Evangelization & Social Justice

This past week, Pope Benedict stated that it is unacceptable to evangelize without addressing the urgent problems of poverty, injustice, and oppression, according to Catholic News Service. The report when on to say that to not be concerned with life's temporal problems would be to forget the Gospel teaching to love one's neighbor who is suffering and in need and "it would not be in harmony with Jesus' life," which combined proclaiming the Good News and curing people of disease and illness. It's a reminder to all of us that we should proclaim the gospel not just be telling people about our faith, but also by witnessing to the faith by our efforts to alleviate suffering and working for justice.
       The pope made these remarks in his message for World Mission Sunday 2011, to be celebrated on October 23, 2011. At this time, the text of his message is only available in Italian; however, the Catholic News Service story is available in English at http://bit.ly/fumZzR.
Copyright © 2011, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. 
 

World Mission Sunday & Social Justice

Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday. Most parishes in most dioceses will be taking up a second collection for the Church's various missionary activities and organizations. The following quote from Pope Benedict in his Message for World Mission Sunday 2010 shows the connection between the Church's missionary efforts and social justice:

"[A]wareness of the call to proclaim the Gospel not only encourages every individual member of the faithful but also all diocesan and parish communities to integral renewal and ever greater openness to missionary cooperation among the Churches, to promote the proclamation of the Gospel in the heart of every person, of every people, culture, race and nationality in every place. This awareness is nourished through the work of … priests, consecrated people, catechists and lay missionaries in the constant endeavour to encourage ecclesial communion so that even the phenomenon of 'interculturality' may be integrated in a model of unity in which the Gospel is a leaven of freedom and progress, a source of brotherhood, humility and peace."

Thus, a donation to the next Sunday's second collection isn't strictly a contribution for charity; it is also a contribution to freedom, progress, and peace — in short, justice.  So please, prayerfully consider your contribution to this collection.
       For the complete text of the pope's message, go to http://bit.ly/ci1AYT. For an excellent video on the purpose of the collection, check out http://vimeo.com/14881162.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins. (http://bit.ly/16p8ws)