Social Justice

In the St. Odilia Parish Mission Statement we commit ourselves to:
        "Be persistent in charity and justice, and extend ourselves to meet diverse human needs."

From a statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops:
        "The central message is simple: our faith is profoundly social. We cannot be called truly "Catholic"
          unless we hear and heed the Church's call to serve those in need and work for justice and peace."
 

Social Teaching Resources
An incredible array of resources and background material on Catholic social teaching is available at the
Archdiocesean Office of Social Justice website.

How YOU can get involved
Many opportunities to work for Social Justice and to serve in Outreach of those in need are available in the wider community. The organizations listed below are areas of involvement and focus supported and nourished by the parishioners of St. Odilia. To find out more about any of them or to get involved, call the Parish Center at 651-484-6681.

Respect Life Committee
Endeavors to activate the resources of the St. Odilia Parish Community to ensure the respect for and protection of all human life - especially the vulnerable unborn, those handicapped, those sick and elderly.
Respect Life Links:

Social Justice Committee
Meets monthly to promote parishioner awareness of the connection between faith and justice, and involvement in works of justice. Contact the parish center 651-484-6681.

Food Shelf, Food Donations and Distribution
The parish maintains an active collaboration with Sharing Korner food shelf in Frogtown, providing an important source of food and volunteers. For the facts about hunger in Minnesota, visit Hunger Solutions. At St. Odilia, this Outreach ministry offers a one-time or greater commitment to help bag groceries or staff an in-take desk. Each weekend, parishioners are encouraged to bring non-perishable food and toiletry items and drop these off in the collection areas near the entrances to the church for delvery to the food shelf. Volunteers load and transport food to the foodshelf on Monday mornings. The Catholic Community of St. Odilia is one of the primary sources of food and monetary donations for the Sharing Korner foodshelf.

The Sharing Tree 
The Sharing Tree grew out of the Asian Befriender Refugee Program, an ecumenical effort in the Twin Cities. Now we collect gifts during the holiday season for distribution to social service agencies in the greater Shoreview area.

Charity Funds
Meets the crisis needs of parishioners and others. These funds also provide the food for our monthly dinners at Dorothy Day and the Family Shelter. Donations directed to either of these funds are welcome.

Catholic Charities Family Shelter
Dinner is prepared and served to 50-60 people on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Dorothy Day--Loaves and Fishes 
Volunteers prepare and serve dinner to over 200 people on the first Thursday of each month at the Dorothy Day Center. Bakers, cooks and servers are always needed. Sign up is in the courtyard every month.

Meals on Wheels
Volunteers deliver meals to folks in need every third Tuesday to the Shoreview area and every third Friday in the Roseville area.