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!

SCHOOL

748 million without access to clean drinking water

WATER

61 million children unable to access education

EDUCATION

Learn:The state of the world

What else do you know?

We canwork 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

Pope Francis reminds us to be humble and remember the poor

Invited a group of homeless men and

their dog to share his birthday meal. Leaves the Vatican at night to feed the homeless.

Caritas Australia – End Poverty. Promote Justice.

Uphold Dignity: Liturgy and Commissioning

All:Lord have mercy

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

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.

All: AmenGather 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: Thanks be to God

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.

Alleluia,Alleluia!

Alleluia, Alleluia!

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!

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

All:Today, may your kingdom come in us and through us

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:Amen

We ask these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hands up if you care about poverty and injustice.

A commissioning

Caritas Australia is inspired by the mission of Jesus.

You, brothers and sisters share the task of mission.

All:I will

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:Amen

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 photos Caritas Australia unless otherwise credited

Slides 5-7: Erin Johnson for Caritas AustraliaSlide 8: Paul Jeffrey for Caritas Internationalis, Caritas AustraliaSlide 18: http://news.distractify.com/people/reasons-why-pope-francis-is-the-person-of-the-year/

Picture Credits:

Last updated September 2014