JUSTFAITH PROGRAMS
JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC)

Faith formation grounds all that we do in Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC). Being fully formed in our faith tradition, rooted in the Gospel, Catholic Social Teaching, and the prayerful and sacramental fruits of our shared history and experiences as a community, helps us discern and act in accordance with the Holy Spirit in the world.
JustFaith creates "transformative programs that inspire action to address the root causes of injustice while serving with love. Through small-group programs, JustFaith helps people deepen their faith, invite learning, and inspire action around contemporary social issues. Participants leave [JustFaith] programs better prepared to do justice in their local communities and beyond." All JustFaith programs include "prayer, scripture, reading, dialogue, videos, retreats, relationship-building, and direct engagement."
​Our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Promoting Human Dignity team has offered a variety of different JustFaith programs, including the JustFaith Catholic series, "Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response;" "Faith and Racial Equity: Exploring Power and Privilege;" and programs related to eco-justice and the environment. Our next JustFaith program, starting this September 2023, will be "Civil Dialogue: Want to Talk? Communication Tools for Divided Times."
​If you have any questions about our JPIC JustFaith program, please contact Ken Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) or the specific co-facilitators for your JustFaith program listed below.

​For general information about JustFaith and their various programs, please click on the image links on this page. ​

FALL 2023 - JPIC JUSTFAITH 
​CIVIL DIALOGUE
"WANT TO TALK? COMMUNICATION TOOLS FOR DIVIDED TIMES"

Civil Dialogue: Want to Talk? Communication Tools for Divided Times will guide you in deepening your relationships while staying true to your values, whether you find yourself navigating a heated disagreement with a spouse, interrupting racism in the office, facilitating political tension in church, or working for systemic change around any justice issue. This program draws upon the wisdom of experts in nonviolent communication, civil dialogue, and grassroots organizing, providing practical tools for navigating the political polarization of our time, as well as tough conversations with our loved ones.
The JPIC will be subsidizing the cost of the overall program. We will also order the reading materials, but participants are asked to pay for their own books ($49 per person for the 2 books for the course). The JPIC has financial support available for those in need who are unable to afford the cost of these texts.

The program begins on September 14. All sessions will take place on Thursday evenings, 6:30-8:30 pm, in the Immaculata School Youth Ministry room (2222). It includes a “get-to-know-you session,” eight 2-hour JustFaith formation sessions, and an immersion experience (often held on a Saturday).

Since this JPIC program is designed to be a small faith group, space is limited. We are requesting that everyone registering for the program be able to attend all sessions. To register, please sign up on the form below.​ ​

UPDATE: We are happy to announce that we have already reached enrollment capacity for this Fall's JustFaith program! Although we are no longer accepting new registrations, we hope you will join us in one of our future JPIC Faith Formation programs or any of our other ongoing JPIC events/ministries here at IC!
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DIRECT LINK TO JUSTFAITH WEBSITE/PROGRAM
 JUSTFAITH CO-FACILITATORS
 Lauren Lee Pettiette Schewel and Sylvia Thompson 

​PROGRAM DIRECTOR/STAFF LIAISON
Ken Chiha
​Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)​
COST
Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) will be subsidizing the cost of this program. Participants will only be responsible for paying the cost of their reading materials for the course. JustFaith estimates the cost for the books to be approximately $49 per person. The JPIC has financial support available for those in need who are unable to afford the cost of these texts, so please contact us if you need assistance. 
  
The books/resources will be ordered in bulk from the JustFaith program after registration. Participants can purchase them from the parish when they arrive. If you decide to purchase them on your own, please let us know in advance. ​
BOOKS/RESOURCES INCLUDE
  • The Compassion Book, by Thom Bond (≈$22) ​
  • Crucial Conversations, Third Edition, by Grenny, Patterson, McMillan, Switzler, and Gregory (≈​$27)​
  • NOTE: Participants will not cover all material in The Compassion Book during Want to Talk. However, we anticipate that participants will find it a helpful resource for continued learning and spiritual practice after the program. ​
PROGRAM GOALS​
  • Learn how Jesus navigated systemic injustice, political unrest, and interpersonal conflict, in order to discern how we might respond to similar situations today.
  • Learn communication tools for seeking justice in the issue about which you are most passionate.
  • Learn to navigate disagreement in a healthier way — whether in personal relationships or when working for systemic change.
  • Strengthen communication skills for assisting divided congregations, organizations, and communities in moving from ‘us and them’ to a greater sense of shared vision.
SESSIONS INCLUDE ​​
  • Prayer & Reflection 
  • Discussion of Reading 
  • Videos/Group Activities 
  • Spiritual Practices 
  • Integration of Faith 
SESSIONS
  • Get-to-Know-You Session
  • Session 1: Laying the Foundation
  • Session 2: Moving Toward Beloved Community
  • Session 3: Sacred Listening
  • Session 4: Empathy for Justice
  • Session 5: Anger
  • Session 6: Making Requests, Demanding Change
  • Immersion Experience
  • Session 7: What to Do When the Answer is ‘No’
  • Session 8: What Next?

PREVIOUS JPIC JUSTFAITH PROGRAMS

WINTER 2023 - JPIC JUSTFAITH 
“FAITH AND POVERTY: A SOLIDARITY RESPONSE” 

How do you respond to poverty in your community? “Faith and Poverty: A Solidarity Response,” the second program of the JustFaith Catholic series, explores local poverty and introduces participants to the tips and tools they need to respond. Together, participants navigate questions such as: “Why are the poor, poor?”; “Why don’t people in poverty just get a job?”; “What are some common hurdles that people in poverty face?”; and “What are some practical tools for alleviating poverty in my community?” In addition to the readings, group members engage in prayer and reflection around Catholic social teaching throughout the week between sessions. Participants emerge from this program better equipped to help alleviate poverty in their communities, as well as stand in solidarity with those experiencing poverty.  
 
The program consists of eight 2-hour sessions to be held on Thursday evenings (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) in Immaculata’s “Youth Ministry” room (2222). An additional one-day retreat and an immersion experience will each be held on Saturdays. We are requesting that everyone registering for the program be able to attend all sessions. Space is limited. Participation in Part I of JustFaith in the Fall was NOT required to join us for this session. To register, please email Sylvia Thompson. ​ ​
JUSTFAITH CO-FACILITATORS
Lauren Lee Pettiette Schewel and Sylvia Thompson 

​PROGRAM DIRECTOR/STAFF LIAISON
Ken Chiha
​Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)​
PROGRAM GOALS 
  • To learn about the experiences of people in poverty 
  • To have a better understanding of dynamics that make it difficult for many to move out of poverty 
  • To discern personal and social actions to address poverty in your local community 
SESSIONS INCLUDE 
  • Prayer & Reflection 
  • Discussion of Reading 
  • Videos/Group Activities 
  • Spiritual Practices 
  • Integration of Faith 
 
SESSIONS 
  • Session One: Dignity of Work/Rights of Workers 
  • Session Two: Cost to Live 
  • One-day retreat 
  • Session Three: The Social Safety Net 
  • Session Four: The Cliff Effect 
  • Session Five: Poverty and Health 
  • Session Six: Trauma and Addiction 
  • Immersion Experience in your local community 
  • Session Seven: Housing 
  • Session Eight: Grassroots Organizing 101 
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DIRECT LINK TO JUSTFAITH WEBSITE/PROGRAM
COST 
Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) will be subsidizing the cost of this program. Participants will only be responsible for paying the cost of their reading materials for the course. The JPIC has financial support available for those in need who are unable to afford the cost of these texts, so please contact us if you need assistance. 
  
The books/resources will be ordered in bulk from the JustFaith program after registration. Participants can purchase them from the parish when they arrive. If you decide to purchase them on your own, please let us know in advance. ​
BOOKS/RESOURCES INCLUDE 
  • Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond 
  • Beyond Empowerment: A Pilgrimage with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, by Jeffry Odell Korgen 
  • Catholic social teaching spiritual practice resource, compiled by Susie Tierney 

FALL 2022 - JPIC JUSTFAITH 
“FAITH AND POVERTY: A BIBLICAL RESPONSE”

​Part I of our JPIC JustFaith program, “Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response,” concluded on Saturday, November 12, with an "immersion experience" at Urban Ministries of Durham. Participants helped to prepare and serve breakfast to over 150 homeless persons and others in need. They also helped prepare lunches, concluding the day with a theological reflection and discussion about the experience. Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, the JustFaith program seeks to guide parishioners in exploring the Gospel’s call to respond to poverty in our communities, nation, and world, equipping participants with practical tools to take action in effective and sustainable ways. Thanks to our co-facilitators and everyone who participated in this Fall's program. 
"Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response," the first eight-session program in this four-part* JustFaith Catholic series, lays the theological and biblical foundation for responding to poverty in our communities, so that we might respond in a way that honors the image of God in those we seek to serve. In this program, participants explore these two questions:
  1. What tools does my Catholic faith have to offer regarding huge questions around poverty and injustice? and
  2. In light of poverty and other forms of human suffering, what is the Good News of the Gospel?

This program is grounded in Catholic social teaching: together, participants will learn about Church’s commitment to those who are poor and marginalized and discern the specific ways in which they are called to be a part of this greater mission. Your group will emerge from this program with a transformed understanding of who they are as God’s children and how God is calling them to use their lives.

The program consists of eight 2-hour sessions to be held on Tuesday evenings (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm) in Immaculata’s “Youth Ministry” room (2222). An additional one-day retreat and an immersion experience will each be held on Saturdays. We are requesting that everyone registering for the program be able to attend all sessions. Space is limited. To register, please email Ken Chiha.
PROGRAM GOALS 
  • To learn about the foundational postures we must assume in order to alleviate poverty in a way that honors God, ourselves, and those we seek to serve
  • To learn about who we are as children of God, and what it means to participate in building God’s Kingdom.
  • To develop a biblical understanding of the word “justice” and what this word means for our lives and our communities
SESSIONS INCLUDE 
  • Prayer & Reflection 
  • Discussion of Reading 
  • Videos/Group Activities 
  • Spiritual Practices 
  • Integration of Faith 
 
SESSIONS ​
  • Session One: Holy Conversation vs. Debate
  • Session Two: Compassion vs. Tolerance
  • One-day Retreat
  • Session Three: Awe vs. Judgement
  • Session Four: Abundance vs. Scarcity
  • Session Five: Equity vs. Equality
  • Session Six: Ministry To vs. Ministry With
  • Immersion Experience in your local community
  • Session Seven: Reading Scripture with the Poor
  • Session Eight: Action vs. Apathy
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DIRECT LINK TO JUSTFAITH WEBSITE/PROGRAM
JUSTFAITH CO-FACILITATORS
Lauren Lee Pettiette Schewel and Sylvia Thompson 

​PROGRAM DIRECTOR/STAFF LIAISON
Ken Chiha
​Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)​​
COST 
Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) will be subsidizing the cost of this program. Participants will only be responsible for paying the cost of their reading materials for the course. The JPIC has financial support available for those in need who are unable to afford the cost of these texts, so please contact us if you need assistance. 
  
The books/resources will be ordered in bulk from the JustFaith program after registration. Participants can purchase them from the parish when they arrive. If you decide to purchase them on your own, please let us know in advance. ​
BOOKS/RESOURCES INCLUDE
  • Joy of the Gospel, by Pope Francis
  • Poverty: Responding like Jesus, edited by Kenneth R. Himes and Conor M. Kelly
  • Catholic social teaching spiritual practice resource, compiled by Susie Tierney
© 2022. All rights reserved.
​If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact me directly.
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - chihak@icdurham.org
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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH   |  810 W CHAPEL HILL STREET, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA 27701  |  919-682-3449


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