Catholic Social Justice Ministry

Parish Social Ministry
We train parish leaders to integrate parish social ministry into the life of the whole parish community. We highlight the call by the U.S. Bishops to encourage every parish to involve people with the four dimensions of social ministry: direct service, justice education, advocacy, empowerment.

Advocacy
We work for public policies on hunger, welfare policy, the environment, issues of importance to older adults and children, and in opposition to the death penalty. Parishes in the four Catholic dioceses in Connecticut share in this work through the CT Catholic Conference. We address national and international advocacy through the priorities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian relief agency of the U.S. Catholic community. In the Archdiocese of Hartford, OCSJM is responsible for promoting the annual CRS collection, educating parishes about the work of CRS, and managing CRS programs such as CRS Rice Bowl.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is the domestic, national anti-poverty program of the U.S. Catholic Bishops working to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families, and communities. CCHD offers a hand up, not a hand out.

Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in the U.S. through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through education on Catholic Social Teaching. At the heart of its vision is priority for the poor and vulnerable.

The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry coordinates CCHD on the Archdiocesan level, managing the Community Development and Economic Development Grant process.

Interfaith Collaboration
The Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry is committed to work with persons of all faiths in pursuing the goal of dignity and economic and social justice for all people.

Human Trafficking
Description: Human trafficking is the trade of humans through the use of force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will.

The Archdiocesan Human Trafficking Task Force supports the Office for Catholic Social Ministry efforts to build the capacity of the people of the Archdiocese of Hartford to eradicate human trafficking and exploitation. Members offer awareness programs, trainings, prayerful events, and resources.