Greeting from Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski
Welcome to Beyond the Boundaries Web Page!
As a people who are called to care for one another, our program helps to broaden our vision of the Baltimore metropolitan area. Many parishes have taken initiatives to reach out to their neighbors in different areas and are becoming aware of the need for a vision for our region.
The information in this web site will share what is happening in Beyond the Boundaries and invite you to become a part of the positive attitudes for change.
It is a privilege to serve as Director for Beyond the Boundaries and work with so many people who seek the vision of justice that bears fruit in changing hearts and lives. Thank you for your interest, help and support!
Reflecting Our Faith through Awareness, Collaboration, and Advocacy to Achieve Justice
Beyond the Boundaries raises awareness, collaborates, and promotes advocacy to achieve justice. Our work is based on the principles of our faith, Catholic Social Teaching. The primary focus for Beyond the Boundaries is promoting just plans and policies for quality, affordable housing in mixed-income neighborhoods. The lack of quality affordable housing is an urgent issue surfacing in all parts of the Archdiocese. Under the guidance of Most Reverend Mitchell Rozanski, D.D., Eastern Vicar and Program Director for Beyond the Boundaries, the strategy is to raise awareness and build a foundation of support to work for equitable housing policies so all people have fair access to resources and opportunities. Quality, affordable housing dispersed in opportunity-rich, mixed-income neighborhoods, creates access to good schools, employment, social networks, and necessary public services. To achieve this, we need Inclusive Housing policies.
A basic challenge we face in promoting just housing initiatives is to raise awareness of our role as faith-filled people to address moral issues and the need to work toward eliminating economic segregation. Our faith calls us to active citizenship. As citizens, we can help shape a world more committed to promoting justice and peace.
Beyond the Boundaries is establishing Advocacy Teams in each jurisdiction to develop a network of constituent support. Parish leaders will inform and engage other parishioners; form a team to assess their local community situation; monitor and promote just housing initiatives in their jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction will have a Region Coordinator to facilitate advocacy specific to their area, bringing together Parish Leaders and teams to meet with elected officials or city/county officials to influence fair housing plans and policies. We welcome your assistance with this worthy endeavor.
Beyond the Boundaries offers a Discussion Series to strengthen our personal conversion process, deepen our communion and lead us to solidarity with others in our community and region. This series, sponsored by parishes, provides a solid spiritual foundation to reflect Catholic Social Teaching in our actions, moving beyond our own boundaries to work for just policies.
The Beyond the Boundaries Steering Committee, led by Bishop Rozanski, provides direction for this initiative. For more information, contact:
Raine Mullan, Program Manager, rmullan@archbalt.org, 410-592-8433.
Beyond the Boundaries Housing Advocacy
This presentation, provided with approval, as given by David Rusk at the Beyond the Boundaries Workshop on November 11, 2006
"Housing: An Opportunity for Justice" is a Powerpoint presentation intended to promote understanding of the housing situation, how it affects us, and how inclusionary housing policies provide better opportunities for all.
Several articles on Inclusionary Housing policy and related topics are available to use as bulletin inserts or information sheets. Our thanks to Joe Lazazzera, Corpus Christi Housing Leader, for sharing these articles.
