Empowering People of Faith to Develop a Passion for Justice

In the 8th century B.C., the prophet Micah asked, “What does God ask of you?” Micah records the answer: “Only this, to act justly, to love kindly, and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8).

Of these 3 things that God asks us, faithful Catholic Christians find that the last 2 things, ‘to love kindly and to walk humbly with God’ seems an easier path to walk. For many Catholics, our faith formation revolved around learning about God and love of neighbor. However, most of us are not sure what all is involved with the first requirement ‘to act justly’ since education in the social justice teaching of the Church was not part of our faith formation. So how can we ‘act justly’ if we don’t have an adult understanding of what justice is?

In response to fill in this missing vital piece of faith formation, JustFaith began in 1989 as an intensive look at the Catholic tradition of justice. Jack Jezreel, the program's creator, started JustFaith while he was the minister of social responsibility in Lousiville, Kentucky. Jack patterned Just Faith around the RCIA program to foster conversion and build faith community. Parish participants met every week for nine months to pray, discuss readings, listen to speakers, and experience local justice events. They were different people by the end of the effort. "It has changed a lot of people's lives," Jezreel says. "And this, in turn, has made some parish's efforts in social justice really come alive."

Just Faith has been offered in the Des Moines area for the last 6 years. Just Faith groups are being held this year here at St. Theresa and also at Our Lady of Immaculate Heart (Ankeny) and the Catholic Pastoral Center.

What past Des Moines area participants have said about JustFaith…

I see things differently: life, consumerism, people of other races, money, the marginalized. I live simpler, and spend less. I care about and for the future.

Individually, the program heightened my awareness that Christ is closer than my next breath, and that He comes to me in a special way when I place myself (with God’s Grace) among the poor and oppressed. I am also aware of the tremendous need for institutional change in our country – beyond Republicans vs. Democrats.  

JustFaith has had a huge impact on my life. As a newly received Catholic and new to Des Moines, JustFaith has offered a great sense of community, prayer, faith and support. I have truly enjoyed and appreciated the discussion and friendships through the group.

JustFaith has reopened my eyes to issues of poverty, racism, the environment, and war concerns. It helped me update my thinking, awaken my drive, and raise my understanding. I feel empowered to live differently and involve myself more courageously than I have in the past.

See what Just Faith is all about: check it out at www.justfaith.org or contact Susie Paloma, Des Moines Area Just Faith Coordinator at 256-1478, spaloma@msn.com.

While the JustFaith Process is challenging and time consuming, those who have participated in this process have said, “it was worth every minute.” Faithful Catholics discover through Just Faith we can more fully become what we know God asks of us: “To act justly, to love kindly and to walk humbly with our God.”