members of the group to discern whether or not they would like to continue on to the next program in the series. A minimum of seven members of the group need to commit to moving on to the next program or your group will become too small.

Can new participants join our group at any time?

We recommend that new participants not join a group that has already begun because of the community and trust that has already been established among group members. However, we do encourage keeping a contact list of all those who would like to do the JustFaith Catholic series and forming new groups later in the year.

Have Other Questions?

Email us here