Social Justice

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you comforted me, in prison and you came to visit me." ~Matthew 25:35-36

Our parish participates in multiple ongoing and annual outreach opportunities with various organizations. Each of these is open to all parishioners, young and old, and invitations are published in the bulletin and on the events page of our website when applicable.

• Collection and delivery of food to the St. Peter Martyr Food Pantry in Pittsburg
• Tutoring and mentoring our two parish-sponsored refugee families (see below)
• Tutoring children in the Hope Solutions communities (formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing) in Pleasant Hill
• Preparing, transporting, and serving meals for the Winter Nights Program
• Collecting baby clothing and supplies for Birthright Concord
• Participating in the annual January Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco

The committee oversees the distribution of 5% of the parish's stewardship funds, which are supported by parishioner contributions to the yearly plate collections. Charitable organizations considered for funding support include the areas of Catholic education, prison ministry, Respect Life  ministries, low-income housing and shelters, medical aid, and general assistance to the poor.

• Support for the homeless shelter at Hope Solutions (formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing)
• Affordable healthcare for the uninsured sick and poor at the Cathedral Malta Clinic
• Detention ministry through the Diocese of Oakland's Restorative Justice program
• Housing for exploited women at Claire's House by Catholic Charities of the East Bay (CCEB)
• Support for the Walk for Life West Coast

A few years ago, Bishop Barber repeatedly invited each of the 84 parishes of the Oakland Diocese to team up with Catholic Charities of the East Bay (CCEB) to "adopt" a refugee family, helping them to get settled in the Bay Area.

Santa Maria has helped transition a family of five from Burma and a family of ten from Afghanistan into being financially independent as of March 2019.

This effort had involved furniture collections to furnish their apartments, drives to the Social Security office and DMV, lessons on how to use bank accounts and public transportation, and, of course, tutoring in the English language.

Please keep these two families in your prayers as they move on to great things!

For more information, or to get involved, please contact our co-chairs, Janet Riley and Gail Gabriel.