Programs
JustFaith: Frequently Asked Questions
- What is JustFaith?
- What is the difference between JustFaith and JustFaith Catholic?
- What organizations are affiliated with JustFaith?
- Do participants need to have previous social justice experience or knowledge?
- How long is JustFaith?
- What does the JustFaith program entail?
- What have other participants said about the JustFaith program?
- Can JustFaith be used in Protestant, Evangelical, Anabaptist or Catholic settings?
- How do I register my group for the JustFaith program?
- What are the program costs?
- What is the cost of the books used in JustFaith?
- What are the costs for the videos used in JustFaith?
- Are stipends to be provided for guest speakers?
- Is JustFaith facilitation best done by one or more facilitators?
- Who is qualified to be a co-facilitator?
- Is there help available for facilitators during start-up and throughout the year?
- How large should the group be?
- How often should the group meet?
- When do facilitators start to receive the JustFaith materials?
- Who do facilitators contact with other questions?
What is JustFaith?
JustFaith is a conversion-based process that provides a context in which participants can grow in their commitment to care for the vulnerable and become advocates for justice. During this extended justice education process groups meet weekly employing books, videos, guest speakers, discussion, prayer, retreats and hands-on experiences. Participants also form a community with other participants and share a journey of faith and compassion that is both life-giving and challenging. The JustFaith program is offered in two versions: JustFaith and JustFaith Catholic.
What is the difference between JustFaith and JustFaith Catholic?
The JustFaith program is available in two versions: JustFaith and JustFaith Catholic. While both versions explore the gospel call to compassion through study of Scripture, the Catholic version of the JustFaith program explores, in depth, the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching that has so deeply shaped the Catholic Church.
What organizations are affiliated with JustFaith?
JustFaith Ministries works in partnership with Bread for the World, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Relief Services, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, and Pax Christi (USA), with additional support from Catholic Charities USA.
Do participants need to have previous social justice experience or knowledge?
People benefit from JustFaith whether they have been involved in social ministry for a long time or they are newly interested. Testimonies from around the country attest to the fact that both experienced and inexperienced participants have derived great benefit.
How long is JustFaith?
Both versions of JustFaith include 30 weekly sessions, two weekend retreats and four Saturday hands-on experiences.
What does the JustFaith program entail?
JustFaith is an extended justice education process that meets weekly for eight months employing books, videos, lecture, discussion, prayer, retreats, hands-on experiences, and community building.
What have other participants said about the JustFaith program?
Refer to testimonials within this web site to read comments from previous JustFaith participants.
Can JustFaith be used in Protestant, Evangelical, Anabaptist or Catholic settings?
Yes, JustFaith has been used successfully by all kinds of Christian groups. The JustFaith program is offered in two versions: JustFaith and JustFaith Catholic. While both versions explore the gospel call to compassion through study of Scripture, the Catholic version of the JustFaith program explores, in depth, the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching within the Roman Catholic Church.
How do I register my group for the JustFaith program?
Registering for JustFaith or JustFaith Catholic is a simple process. You can either register online by clicking here or register by mailing in a registration form. Registration forms can be printed from this website or can be obtained from the JustFaith Ministries Office. Forms are to be filled out completely and returned to the address specified on the form. The fee for registration is $325 per group per year (after February 1, 2011). In cases where a single church or parish is sponsoring more than one group for its own members, the fee for extra groups is waived. Also, the fee is waived or reduced for low-income communities that are encumbered by the fee.
What are the program costs?
Program costs include a $325 registration fee per group, made payable to JustFaith Ministries. This fee is typically paid by the church or parish. There are also book, video, and guest speaker costs (see below).
What is the cost of the books used in JustFaith?
The approximate cost of the 10–12 books used each year is $115–130 per person. These books (and the videos) can all be ordered from one source. Typically, book costs are paid by the individual participants, though a small number of churches have elected to subsidize some or all of the cost of the books.
What are the costs for the videos used in JustFaith?
The program also uses approximately 12–15 videos each year. The cost of purchasing all of the videos the first year is approximately $220. Since the majority of these videos will be used again in subsequent years, this cost is greatly reduced in the second and third years of doing JustFaith. Frequently, diocesan or regional offices will purchase one or more sets of the videos and lend them to participating churches or parishes.
Are stipends to be provided for guest speakers?
The JustFaith syllabus does suggest the use of guest speakers. Sometimes it is appropriate to provide a stipend for these speakers. Local custom and church budgets will suggest what is possible. Many churches have a budget line that allows for speaker compensation. In many cases, speakers from agencies and diocesan or regional offices will more than gladly visit JustFaith groups without expectation of compensation.
Is JustFaith facilitation best done by one or more facilitators?
The facilitation of JustFaith can be done by two co-facilitators. The team approach allows for access to varied facilitation strengths, encourages the exercise of leadership skills by more than one person, and allows the sharing of tasks. However, many individual facilitators have been very successful in coordinating the JustFaith program on his/her own.
Who is qualified to be a co-facilitator?
Potential facilitators do not need to have theological training or vast social ministry experience and are not asked to be the teacher. The books, videos and guest speakers are the teachers. The facilitator needs to be: 1) someone who is really interested in social ministry and justice, and 2) a person who is mature, responsible and able to oversee a conversation amongst a group of people.
Is there help available for facilitators during start-up and throughout the year?
The JustFaith Ministries Office is designed to be an ongoing resource for all facilitators, including those who are facilitating alone. JustFaith Ministries staff members are available to help with both start-up questions and ongoing issues throughout the year. Facilitators are encouraged to communicate with office staff with special concerns or problems. In addition, the materials provide detailed step-by step guidance to weekly sessions and all other aspects of the JustFaith program.
How large should the group be?
The optimum size for a JustFaith group is 10–15 people. Some groups are smaller and some are a bit larger. Because JustFaith places a heavy emphasis on group conversation and community building, the group size needs to remain small (less than 18). If there are more than 18 people who would like to do the program, consider dividing into two groups.
How often should the group meet?
JustFaith needs to meet weekly. The goals of JustFaith cannot be accomplished by meeting every other week. Some groups have found that they can skip one week a month, but it strongly recommended not to meet less frequently than three times each month.
When do facilitators start to receive the JustFaith materials?
As soon as a group is registered, the facilitator starts to receive materials from the JustFaith Ministries Office.
Who do facilitators contact with other questions?
There is contact information within this web site. An email address, which can be used for further questions, is provided as well as information on how to contact the JustFaith Ministries Office directly.
Without love justice is the only sword. With love justice becomes a brother’s embrace.