Human Concerns Commission

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

In the Catholic social vision, the human person is the central, the clearest reflection of God among us. Each person possesses a basic dignity that comes from God, not from any human quality or accomplishment, not from race or gender, age or economic status. The test of every institution or policy is whether it enhances or threatens human life and human dignity.

The mission of the Human Concerns Commission is to promote respect for the life and dignity of each human person by implementing and supporting programs in our parish, the community at large, nationwide and international. This ministry provides transformative opportunities for us to become agents of God’s compassion and healing.

This commission is advisory and in support of the Pastor, and / or his designee(s), which may include but are not limited to the Director of Human Concerns and the Parish Nurse. They lend support where appropriate in the design, development, implementation and evaluation of the programs for ministerial effectiveness. In addition, as appropriate and in support of complete formation, the commission routinely collaborates with and supports Worship, Formation, Stewardship and Parish Life.

Members of the commission should include the Director of Human Concerns, the Parish Nurse, Pastoral Council Liaison, and Standing Committee Chairs as appropriate and available.

Standing Committees of the commission include:

Parish Health Ministry

Works to promote whole person health and well being (physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and social dimensions) through the healing message of the Gospel, with special consideration for the people of Gesu.

Justice Education and Social Action

Justice Education involves educating parishioners on the root causes and structural dimensions of problems and their respective solutions. Social Action involves efforts to bring about change to structures that contribute to injustice in the world.

Outreach

Serving as a resource for individuals or organizations to create and help sustain mutually beneficial relationships that promote Gospel values.

Direct Service

Hands-on involvement with those whom we are called to serve, such as people needing food, shelter, clothing, or medical care. This may encompasses anything from sitting with the elderly to complicated technical work.

Respect Life

Advances awareness of “respect life” issues from conception to life’s natural end and works to learn and discern ways to honor the sanctity of life as people of faith.

Twinning

The work of this committee is to offer the parish opportunities to grow deeper in faith, solidarity and relationship with all of God’s children around the world. Practically, twinning is an active, mutual, on-going spiritual, cultural and economic relationship between two faith communities.

(Modified and Approved by Gesu Parish Pastoral Council May 20, 2013)