Peace Foundation
Written by Dan Gallagher

Published in the January 2008 edition of the Holy Name of Jesus Newsletter

Every fourth Thursday of the month, the Peace Foundation hosts a forum called, “Gathering the Movement.” This month’s Forum will be devoted to planning for a successful presence at the Legislature in 2008. Developing allies like us at Holy Name of Jesus and other suburban churches will help to push for systemic change on the Northside. Youth violence prevention, poverty, the cradle to prison pipeline, education, employment, physical and mental health care and building strong neighborhoods are all issues that will be discussed.

Some may ask: why are we involved on the Northside? It’s a question that requires us to reflect on the Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching and prayerfully ask God for guidance. Reflecting on these principles of human dignity, community and the common good as well as options for the poor and vulnerable help us to discern our call to involvement on the Northside.

Perhaps you are thinking, I would like to be involved, but what can I really do? Members of our Parish would love to have you join them on the Northside with the Peace Foundation, Ascension School, the Cookie Cart or Loaves and Fishes. The change of one’s own heart and the blessings of humility and patience are a guaranteed outcome.

Specifically, the Peace Foundation has members of our Parish participating in the following ways and we invite you to join us:

• Developing allies on the west side to support the efforts of the Peace Foundation. Currently, members of Colonial Church of Edina and Holy Name are meeting to develop strategies to organize west suburban Churches into a larger coalition to be a voice for change on the Northside.
• Attending the Forums the fourth Thursday of each month.
• Attending prayer vigils at the site of recent murders to offer our prayerful support and express our heartfelt sympathy and concern.
• Volunteering through the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches Mentoring Program at the Adult Correction Facility in Plymouth. (We are also part of the new Archdiocesan effort to bring awareness to the disparity in our justice system).
• Volunteering at Northside Block Parties as hosts and marshalls at the 5K run.
• Volunteering as hosts at the summer art crawl for local artists.
• Taking part in a new program beginning late winter to canvas Northside neighborhoods, as partners, assisting in the identification of a support network of neighbors and neighborhoods to protect our young people.

We are planning to have Don Samuels speak after the 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses that weekend. Please plan on attending; it will be a wonderfully thoughtful presentation on the Peace Foundation and its impact on the Northside.

To volunteer for or learn more about the Peace Foundation, please call Kim Herzog, Social Justice Director, at (763) 473-7901 extension 400 or George Laurance, Social Justice Education and Opportunities Chairperson (763) 957-2469.