JustFaith Social Justice Ministry of Holy Family

Formed in January 2015, the JustFaith Social Justice Ministry of Holy Family started with 15 individuals on a 27-week journey of study and discussion based on the JustFaith Ministries nationwide program, which is designed to gain an understanding of the root causes of many of our broken social systems in the US and abroad. Topics included poverty, racism, immigration and refugees, homelessness and more. 

Since completing the program, the group has opened its arms to the broader faith community at Holy Family and volunteers in areas such as poverty, racism, immigration, and prison reform. In addition to a variety of volunteer opportunities, the JustFaith Social Justice Ministry also hosts a variety of events throughout the year to raise public awareness about these issues.  

We continue to welcome members of the Holy Family Faith Community to become involved in our JustFaith efforts in any manner they feel called. Please contact us at justfaith@holyfamilyretreat.org for more information. 

JustFaith Initiatives & Community Outreach

Here is a list of the various activities we are presently engaged in. Please contact us at justfaith@holyfamilyretreat.org if you are interested in joining in any of these activities.

Hartford Catholic Worker

  • After school program for children, ages 7 to 13

  • Provide lunch for children and volunteers on a given Saturday

  • Participate in monthly Mass, 7:30 p.m. 1st Tuesday of each month

  • Sponsor fundraising and other supportive activities

Immigrants/Refugees

  • Sponsoring two Masses (with dinner) at Rose’s Berry Farm, Glastonbury

  • Collecting incidental personal items for migrant workers

  • Contributing financially to emergency needs of migrants

  • Advocating for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

  • Supporting Beautiful Day Granola Project - a company run by refugees

  • Exploring sponsoring a refugee family

Educational Efforts

  • Sponsoring book reads

  • Offering a Just Faith educational series

  • Promoting projects of the Archdiocesan Office of Catholic Social Justice Ministry

  • Providing guest speakers and movies to further our understanding of justice issues  

Prison Ministry

  • Corresponding with an inmate

  • Collecting items for the Hartford Reentry Welcome Center

  • Sponsoring a Prison Art Exhibit

  • Collecting paperback books for correctional centers

  • Advocacy for prison reform

Environmental Concerns

Please contact us at justfaith@holyfamilyretreat.org if you are interested in joining in any of the above activities.

Planting Trees, Planting Hope Project  

Participatory envelopes available at Holy Family

In keeping with our desire here at Holy Family to care for the Earth, our common home, our Just Faith Social Justice Ministry is sponsoring a Planting Trees, Planting Hope Project with the Arbor Day Foundation. For a donation of $5 one tree will be planted in your name, for $10 3 trees, for $20 7 trees. The trees as seedlings will be planted where needed and will help to sequester carbon and provide oxygen. Consider giving the gift of trees for birthdays or as Christmas presents.

This is a 2 for 1 project as some of the proceeds will also help fund local outreach to the migrant workers in CT, the children at the Hartford Catholic Worker, and other miscellaneous needs. Please contact us at justfaith@holyfamilyretreat.org for more information. 

Upcoming Events

Stay tuned for more upcoming programs and events.