Direct Service:  Parishes are called to reach out to the hurting, the poor, and the vulnerable in our midst in concrete acts of charity.

Justice Education:  Catholic Social Teaching is shared consistently, comprehensively, and carefully in the educational ministries of the parish to provide a foundation for the entire social mission of the parish and to prepare parishioners of all ages to act on their faith in their service, work, family life, and citizenship.

Advocacy:   Catholics are called to active and informed citizenship, bringing their commitment to human life and dignity and concern for the poor and vulnerable to public life.

Empowerment:   Our faith calls us to build community, to act for justice. The Catholic community is deeply involved in supporting community organizing and community-economic development strategies in low-income neighborhoods through the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  CCHD-funded groups and others like them represent important opportunities for our parishes to organize with others, build a sense of community, and work together for justice.

*These are definitions derived from material contained in the Communities of Salt and Light Manual, the official parish social ministry manual of the U.S.C.C.B.

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