A lesson for social justice movements today
By Fr Curtis G Poyer, CCSJ/AMMR During the 1980s, human rights movements emerged in many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. This was because from the 1950s onwards, several governments in the Americas, with weak or non-existent democracies, using their military, paramilitary, and secret police summarily and arbitrarily rounded up and executed literally thousands […]
Promoting the dignity of the poor and vulnerable
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & AMMR “The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty!” — Pope Francis. Today, as we observe World Day of the Poor, and begin Justice, Peace and Community Week, let’s reflect […]
“So Nice, We Made it Twice” Cookbook
The Corporal Acts of Mercy state that we should feed the hungry. In this time of the Coronavirus pandemic, when families are facing hardship, do you know anyone in need? Here are a few quick and affordable recipes that we encourage you to use in your homes and communities to fill and satiate any “empty […]
Promoting generosity of character
Photo by Jeremy Yap on Unsplash By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & AMMR “Generosity is the predisposition to love open-handedly. Our hands matter, both literally and symbolically. In the open hand, our palms are up, and our fingers extended. A closed hand is usually a clenched fist, tightly grasping what it wants to keep or […]
Reflections VII: World Day of the Poor
God of life God of life Creator of the earth and all that it contains, you rested and beheld all that you had made and you saw that it was good. Encourage us to lift our heads from the daily grind and know that we are always in your sight. Empower us to break the […]
Reflections VI: World Day of the Poor
A Future of Hope Lord of hope, many people are left idle in the market place without work and without hope, through youth unemployment, ill health, disability, redundancy or because they are refugees. May they be empowered by employment and receive once more their dignity as sons and daughters of God and so be able […]
Reflections V: World Day of the Poor
See Me As A Person… What do they mean when they say I can’t work? I have a disability that’s true. But I am a person, a person who can think and feel and create – and work. It’s the attitudes and built environment that stop me from working – these are not fixed, they […]
Reflections IV: World Day of the Poor
Prayer of a person without employment I want to work, I need to work; to support my family; to feel valued by those around me; to restore my sense of dignity, my self-esteem. The Scriptures I have read, Lord, tell me “to eat from the fruit of the labour of my hands” and “anoint me […]
Reflections III: World Day of the Poor
The cry of my heart (the workless) Those leaves, they say, are like you a tattered pile of rotting nothingness. But you, God of life, you say they are a living mound of composting goodness. They say you are rubbish, a drain on society. You, Refuge God, say you who are drained take rest in […]
Reflections II: World Day of the Poor
Prayer for Those in Poverty God of Justice, open our eyes to see you in the face of those in poverty. Open our ears to hear you in the cries of those exploited. Open our mouths to defend you in the public squares as well as in private deeds. Remind us that what we do […]
