The Marianist Social Justice Collaborative began in 1998. Since that time, we have continued the founding vision of the Collaborative: to educate the Marianist Family about social justice, to help Marianist Family members network around common social justice concerns and to provide community reflection and support for Marianists to do the work of justice. MSJC tries to operate in the spirit of our Marianist Founders in forming a community that draws from the contributions of the many diverse elements of the Marianist Family. Just as the method of our founders was to help form individuals and communities who would cooperate with the Holy Spirit under the inspiration of the Mary in building up the Body of Christ, MSJC seeks to do the same in the area of social justice.
Our Ongoing Efforts
Following the gospel of Jesus Christ and Mary’s example, the Marianist Family empowers individuals, families, and communities to build the common good. We dedicate ourselves to promoting human dignity, protecting human rights, and practicing an integral ecology.
Our Vision Statement
Through the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative, the three branches of the Marianist Family in North America (the Society of Mary, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate and the Marianist Lay Community) unite and multiply the efforts of Marianists to act for social justice. Inspired by Mary’s yes and our founders’ call to respond to the signs of the times, we commit to building authentic, inclusive, and diverse community, in order to build a more just world and Church. MSJC offers hope, inspiration, and opportunity for action through education, outreach, skill-building and advocacy at the local, national and international levels.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Who We Are
In 2022, MSCJ's Racial Justice Team, in coordination with MSJC’s Steering Committee, organized an anti-racist training and follow up dialogues to discuss systemic racism and its relationship to white dominant culture in the US, frameworks and common language to engage in this work, and how MSJC and other Marianist organizations can further dismantle systemic racism. Out of this work, an MSJC Antiracism Ad Hoc Committee was created and has been working to advance our goal to become a more antiracist organization. This committee is currently preparing MSJC for an Equity Assessment and will share updates about the work of antiracism here.
Antiracism Commitment
Laudato Si Action Platform
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND PRINCIPLES
Antiracism Commitment
MSJC is committed to engaging with and utilizing restorative practices and principles in our justice work. Specifically, we are currently focused on using a restorative practice called the circle process throughout our organization. This is a communication process based on ancient wisdom that helps build understanding, safety, and authenticity within groups. We use this practice to foster community amongst our volunteers, build consensus around our work, and to dialogue about sensitive issues. We hope to not just use restorative practices, but to integrate restorative justice into who we are and what we do as an organization. We are committed to sponsoring Marianist persons to become trained in restorative practices, so if you are interested please contact us.
Restorative Practices and Principles
Laudato Si Action Platform
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND PRINCIPLES
Antiracism Commitment
MSJC is committed to participating in the 7 year Vatican-led Laudato si Action Platform (LSAP) and the Marianist Family Encounters Project (MFEP) to create a framework for, in collaboration with other Catholic groups and experts, Marianist advancement on Laudato si goals.
Laudato si Action Platform
Laudato Si Action Platform
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND PRINCIPLES
Antiracism Commitment
- Increasing our staff to a full-time director and half-time assistant director.
- Working for the inclusion and support of LGBTQ+ persons in Marianist circles and spaces.
- Increasing our fundraising capacity.
- Moving, measurably, several steps forward towards becoming a truly anti-racist organization.
- Impacting program participants, measurably, by each of our seven Justice Teams.
- Engaging all MSJC volunteers with restorative justice practices, especially the circle process.
- Strengthening our collaborative outreach and increasing our work with other groups.
- Celebrating our 25th anniversary by highlighting our mission, accomplishments, and hopes for the future.
MSJC's Current Organizational Goals:
Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Faith Letter, as an action step put forth by the Season of Creation Ecumenical Steering Committee to call upon governments to stop the development of any new fossil fuel projects. This sign on is aligned with Laudato si Action Platform (LSAP) goals.
Connecting Families Coalition letter to the Ohio legislature to make prison and jail communications free in the 2024 legislative session.
Support for the updated and expanded Child Tax Credit system as part of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 bill (H.R.7024), which will allow more children (especially those in the lowest economic tiers) to be eligible for this support and reduce childhood poverty in the United States.
Universal Declaration on the Rights of Rivers which states that all rivers are living entities, entitled to fundamental rights and legal guardians, with representation from Indigenous communities.
Federal Death Penalty Abolition Legislation, reintroduced in 2023, would prohibit anyone from being sentenced to death or put to death for any violation of Federal law. The House Bill is linked here (H.R.4633) and the Senate Bill here (S.2299). Go to this link for a list of Endorsing Organizations (including MSJC).
Catholic Letter to Congress on Climate Action by Catholic Climate Covenant -- In the spirit of Pope Francis' Laudato Si, it urges Congress to support legislation that protects our climate.
Letter to the President to End Inhumane Immigrant Detention -- This faith letter urges the Biden Administration to take very doable and concrete steps that will halt current immigration detention expansion efforts, terminate current ICE contracts, invest in rights-respecting border management, and inact just and humane immigration policies.
July 2023
September 2022
December 2021
November 2023
March 2024
May 2024
October 2024
MSJC is committed to engaging with and utilizing restorative practices and principles in our justice work. Specifically, we are focused on a restorative practice called the circle process. This is a communication process based on ancient wisdom that helps build understanding, safety, and authenticity within groups. We commit to sponsor folks within MSJC and the Marianist Family to become trained as restorative circle keepers. Learn more about this practice or opportunities by contacting us.
Restorative Practices and Principles
LAUDATO SI ACTION PLATFORM
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND PRINCIPLES
Antiracism Commitment
MSJC is committed to participating in the 7 year Vatican led Laudato si Action Platform (LSAP) and the Marianist Family Encounters Project to create a framework for, in collaboration with other Catholic groups and experts, Marianist advancement on Laudato si goals.
Laudato si Action Platform
LAUDATO SI ACTION PLATFORM
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES AND PRINCIPLES
Antiracism Commitment
