Priest, sister answer ‘call to heal in a world broken by conflict’ at Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
An Archdiocese of Newark nun and priest spent the last weekend in January in Washington, D.C. advocating for justice, peace, and human development.
Sister Dong Hong Marie Zhang, the liaison to the Chinese community of Newark Archdiocese, and Father Tim Graff, Social Concerns Director, attended the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) 2023 organized by the Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development in collaboration with 10 other USCCB departments and 20 national Catholic organizations.
Every year, people who work or volunteer in social ministry in their diocese or parish gather in Washington, D.C., for the CSMG to learn about the bishops’ policy priorities, lobby their elected officials, and get inspiration for their work back home, according to Sister Dong Hong.
“Each year the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering aims to provide an excellent opportunity for Catholic leaders to ‘Connect, Learn, Pray, and Advocate,’” Sister Dong Hong said.
The theme of this year’s gathering was “Blessed are the Peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9), which recognizes the call to heal in a world broken by conflict, division, and inequality.
Sister Dong Hong pointed to the Encyclical Letter, Fratelli Tutti, on fraternity and social friendship, where Pope Francis writes: “There is a need for paths of peace to heal open wounds. There is also a need for peacemakers, men and women prepared to work boldly and creatively to initiate the processes of healing and renewed encounter.”
Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski of Baltimore told participants in his homily at the Jan. 28 opening Mass that Jesus’ friendships “with people on the margins — the outcasts — broke the rules.”
“Jesus calls everyone friend,” Bishop Lewandowski said. “He said there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends. Jesus lived and died for friendship.”
Because social justice is at the heart of Catholic teaching, many Catholics have supported the labor movement, said Father Graff, who is Cardinal Joseph Tobin’s Liaison to Labor.
Father Graff spoke at two Catholic Social Ministry Gathering events – a meeting of the Catholic Labor Network and a CSMG community workshop.
On Saturday, Jan. 28, Father Graff spoke at the Catholic Labor Network conference alongside presenters from the USCCB Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development and a group of workers – nurses, food service workers, and domestic workers – who spent 2022 fighting for fair treatment in the workplace.
The next day, Father Graff, along with a delegation from the Archdiocese of Baltimore including Auxiliary Bishop Lewandowski, headed a CSMG community workshop on the condition of labor in today’s economy. The clergy shared their story of coaching a group of priests on how to use their Labor Day weekend liturgies to educate the faithful about Catholic social teaching.
“The right of workers to form labor unions has been a fundamental premise of Catholic social teaching since 1891 when Pope Leo XIII wrote his Encyclical Rerum Novarum. In the mid-20th century, the American Church worked closely with domestic labor unions, but in many parts of the country, that relationship is now weak or nonexistent, in spite of Catholic social doctrine,” said one of the organizers, Clayton Sinyai, executive director of The Catholic Labor Network. The Catholic Labor Network is an association of the faithful that brings together Catholic labor union members, clergy, religious, and lay social ministry leaders to promote Catholic social teaching on labor and work.
Attendees received training and a USCCB “toolkit” to help them prepare for the next Labor Day weekend liturgies.
Meanwhile, Sister Dong Hong joined the other New Jersey constituents to advocate on Capitol Hill. She said they visited with Congressman Thomas Kean (R-NJ 7th District), Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ 4th District), the policy advisors of Congressman Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ 2nd District), and New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez (D).
“This year the legislative priorities are focused on supporting children and families by passing a strengthened Child Tax Credit; supporting hungry and vulnerable people with robust international humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding assistance; and passing legislation providing our new Afghan neighbors with a pathway to permanent legal status,” Sister Dong Hong said.
Congressman Smith and Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar also held a reception for visitors.
Outside of its CSMG efforts, the Archdiocese of Newark has worked with Service Employees International Union for years fighting for workers’ rights to a fair wage at the airports and as residential cleaners.
“It is a sign of our faith in action when we recognize the dignity of all workers and support their rights in their fight for justice,” said Father Graff. “This includes the right to organize, the right to a livable wage, the right to family leave, and the right to health care benefits. It is a sign of our faith in action when we recognize the dignity of all workers and support their rights in their fight for justice.”
At a plenary session on Jan. 29, USCCB vice president, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, said parishes have to be “beacons of hope,” not just houses of worship, and Catholic schools have to be a “lifeline for kids in need,” not just centers of education.
Father Graff is the Secretary for Parish Mission and Vitality and Director of Social Concerns for the Archdiocese of Newark. He is an adjunct Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Caldwell University and serves on various corporate boards for faith communities and non-profits working in the area of social justice.
Sister Dong Hong is a Felician Sister whose ministry involves spiritual formation, RCIA, Sunday Gospel reflection in Chinese for parish bulletins, evangelization, campus ministry, prison ministry, the Protection of God’s Children program in Chinese, and youth program coordination with the USCCB’s Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs.
OVS contributed to this report.
Featured image: Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington, D.C., delivers the homily during the sending Mass of the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington Jan. 31. (OSV News/Tyler Orsburn)
