Service

Respect Life: The goal of this ministry is to focus attention on the sanctity and dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death and to generate a greater respect for the dignity of each person in our community. Respect Life Ministry involves itself with issues such as abortion, euthanasia, poverty and persons with special needs. Members participate in a variety of projects Contact: Please call the Pastoral Center for assistance. (626) 792-4183

HIV/AIDS Ministry: In its ministry to and for persons with HIV/AIDS, the Church calls everyone to conversion, offers sacramental reconciliation and human consolation, seeks to assist all those who suffer; proclaims faith's explanations of suffering, sin and death in the light of the cross and the resurrection; and accompanies those who suffer on their journey of life while helping them face death in the light of Christ.

—Called to Compassion and Responsibility
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, November, 1989

The heart of our response [to those with HIV/AIDS] must be unqualified respect for the value of human life and for the dignity of the human person... By serving individual persons with AIDS... we as Church respond to the moral imperatives of our Creator.

—Cardinal Roger Mahony, 1986

Contact: Carol Clark Please call the Pastoral Center for assistance. (626) 792-4183 ext 109

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul: Part of a worldwide organization of lay Catholic men and women who are committed to live and grow in their Christian faith through prayer and personal involvement in charitable works. The Society’s mission is accomplished through parish and community based groups called Conferences. Our parish provides basic food supplies from our food bank as well as donated clothing, and shoes. Anyone is welcome to assist Contact: Please call the Pastoral Center for assistance. (626) 792-4183 Fausto Sanchez

Social Justice Ministry: This ministry seeks to raise the consciousness of parishioners by educating and informing on the various issues of Catholic social justice. We seek long term solutions to the poor and vulnerable and follow the footsteps of Pope Paul VI who proclaimed: “If you want peace, work for justice.” Noel Toro is the contact person.

Serra Club: The mission of the Serra Club is to help foster and affirm vocations to the priesthood and vowed religious life. Contact: Please call the Pastoral Center for assistance. (626) 792-4183

Peace and Justice: The Peace & Justice Committee serves as the link between the parish and the larger community- educating, advocating, and promoting peace, justice and social issues relevant to/and related to Catholic Social Teaching.

The Church’s social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition is best understood through a direct reading of these documents. In these brief reflections, the Saint Francis Peace & Justice committee will highlight the key themes at the heart of Catholic social tradition.

  1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
    The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and assisted suicide. The value of human life is being threatened by increasing use of the death penalty. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
  2. Call to Family, Community and Participation
    The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society in economics and politics, in law and policy directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. The family is the central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
  3. Rights and Responsibilities
    The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.
  4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
    A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt. 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
  5. Dignity of Work & Rights of Workers
    The economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected – the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.
  6. Solidarity
    We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity means learning that “loving our neighbor” has global dimensions in an interdependent world.
  7. Care for God’s Creation
    We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

If you are interested in starting a new service ministries, please contact Fr. Paul directly