Caribbean Graduates of Social Justice Certificate Provide Model for U.S. Dioceses
In 2006, the Roundtable partnered with the University of Dayton’s Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) to develop a Certificate Program in Social Justice. Five years after the program began, it has expanded and become international, allowing a cohort of pastoral social justice leaders to emerge in the Caribbean. In September, a joint initiative of the University of Dayton and Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad (West Indies) graduated its first students to complete the VLCFF Certificate in Social Justice, and has hopes the certificate program will continue to grow in the region.
“Many Catholics are still unaware of the social teachings of our Church,” said Leela Ramdeen, chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) in Trinidad. “It is critical the faithful have access to appropriate, well-planned training such as the social justice online course through the VLCFF if they are to use the see-judge-act methodology effectively.”
Sr. Angela Ann with graduating students with a Certificate in Social Justice – Trinidad, West Indies. Back row (left red) Bishop Elect Jason Gordon (Barbados/St. Vincent), Leela Ramdeen (Director of Social Justice for the Archdiocese), Archbishop Edward Gilbert (Port of Spain), Archbishop – Elect Joseph Harris (Port of Spain), Dr. Vena Jules (CREDI Present) and Terry Farrell (Chairperson CREDI Board of Governors)
“The University of Dayton’s collaboration supporting the social justice ministry with the Archdiocese of Port of Spain is an example of the possibilities a quality online program offers dioceses to enhance diocesan ministry formation. We have no doubt that with the combined outstanding leadership of Leela Ramdeen these graduates will be animating gospel social justice transformation within their parishes and country,” said Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, M.H.S.H., VLCFF director.
The graduation allowed Social Justice Certificate students, along with graduates in the MA in Catholic Educational Leadership program, to wear cap and gown and march in procession and receive their certificates with the Archbishop-elect. “It was a fabulous graduation,” Sr. Zukowski said.
The graduation coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops 1971 document Justice in the World, which says, “Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as a constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or, in other words, of the Church’s mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive situation.”
Msgr. Jason Gordon, bishop-elect of Bridgetown, Barbados, encouraged the VLCFF program to be implemented into the Archdiocese of Port of Spain while he was Archdiocesan Vicar for Administration. “It is said the Church’s teaching on social justice is the Church’s best kept secret,” he said. “But for a Church to be mature, alive and faithful to Christ, its members have to know and live the Catholic justice tradition. The VLCFF Certificate in Social Justice is an important step for those receiving it and [for] the Church.”
Certificate students are enthused with their certificate accomplishment: “This course was tough but so rewarding! The reality of being ‘my brother’s keeper’ was solidified when I engaged these online courses. We were scripturally challenged,” said Anne Marie Richardson.
Already there is an immediate Archdiocesan social action plan in place for the students to apply their new learning experiences. They will be working with CCSJ to prepare a series of five-minute videos on the social teaching of the Church – to be aired on Trinity Communications Network (Caribbean) on a regular basis. These videos will focus on issues relating to the eight modules covered in the course: Conscience, Introduction to Christian Morality, Faith and Human Development, Poverty in the
Caribbean and Around the World, Introduction to Practical Morality, Scripture and Justice, Advanced Catholic Social Teaching, Parish and Social Action.
“What makes this program successful is that the diocesan social action director really encourages and works the cohort through. They also meet apart from the e-courses to design a plan of action for implementing the ideas into their cultural context. This is a great model for the USA!” Sr. Zukowski shared.
Although the program is now independent of the Roundtable, the Roundtable continues to publicize the opportunity and can help provide certificate students with internship opportunities in their dioceses.
The Roundtable asks: How are you celebrating this kind of faith formation in your own diocese? We would love to hear your stories!
For more information on the VLCFF Certificate in Social Justice, visit http://vlc.udayton.edu, or contact Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski.
Tags: Caribbean, faith formation, Justice in the World, Social Justice Certificate, University of Dayton
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:17 am
[...] be found in good formation work in Catholic social teaching– the Roundtable Report offers a story featuring graduates from Trinidad, West Indies in the University of Dayton’s Certificate in Social…. Their cap-and-gown graduation included attendance by the Archbishop and Bishop-elect, and their [...]