Global Issues:
Poverty and
Injustice
“We Christians are
called
to confront the
poverty of
our brothers and
sisters.
“Poverty
[..]
affects
those
living in
conditions
opposed to
human
dignity:
“…those who lack
basic rights and
needs such as food,
water, hygiene…
“…work and
the
opportunity
to develop
and grow
culturally…
“…In response to
this [..], the
Church offers her
help…
“…In the poor and
outcast we see
Christ's face;
“…by loving
and helping
the poor, we
love and serve
Christ.”
Pope Francis
What can we do?
Learn
about
what
causes
poverty
Work
together
to do
something
about it!
EDUCATION
SCHOOL
Learn:
The
state
of the
world
61 million children unable to
access education
WATER
748 million without access to clean
drinking water
What
else
do you
know?
We can
work together
with the
poorest
people
towards a
fairer world.
Imagine a fairer world…
where we all have a fair share of
the gifts of God’s creation.
If you have:
• A secure home
• Food in the fridge
• Clothes in a wardrobe
You are in the world’s richest
group.
“.. When power,
luxury and money
become idols, they
take priority over
the need for a
fair distribution
of wealth…
“…Our consciences
thus need to be
converted to
justice, equality,
simplicity and
sharing.”
Pope Francis reminds us to be
humble and remember the poor
Caritas Australia – End
Poverty. Promote Justice.
Uphold Dignity:
Liturgy and Commissioning
In a world where there is so
much injustice,
You ask to care for the poor
and rejected.
Lord have mercy
All:
Lord have
mercy
In a world where there is so
much inequality between
people,
You ask us to share from
what we have.
Lord have mercy
All:
Lord have
mercy
Creator God,
Each one of us is made in
your image.
Open our eyes, our hearts
and our hands;
May our love be free, bold
and inclusive.
Gather us as your church,
Strengthen us so that we
may be the good news of
freedom, justice and peace
to the world.
We ask this through Christ
our Lord.
All: Amen
First reading from St. Paul’s letter to the
Ephesians 3:14-20
This then is what I pray..
Out of God’s infinite glory, may he give you the
power through His spirit to grow strong, so that
Christ may live in your hearts, through faith, and
then planted in love, and built on your love, you
will have strength to grasp the breadth and depth
and the length, the height and the depth: until
knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all
knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of
God.
Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can
do infinitely more than we can ask or image.
The world of the Lord.
All:
Thanks be
to God
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia, Alleluia!
God has sent me to bring Good news to the
poor,
And proclaim to all prisoners freedom.
Alleluia,
Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia, Alleluia!
Alleluia,
Alleluia!
Reader:
For many people in the world
their views of themselves and
others are based on what
people have, what they do
and wear. In the following
Gospel reading, Jesus warns
us about being caught in a
greed trap- a vicious cycle in
which we regard possessions
as treasures and we want
more and more.
A reading from the Gospel of St Luke.
A parable about how possessions can
possess us.
Luke 12: 16-21
Then he (Jesus) told them a parable ‘There
once was a rich man, who having had a
good harvest from his land, thought to
himself,
“What am I to do? I have not enough
room to store my crops. “
Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will
pull down my barns and build bigger
ones, and store all my grain and my
goods in them, and I will say to my soul:
My soul you have plenty of good things
laid by for many years to come; take
things easy, eat drink, have a good time.”
My soul you have plenty of good
things laid by for many years to come;
take things easy, eat drink, have a
good time.”
But God said to him, “Fool, this very
night the demand will be made for
your soul; and this hoard of yours,
where will it be then? So it is when
someone stores up treasure for himself
instead of becoming rich in the sight of
God.
The New Jerusalem Bible (1990) Doubleday,
NewYork.
All:
The
Gospel of
the Lord,
Praise be
to you
Lord Jesus
Christ
General Intercessions
God has entrusted us with the
mission of Jesus and we pray:
Reader: For the Church, the
people of God:
May we proclaim without
compromise the message of
‘good news’ to the poor, a
message of love, justice, truth,
hope and above all human
dignity.
Let us pray to our God.
All:
Today,
may your
kingdom
come
in us and
through us
Reader: For all Australians:
May the work of Caritas
Australia transform hearts and
minds so that those blinded by
materialism come to ‘see anew’
that the goods of the earth, and
creation itself, are for the good of
all.
Let us pray to our God.
All:
Today,
may your
kingdom
come
in us and
through us
Reader: For all our brothers and
sisters around the world:
May the work of Caritas
Australia transform hearts and
minds so that those blinded by
materialism come to ‘see anew’
that the goods of the earth, and
creation itself, are for the good of
all.
Let us pray to our God.
All:
Today,
may your
kingdom
come
in us and
through us
Reader: For all working towards
a world in balance, at peace and
free from poverty:
May we affirm each other’s gifts
and encourage each other as we
work together to bring the ‘good
news’ which ends poverty,
promotes justice and upholds
dignity.
Let us pray to our God.
All:
Today,
may your
kingdom
come
in us and
through us
We ask these
prayers through
Jesus Christ our
Lord.
All:
Amen
A commissioning
Hands up if
you care
about
poverty
and
injustice.
Caritas Australia is inspired
by the mission of Jesus.
You, brothers and sisters
share the task of mission.
Will you work towards a
just and fair world,
A world in balance,
At peace and free of
poverty;
A world which the Church in
Australia helps build, where
all humans can live in
dignity?
All:
I will
Will you make it your
mission to transform hearts
and minds in the Australian
community, inviting them
into just and compassionate
partnership with the poor?
All:
I will
Will you help to end
poverty,
promote justice
and uphold dignity?
All:
I will
Final blessing
God, you taught us through
your son the dignity of
every human being, and
gave us the great command
to love one another.
May we go into the world,
and take with us the hope of
God the creator who is love.
All:
Amen
Picture Credits:
All photos Caritas Australia unless otherwise credited
Slides 5-7: Erin Johnson for Caritas Australia
Slide 8: Paul Jeffrey for Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Australia
Slide 18: http://news.distractify.com/people/reasons-why-pope-francis-is-the-person-of-the-year/
Last updated September 2014