Join us for the 21 Day Catholic Social Teaching Challenge!
The goal of this challenge is to become more aware of the teachings of the Catholic Church and find practical ways to contribute to a just society and live holy lives amidst the challenges of modern society. We will be posting here as well as on our Facebook page.
Catholic Social Teaching encompasses the life and dignity of each person, a call to family and community life, caring for the poor and vulnerable, the dignity and rights of workers, recognizing that we are one body in Christ, and caring for creation.
Each day we will explore a different topic through a video, reflection, prayer, or action.
Living with a mental illness can often be challenging and feel lonely. For Day 1 of our Catholic Social Teaching Challenge, read this article with practical ways to support those in your life with a mental illness.
For prayers and homilies on supporting a loved one with mental illness click here:
Check out this video titled "Where does your trash actually go?"
As you watch, keep in mind: "We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of Gods creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored."
(source: https://www.usccb.org/resources/themes-catholic-social-teaching)
"Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society." Read more about the Catholic Church's teaching on Care for Creation here.
Instead of throwing things away, take the things in your home you no longer use and donate them, either to a place where those in need can receive them, or to an organization that financially supports the poor and vulnerable in our area. This action keeps these items out of a landfill, allows them to be reused, and helps financially support those in need.
Read 20 ways to Fight human trafficking.
Catholic Social Teaching clearly states "that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society." We also believe "at the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul VI taught that if you want peace, work for justice...Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict." (https://www.usccb.org/resources/themes-catholic-social-teaching)
With this in mind, let's do one small thing today to help our brothers and sisters who are enslaved unjustly in human trafficking.
"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." Mt 25:40
As Catholics, we are called to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. Did you know that in Illinois there are over 17,000 kids in foster care? Learn about how you can help and share this information with others!
Buy some extra food to donate to a food pantry.
Nearby locations include:
"It is an essential part of our work as Catholics to build a more just society and economy. We feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, educate the young, welcome refugees and care for the sick and vulnerable. The Church serves and stands in solidarity with those who are poor and jobless, helping them break the cycle of poverty and act on behalf of their own families and communities."--Cardinal Timothy Dolan in his September 2011 Letter to Bishops on Economic Situation
Reduce consumption.
"'Less is more.' A constant flood of new consumer goods can baffle the heart and prevent us from cherishing each thing and each moment." --Pope Francis, Laudato Si'
Help make the Christmas season a little bit merrier for local families in need this year.
Take a tag from the Giving Tree in the narthex or
claim a virtual tag online.
Watch this short video about life in the womb and pray for the protection of the unborn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJSH6Iy_R-M
"The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching."
Learn more about what Catholics believe here.
Prayer is powerful. Pause right now and pray for all of those are out of a job right now, through the intercession of St. Catejan, patron of the unemployed.
Learn more about St. Catejan here.
Finding small ways to throw less away is one step towards caring for creation.
"The dominion granted to man by the Creator is not an absolute power, nor can one speak of a freedom to "use and misuse," or to dispose of things as one pleases. The limitation imposed from the beginning by the Creator himself and expressed symbolically by the prohibition not to "eat of the fruit of the tree" (cf. Gen 2:16-17) shows clearly enough that, when it comes to the natural world, we are subject not only to biological laws but also to moral ones, which cannot be violated with impunity." Taken from https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/care-for-creation
Watch this video on end of life issues to learn what the Catholic Church teaches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSkDdVGeHcE
Learn about how Catholic Charities helps those in need in our Diocese https://catholiccharitiesjoliet.org.
You can help support Catholic Charities by donating to their Amazon wish list https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/ZHJ6JG4SUP1/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl
Pause and Pray.
"Migrants to the United States oftentimes face potential harms and hardships, from being prey to human traffickers and smugglers engaged in extortion and oftentimes violence to being exposed to perilous conditions in the search for safety and protection. Among the migrants most vulnerable to such harms are refugees, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied alien minors." --https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/migrants-refugees-and-travelers/vulnerablemigrantpopulations
Support the military returning home from deployment. For ideas click here.
Pope Paul VI taught that if you want peace, work for justice. The Gospels call us to be peacemakers. Watch this video to learn what Catholics can do to overcome racism.
"The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: “Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design." -CCC 1935
Say a prayer for those who are incarcerated. To learn more about prison ministry and helping those in prison learn more about God, click here (https://dismasministry.org/mission/)
Take time today to remember all the freedoms you have. Remember in your prayers those who aren't afforded these freedoms, who are oppressed and suffering.
It's easy to take for granted things we've had for all our lives. Pause and pray for those that do not have clean water to drink.
Sometimes helping others means being prepared. Buy some snacks, $5 McDonald’s gift cards, hand warmers, or socks to keep in your car and pass them out to homeless people you see at stop lights. Remember to roll your window down partially, and be safe!
This concludes our 21 Day Catholic Social Teaching Challenge. We pray you learned something new about the Church's teachings and that you grew in mercy and love for our neighbors and world. Please share this page with someone you think would appreciate learning about Catholic Social Teaching and find new ways to implement it in their life.
