Renewing the Face of the Earth in Camden

“When you send forth your breath, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD be glad in these works!” Psalm 104: 30-31

Last month Tom Mahedy and I visited Sacred Heart in Camden as a scouting trip prior to the Fall Assembly and to lay the ground work for a partnership with the Sacred Heart Peace Community. We both left our homes with thoughts of what resources we could bring to Camden, but we returned with a feeling of how much we had received from visiting this vibrant community of peacemakers.

As I sat through Mass and listened to the testimony of friends as we celebrated both Pentecost and the 50th anniversary of Fr. Doyle’s ordination, I got the sense that Fr. Michael was as much the leader of the community as he was a beloved companion who has chosen to walk with the people of Camden these 35 years. His greatest gift to them has been a hope that will sustain them after he retires.

It is fitting then that the assembly which will be held on October 24th at Sacred Heart in Camden will include a walking tour of the neighborhood that the people of Sacred Heart are helping to renew. Below are some links to some of the sites and the other good works of our brothers and sisters in Camden’s Waterfront South neighborhood.



Sacred Heart Social Ministries

Heart of Camden – Community Development

Environmental Mitigation Projects

Center for Transformation

Hynes Family Resource Center

South Camden Theater Company

The Peace Park

Labyrinth Construction

Soil & Saints (Andrea Ferich’s Blog about the Greenhouse, Community Garden, etc.)

“It’s a Terrible Day Thanks Be to God” Book by Msgr. Michael Doyle

The Poet of Poverty –Film based on Msgr. Michael Doyle’s writings

The Camden 28 – Film recalls a 1971 raid on a Camden, N.J., draft board office which Msgr. Michael Doyle participated in