Many social injustices in the world were discussed during the Jubilee of Justice on Sept. 20 at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Orange Park.
However, the event aimed to go much deeper than that and not just look further into the issues themselves but also explore the meaning of the word “justice” in relation to the Catholic church and its teachings.
“There is an interest and a thirst for knowledge out there right now,” said Anita Hassell, who is CEO and diocesan director of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of St. Augustine, and oversaw the event.
Justice is such an integral part of the Jubilee Year of Hope, and it is something we each exercise in our daily lives.
“There are some very controversial topics that we covered, but for the most part people were respectful and found that they took a lot from the discussions,” Hassell said. “They were very receptive and shocked to learn about certain things, such as the working conditions for certain farm workers.”
Some of the topics covered ranged from working conditions and immigration to the death penalty.
The wide range of topics brought to the forefront that social injustice can take many forms depending on the person and the situation, and that it is important to recognize all the varying forms taking place in the world.
A justice-themed Mass followed the hours of breakout sessions and wrapped up the day, which saw nearly 100 people take part, including a surprise appearance by Bishop Felipe Estévez.
“People were coming up to me wanting to know what they could do to help make a difference, which is the start we need to make the necessary changes,” Hassell said. “I oversee Catholic Charities and there are always opportunities to get involved in such organizations. We recognize the need to do even more events like this in the future, because the best time to advocate is when people are aware of the issues and feel deeply about them.”
Photos by Fran Ruchalski
