Determining local community needs and putting a face on global issues are among the criteria that make for good parish-based social justice projects, said parishioners at a recent focus group.

Some 50 people from more than 10 parishes gathered at St. Bridget of Sweden July 10 to discuss successes and challenges in creating social justice projects at their parishes. The listening session was sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Justice and Peace.

For the last two years, parishioners at St. Mel Church in Woodland Hills have collected money during Lent for Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl. The parish collected $16,000 the first year and $26,000 the second.

Putting a face to a global issue helped to galvanize and increase parishioner response, said Anselm and Pia Varni, members of the project coordination team.

This Lent a visitor from Ghana, now studying in Los Angeles, spoke movingly during each of the Masses about how CRS provided him with essential food and schooling after he was orphaned.

St. Mel families were then given their Operation Rice Bowl materials, and awareness continued to build as stories of hunger around the world were published each week in the parish bulletin and flyers distributed. Ongoing education and formation on an issue is important said Pia Varni.

"The more I know the more I can respond," she said. "I can be a little contributor in the big picture."

Added Anselm: "When you identify a need and you respond to it, you appreciate something that grew within yourself."

Not all justice concerns are handled with money, said parishioners. A ministry fair at St. John Eudes Church in Chatsworth opened up awareness about issues like domestic violence. And raising awareness about those who are often marginalized has been a significant undertaking at St. Dominic Church in Los Angeles.

Parents of children with disabilities have been gathering at the parish for more than 10 years to support one another and assist other parishioners to welcome and include their children.

"We as parents have to take the initiative to give our children the opportunity to try different activities in the community," said Emma Guanlao, mother to a daughter with autism and damage to her brain following surgery as a toddler.

Parents have dialogued with teachers of religious education to mainstream young people with disabilities into classes. Children have been welcomed to participate in parish-based Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and at a special Mass last year the pastor invited children and adults with disabilities to participate as altar server, in the choir, as musicians, and as lector.

Guanlao said her daughter Katerina, now 24, blossomed at being included and now volunteers at the Glendale library and assists with Meals on Wheels.

"Katerina teaches people the values of tolerance, patience and accepting whoever you are," said Guanlao.

While parishioners talk about the satisfaction of helping others in need, they are just as likely to appreciate the changes in themselves.

Joe Hilly of St. Mel Church said his involvement with social justice projects have helped him learn to listen to varying perspectives.

"I'm much more sensitive to issues that before I dismissed out of hand," said Hilly.

Parishioners said other strategies for successful efforts include developing a vision for social justice ministry, inviting the pastor's support, keeping projects simple, setting realistic goals, including spirituality and prayer at the center of each project, and learning how to deal with conflict.

They also acknowledged ongoing tension among parishioners about concepts like charity and structural change. Parishioners who contribute to soup kitchen activities to help the poor and hungry in their midst, might be uneasy about supporting living wage struggles of workers trying to earn enough so as not to need the services of a soup kitchen.

Getting involved with social justice means being willing to get involved in complex societal concerns and turning to Scripture for guidance in how to respond, said parishioners.

"You're not always comfortable when you hear the Gospel," added St. Dominic's Vince Corcoran.

Additional listening sessions have taken place at Transfiguration Church in Los Angeles and Holy Family Church in Glendale. Blessed Junipero Serra Church in Camarillo will hold a listening session July 24, as will St. Philomena Church in Carson on July 31.

The archdiocesan Office of Justice and Peace has been conducting these focus groups to discern how best to support parishes and regional pastoral councils in each pastoral region to implement the Synod's Pastoral Initiative VI: Social Justice: Living at the Service of God's Reign of Social Justice.