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How We Serve God and His People |
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Social Justice is a major challenge in our West Virginia apostolate. We have responded by building and rehabilitating housing, founding “Twice and Nice” and “Act II” thrift stores in Webster and Braxton Counties, serving on local housing authority and Community Resource boards, and working with area groups and agencies in providing food, financial help, flood relief, and counseling assistance to the needy. |
Education is a second challenge area. It is widely recognized as the road out of poverty. One SVD tries to respond by teaching Latin in a local public high school. The serious efforts needed to master this ancient language have always been recognized as a vehicle for readying students for success in college. |
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Religious Education is an
additional need. Even those churched in these
rural Appalachian counties often possess an
inchoate faith. We have been involved in radio
ministry and writing weekly columns in area
newspapers. In these we work to open the pages
of Scripture to better understanding. In addition
we try to respond to misunderstandings about
Catholic Christianity so widely held here.
One SVD, as a result of his experiences, has
published books, pamphlets, and articles nationally
on those topics (* Click here
to see books and ordering information). |
| Since our parishes are small, we experience problems of limited personnel and resources for parish programs. One of our solutions was to form the annual CAMP (Catholic Awareness Midsummer Program) held every August. Here youth of rural parishes for over 20 years have experienced a week of Bible-Religion study graced with a rich variety of summer camp activities. |
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| Hospital visitations, prison ministry, campus chaplaincy, alternatives to abortion, inviting youth groups for a “helping the needy” experience, Ministerial Association memberships, all form part of our rich outreach to help establish the Kingdom of God. |
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