Grace, mercy, and peace to you!
1 Timothy 1:2
Social Justice and
Outreach Programs
-
Social Justice Outreach Committee
The mission of St. Timothy's Social Justice Outreach Committee is to seek justice issues, to explore action strategies, and to respond to these issues and needs as concerned Christian citizens. The committee meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the parish center. All members of the parish are invited to attend a meeting, whether or not you're a member of the committee.
As Catholic Christians, we are guided by our Catholic social tradition and the principles of our Catholic social teaching:- Dignity of the human person
- Common good and community
- Option for the poor
- Rights and responsibilities
- Role of government and subsidiarity
- Economic justice
- Dignity of work and the rights of workers
- Stewardship of God’s creation
- Promotion of peace and disarmament
- Participation
- Global solidarity and development together
Members are involved in various projects and activities, based on individual interests and passions. Whether it’s for information, networking, prayer, or action on behalf of justice, we welcome your gifts! You are invited to join in our work of extending God's love and compassion through our efforts to promote human dignity, justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. Please like and follow us on Facebook at Just Us For All St. Timothy. We welcome your participation in any of the following groups or activities.
- St. Timothy's Overseas Project (STOP)
- Care for creation
- Soup Line
- Refugee Resettlement
- Habitat for Humanity
- Food Shelf Garden
- Family Promise
- Meals On Wheels
-
Care for Creation
The Church of St. Timothy is committed to ecological conversion and care for our common home. We draw our inspiration from Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si'. During Lent 2022 parishoners experienced a 40-day eco-examen that invited us to reflect on God's gift of creation and our call to respond with reverence and responsibility. That eco-examen has been followed by monthly bulletin inserts that educate and encourage action on behalf of Earth. Click here to view a PDF of all those bulletin inserts. Every year from September 1 - October 4 the parish celebrates the Season of Creation. Read more about our commitment to care for creation on our stewardship page.
Click here to view the 80-minute 2022 film The Letter (available for free on YouTube) that highlights Pope Francis' call to care for our common home and highlights the way the people around this globe are responding to his call with courageous, compassionate action.
-
St. Timothy's Overseas Project (STOP)
STOP offers grants to U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations and raises funds during the season of Lent. STOP began in 1973, and since then, members of St. Timothy’s parish have supported over 150 overseas projects advocating for global solidarity. Our 2023 STOP projects are supporting communities in Uganda, Colombia, and El Salvador.
Do you know of a 501(c)(3) organization doing good work in another part of the world that could benefit from STOP funding? The STOP application period is now open. Click here to view a PDF with information and the application for STOP funding. The deadline to apply for STOP is December 31, 2023.
Criteria for organizations applying for STOP funding include:- Located in a developing nation
- Encourages improvement
- Fosters continued success
- Provides long-term change
-
Soup LineFor thirty-six years, St. Timothy's parishioners have collaborated to prepare a hot, nutritious meal for people in need in our local area. On the third Wednesday morning of each month, parishioner volunteers gather to cook together and to prepare meals of over 600 people. The next day, another group of parishioner volunteers deliver meals to three sites in the north metro area (Catholic Charities, Stepping Stones, and Caring & Sharing Hands).
Though this ministry has adapted due to Covid-19, the Soup Line still warmly welcomes new volunteers to assist with cooking and meal delivery. Contact the parish office at 763.784.1329 or sttimothychurch@churchofsttimothy.com if you would like to get involved with this rewarding and meaningful opportunity to build relationships, offer service, and put your faith into action. -
Refugee Resettlement
St. Timothy’s refugee resettlement program began in 1975 with the parish
sponsoring the family of Dang Ban Hank from Vietnam. In 2008 the resettlement committee began helping families arriving in the Twin Cities area settle into their new homes. The Refugee Resettlement Basket collection began shortly after. This annual event happens on Epiphany weekend, with the goal of helping the new families feel welcome. For more information please contact the parish office, 763.784.1329. -
Habitat for Humanity
The Church of St. Timothy, in partnership with Christ Lutheran Church, helps build a Habitat Home during the summer. For more information visit the links below or call the parish office, 763.784.1329.
- Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org)
- Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (www.tchabitat.org)
-
Food Shelf Garden
The St. Timothy food shelf garden is located near the intersection of Jackson Street and 89th Avenue NE. The garden has tomatoes, onions, summer and winter squash, green beans, peppers, and more. It is tended by a team of parishioner volunteer gardeners who plant, weed, and harvest the garden every year during the growing season (April through October). Parishioners are invited to assist with harvesting on Sundays from 9:30-10:15 from late August through early October. All of the harvest produced is donated to the Salvation Army Food Shelf so that families in need in our local community can have access to fresh, local, organic vegetables. Each year the garden produces over 1,500 pounds of produce. In 2021 food shelf gardeners installed a drip irrigation system as part of our commitment to care for creation and be good stewards of water.
-
Family Promise (September 2022 Update)
Family Promise in Anoka County (FPAC) is a non-profit, interfaith hospitality network providing temporary shelter, hospitality, and case management for families with dependent children experiencing homelessness.
FPAC is the 157th affiliate of a national organization which started in New Jersey in 1986 when one mom bought a sandwich for a homeless woman, and befriended her. The next steps were getting her children, friends, and church involved etc.
Nationally, Family Promise annually houses 93,000 people and has over 200,000 volunteers. Minnesota currently has four networks: Douglas County, Rochester, Kandiyohi County and Anoka County.
St. Timothy’s was one of the original congregations that formed Family Promise in Anoka County. It takes about 18 months to get a network organized and ready to go. FPAC started September 5, 2010 and St. Timothy’s first host week was October 3, 2010.
FPAC currently has 22 interfaith congregations that have served two purposes:
1. Host congregations provided overnight shelter and hospitality on site within their congregation facility.
2. Partner congregations supported host congregations by providing volunteers for the host week commitment.
Before the pandemic, St. Tim's served as a host congregation. Classrooms were converted into bedrooms, a dining room and a lounge/play area. Meals, transportation, and hospitality were provided through the generosity of parish members through Time and Talent commitments.
Visit the Family Promise of Anoka County website to learn more about how the program has adapted to provide a continuum of services during these challenging times and more volunteer opportunities.
Parishioner Jamie Schlough coordinates Family Promise. To learn more and to get involved, contact sttimothychurch@churchofsttimothy.com or call the parish office at 763.784.1329.
-
Meals on Wheels
St. Tim's has two teams of volunteers that deliver meals: one serves those in Blaine/Coon Rapids and the other serves those in Fridley/Columbia Heights/Hill Top/Spring Lake Park. Teams drive every eight weeks and volunteers can choose to drive as many days of the assigned week as they choose. Teams drive every eight weeks, and volunteers drive as many days of the assigned week as they choose. Routes have 8-10 stops and take 1-1.5 hours to complete. Training is provided for new volunteers. In addition to providing hot meals, volunteers also offer kindness, warmth, and human connection to those on their route. It's a great way for retirees or those with a flexible lunch schedule to serve!