Workers4Justice
Catholic Social Teaching in Practice
A lay-led parish ministry that puts the Church's social teaching to work for racial, economic, and gender justice — here in Maplewood and beyond. Everything on this page is short on purpose: the pillars we stand on, the teaching behind them, what we're doing, and how to join.
Meets
At scheduled times
Open to all — just ask
Focus
Racial, economic & gender justice
Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching
Led by
Axel Takacs & John DiMucci
Lay-led parish ministry
Four Pillars
With Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone.
Justice
Right relationship with God and neighbor.
Solidarity
We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers.
Liberation
Undoing what holds people down.
Love
The reason for all of it.
Why “Workers4Justice”?
St. Joseph's two best-known titles give us our name and our work.
The Worker
Feast on May 1st, alongside International Labor Day — honoring the dignity of work.
The Just
Feast on March 19th — remembering his just and righteous heart.
Seven Principles
The Church's social teaching, in seven lines — how to build a just society and live a holy life in the 21st century.
- 1
Sacred
Each person is made in God's image and equal in dignity.
- 2
Social
Each person is called to take part in family and community.
- 3
Rights
Everyone has a right to life and its necessities — and a responsibility to protect that right in others.
- 4
The Poor
We care for people who are poor and vulnerable before all else.
- 5
Work
Workers have rights, and work has dignity. We are partners with God in creation.
- 6
Solidarity
We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers.
- 7
Creation
We live in interdependence with all God has made.
What We're Doing
The commitments we've made as a ministry. Any one of them is a place to start.
Read & share the teaching
Circulating “The Catholic Call for Antiracism Work” through the parish and the wider Catholic community.
Add our names
Encouraging Catholics to sign the Open Letter to US Bishops on the March for Black Life.
Say it out front
A large, custom-made Black Lives Matter sign in front of the church.
Workshops & lawn chats
Conversations on antiracist work in the light of Catholic Social Teaching.
Work with our neighbors
Partnering with local justice groups, faith-based or not, and joining interfaith works of justice.
Listen first
Hearing Black parishioners and People of Color, and following their lead on what they seek.
Pray together
A Liturgy with Fr. Jim for victims of racial violence and communities hardest hit by the pandemic.
Invite Black speakers
Voices who can connect Catholic Social Teaching and antiracism work with authority.
This We Believe
We affirm that Black Lives Matter, because the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Catholic Social Teaching demand it.
Join us
One email is all it takes.
Write to Axel and Kim Oaks Takacs — tell them which of the commitments above speaks to you, or just say you'd like to come listen.
Contact Workers4Justice
Questions? Contact our Pastor
Very Rev.James A. WorthM.A., V.F.
Pastor & Dean
jamesanthonyworth@gmail.comParish Staff