News - Life & Social Justice Ministry

by Christine Schreck and Jay Sorgi

Six East Bay parishes combine efforts to help pregnant and parenting mothers - turning pro-life calling into solidarity and action.

Resources of Hope

by Christine Schreck

Anna Rossi and the Order of Malta Legal Clinic seek to collaborate for community good

Spotlight on Justice & Youth

by Christine Schreck

The funds collected through the Bishop’s Ministries Appeal (BMA) support more than 70 ministries at the diocesan and parish levels including seminarian education, care for retired clergy, religious education and Catholic schools. These ministries contribute to the life of the diocese in critical ways, serving the faithful and the wider community.

Young adults raise more than $4k for Catholic Relief Services

Representatives of Asociación Jóvenes y Adultos Para Cristo (AJAPC), also known as Young Adults for Christ, brought the fruits of their fundraising efforts for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) through Operation Rice Bowl to the Cathedral of Christ the Light on May 8.

St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County March 14th Newsletter

Catholic Relief Services Advocacy and Updates

The Life and Social Justice Ministry shares updates from CRS, actions to get involved with, and this year's Rice Bowl campaign.

Pilgrims of Hope: A Catholic Response to the Needs of Our Times

In union with the Universal Church to the call to be Pilgrims of Hope, the Offices of Respect Life-Social Justice and Latino Ministries of the Diocese of Oakland offer a message regarding support of our immigrant communities and people in solidarity.

Lea la declaración del obispo Barber a través del enlace.

Read the entire statement through the link.

2025 waitlist now open for Oakland's Housing Choice Voucher Program

The pre-application period for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program in Oakland is open Tuesday, January 7 through Sunday, January 26, 2025. Application information and details available through the link.

Knights bring more than 40K pounds of food for the needy

A 40,000 pound act of mercy for Contra Costa County residents. They may not have been in shiny armor, but the Knights of Columbus Council #4060 from St. Isidore Parish in Danville and their pastor, Father Matthew Murray, made Christmas a little brighter and merrier for 500 families this year, by delivering more than 40,000 pounds of food.

Letter to Migrant Families from the California Bishops

Click through the link to read the Letter to Migrant Families from the California Bishops. Please also visit the linked resource page which has the letter in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean, as well as additional resources.

Mental Health Awareness

World Mental Health Day is Oct. 10. Learn more about how the Catholic Church and Catholics are comforting the afflicted, including those impacted by mental health issues.

2024 Respect Life Month

October is Respect Life Month, this year's theme reminds us that our response to Jesus' words in John 10:10, “I came so that they might have life,” includes respect for all human life. Respect Life Ministry resources available through the link.

Bishop Barber Invites Catholic Faithful to Join 40 Days for Life Vigil

Join with "Together in Action" under the Walking with Moms in Need nationwide initiative to end abortion. Bishop Barber invites all to join our prayer communities in Concord, Walnut Creek and El Cerrito from Sept. 25 - Nov. 3, 2024 to stand united in prayer and supportive action to create a culture of life.

St. Bonaventure Food Pantry

This food pantry, complete with drive-through service, uses the corporal acts of mercy as a map to serve.

Life & Social Justice Ministry Newsletter - September 2024

Let’s stay fed by Christ to connect to His body according to our individual capacities and gifts. We all need each other. Read about our many programs in the Life & Social Justice Ministry and how you can get involved.

Pope Francis' September 2024 Prayer Intentions: For the Cry of the Earth

We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of victims of natural disasters and climactic change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.

Sign-On Letter to Gov. Newsom: Support the Mandela Act of Solitary Confinement

California-based religious organizations, including individual congregations of mosques, synagogues, temples and churches along with regional or state-wide bodies, are invited to sign-on to the following letter. While this letter was delivered to Gov. Newsom's office on September 7, 2023, we invite additional sign-ons for future use of the letter and showing support for the California Mandela Act (AB 280). AB 280 passed off the California Senate Floor on September 13, 2023. It became a two-year bill and Governor Newsom has until this Sept 30, 2024, to act on it. Details and letter through link.

Eventos interactivos de Heartshop organizados por Kiona Medina, MFT

Kiona Medina MFT, Coordinadora de Ministerios de Vida y Justicia Social está ofreciendo un evento HeartShop de 2 horas para las parroquias de la Diócesis de Oakland. Este evento titulado "Un enfoque católico para la curación del trauma y la salud mental: un taller interactivo del corazón. Estas reflexiones interactivas de 2 horas de duración combinan creatividad, fe católica y salud mental. Información e inscripción a través del enlace.