PEACE AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Immigrant's Stories

The following story is about a family in our parish. The names have been changed to protect their privacy. 

Juan came to this country to find work so that he could help support his family back home. It was impossible to provide for his wife and daughter in Mexico. After a year, his wife joined him. Together they worked hard so that they could send money to care for their daughter's education as she remained in Mexico with her grandmother. After a long separation, a family member attempted to cross the border with the child but was apprehended and the child was taken from him. After many days of not knowing where her daughter was, Lupe returned to Mexico to locate her. After reuniting, Lupe and her daughter paid money to a "coyote" to help them cross the desert. The guide abandoned them in the desert where they wandered for three days before being caught and returned to Mexico. After five unsuccessful attempts, they found a way to enter the country and are now living as a family. Their daughter is enrolled in school and the parents are working hard to repay the money they borrowed to be reunited.

 Sisters Arcadia & Angie

PEACE AND JUSTICE MINISTRIES

Ministry                                                        Point of Contact                            Phone

Liaison                                                          Vince Martin                                  261-2482

America United, Mano al Hermanos                 Sister Arcadia                                480-3744
Empowers the Latino community to analyze and work together to address unmet needs, challenges and obstacles in the Outer Banks Community. 

Anti-Violence/Hotline                                      Dee Pepper                                    261-8879
Raises awareness about the affects of domestic violence and supports the local outreach services of Hotline

Blood Drive                                                    Don  Wobser                                  255-0641
Sponsors and coordinate the local Red Cross Blood Drives.

Britthaven and Spring Arbor                            Rudy Contratti/ Don Wobser              261-5967/255-0641
Provides opportunities to those confined in a nursing home to participate in social and liturgical events.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development     George Keefe                                   261-4207                                          
Enhances parishioners’ understanding of the precept of Catholic Social Teaching, promotes the annual CCHD collection and tries to initiate grass-roots, self-help projects among the marginalized in Dare County

Disaster Response                                        Linda Palombo                                 255-0792
Offers assistance to those in need before, during and after a disaster occurs                         

English as a Second Language                      Kay Minus                                        255-1171
Provides the Latino community a way to learn the English language

Environmental Concerns                                Patsy and Chuck Slowikowiski          261-7879
Links environmental justice with spirituality

Food Pantry                                                 Sharon Krafft                                    441-5433
Assists local families and individuals by providing basic food needs

Food for Thought                                          Jan and Vince Martin                         261-2482
Provides supplemental meal packages to families with young children 

Globalization Working Group                         Laura Strickland                                261-6087
Educates and offer opportunities to advocate for the common good of our interconnected global needs

Habitat for Humanity                                     Barbara Arzinger                               261-7044
Makes the dream of home ownership a reality for the working poor.   

Grands Place                                               Pixie Wescott                                   473-3923
Supports grandparents raising grandchildren

HIV/Aids Care Teams                                   Fran Kapinos                                     261-8064
Supports residents of Dare County who are living with HIV/Aids.  Care is provided through prayer and friendship

Interfaith Community Outreach                      Ginger Candelora                               480-0070
Collaboration between various faith communities to provide necessary services to those in need

Jail Ministry                                                 Sister Arcadia, Sister Angie               480-3744
Provide emotional and spiritual support to those that are incarcerated. 

J-Walking                                                    Teresa Stanley                                  261-4700
Provides a small faith community sharing process that brings adults and youth into an intentional covenant community in order to experiment with living the Gospel message and the practical implications of Catholic social teaching.

JustFaith                                                    Jan & Vince Martin                             261-2482
Provides a small faith community building process in which Catholic social teaching is
taught in order to integrate the principles into our daily lives

Legislative Advocacy                                   Jack Sheehan                                    261-7599
Informs parishioners of legislative actions being taken and encourages them to write
legislators to support or to oppose the issues that affect Catholic social teaching principles

Missionary Servants                                   Nancy Herrity                                     480-9244
Offers prayers, financial support and material goods to the least among us, most especially those in Haiti

Pathways Ministry                                     Fran Kapinos                                      261-8064
Assists the Pathways Organization in supporting and befriending over 1000 students that come from over 20 countries to work in Dare County each year with housing, transportation and other services

Parish Nurse Ministry                                Lou Elko                                             261-6318
Participates in the transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing

Peace and Justice Coalition                       Teresa Stanley                                    261-4700
Encourages collective efforts to further the common cause of social justice

Respect Life                                            
Inform parishioners and encourage them to take action in respecting all aspects of the sanctity of life (from womb to tomb)

Creative Choices                                      Joan Beall                                           441-0954

Rolling Library                                         Steve and Amber Stanley                      255-1981
Promotes a positive, healthy approach to multi-media by providing parishioners with wholesome viewing materials and insightful social justice literature

Truck-It Ministry                                      Lou Elko                                               261-3648
Transport items (beds, cribs, appliances, furniture etc...) to people in need. 

Voices that Challenge                             Teresa Stanley                                      261-4700
Provides education, support and service opportunities to empower our youth and young adults to create a community of “right relationships” and social change based on the principles of Catholic social teaching.

Work of Human Hands                            Laura Strickland                                     261-6087
Provides the community with an annual sale of handmade goods from local artisans and crafters from around the world.  This sale supports fair trade and economic sustainability for families.