God said, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 REFLECTION We all have a unique worth not because of anything we do, but because we are made by God. In our community and world, where do we not see the guideline of dignity and equality of each human person being upheld? ACTION How do we ensure all people can live lives of dignity? How do we enable each person to flourish? PRAYER Heavenly Father Help us to see with your eyes, to judge with the loving heart of your Son, Jesus Christ, and through your Spirit to put love into action. Amen The guiding principle of all the Church s social doctrine, is a correct view of the human person and of their unique value. St John Paul II, One hundred year
DIGNITY AND EQUALITY OF EACH HUMAN PERSON The main thread and, in a certain sense, the guiding principle of all of the Church s social doctrine, is a correct view of the human person and of their unique value St John Paul ll, One Hundred Years, 11 T he dignity of every human person, whoever they are, is the starting point for the Church s teaching around social justice. The Church clearly states that we are all made lovingly in God s image and likeness. We are all sisters and brothers of one another. If we truly believe this principle, then we are challenged to firstly realise that we ourselves are made in God s image and likeness. Lovingly created by God. We are beautiful. This can be difficult for many of us to accept. What flows from this is that every person we meet, family, friends, neighbours, strangers, people on the other side of the world, are also made in God s image and likeness. They deserve our respect. They must be treated fairly. Catholic social teaching believes that human beings have by their very existence an inherent value, worth, and distinction. This means that God is present in every person, regardless of his or her race, nation, sex, origin, orientation, culture, or economic standing. Catholic social teaching asserts that all human beings must see within every person both a reflection of God and a mirror of themselves, and must honour and respect this dignity as a divine gift. Daniel Groody, Globalization, spirituality and justice, p.109 Pope Francis talks of learning to find Jesus in the face of others, in their voices, in their pleas (Joy of the Gospel, 91). Remember the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, where at the end of time Jesus is asked when those entering eternal life have actually helped him. He says it s whenever they have helped anyone in need, whether hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, or in prison. Pope Francis, Message for the World Day of Prayer for Peace 2014 In God s family, where all are sons and daughters of the same Father, and, because they are grafted to Christ, sons and daughters in the Son, there are no disposable lives. All men and women enjoy an equal and inviolable dignity. All are loved by God. All have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, who died on the Cross and rose for all. This is the reason why no one can remain indifferent before the lot of our brothers and sisters. The principles around solidarity, our role within community, the way we treat one another, and work for peace, all flow from this concept of human dignity. Over the coming weeks, human dignity will provide the backdrop as we explore the other principles of Catholic social teaching, and how we can live as a Caritas people, namely the call to participation and community; the preferential option for the poor; the dignity and rights of workers; solidarity among people and the promotion of peace; and the care of creation. One bread, one body John Foley All are welcome Marty Haugen Awake from your slumber (City of God) Dan Schutte Here I am, Lord Dan Schutte Brother, Sister let me serve you Lord, for the years HYMNS
DIGNITY AND EQUALITY OF EACH HUMAN PERSON 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Genesis 1:26-27 SCRIPTURE Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them HOMILY NOTES As it s the first week you may wish to give a brief introduction to Catholic social teaching first: CST is a set of guidelines that help us make decisions about how we live our lives as Catholics in the world. All of CST is based in Scripture both Old and New Testaments and developed by Church leaders (Popes, bishops and bishops conferences, theologians) throughout the last two thousand years. It looks at how we should treat one another and the planet; how we should respond to situations; how we should live our lives to enable all people to live their lives to the full (cf John 10:10). At the heart of CST is the guideline, or principle, of human dignity. Genesis 1: 26-27 tells us that we are all made in God s image and likeness. We believe we are all God s children: whatever our race, belief, gender, sexual orientation, job, income, we are made in God s image. PRAYER For the Church throughout the world; that it will always be a place that respects all people as children of God. For people in positions of leadership in society; that they will always uphold the dignity of every person throughout the world. For people whose dignity is not upheld in any way; that they will feel God s love through the support of others. For people in our own community who are not respected, and unable to live their lives to the full; that they will be filled with courage and strength. We speak about being sisters and brothers of one another. If we truly believe this, how do we show it? How do we truly treat one another our family, friends, and colleagues; the strangers in our community here in our parish and on the streets; those we may never meet who live thousands of miles away, but are still our brothers and sisters? Remember the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, when Jesus says Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:40). Christ is present in all of us. How do we show our love of Christ in all those we meet? And those we don t see, but who feel the impact of our choices and decisions? These principles help us to reflect on how we can be a Caritas people. The Latin word Caritas means love, justice, and charity. We are called as people of faith to live as Caritas people, being love in action. The coming weeks will help us decide how we will do this in our own lives, and as our community. Over the coming weeks you may wish to create a focal point in the sanctuary, or somewhere else in your church, which can be added to and represent the six principles of Catholic social teaching. It could be set up in advance of the weekend s liturgies, or the symbol could be brought up in the entrance procession and put in place. Suggestions: ACTION A set of images of people from around the world A mirror
DIGNITY AND EQUALITY OF EACH HUMAN PERSON Every person is immensely holy and deserves our love Pope Francis, Joy of the Gospel, 274 W e believe that we are all made in God s image and likeness (Genesis 1). This lies at the heart of Catholic social teaching: that every single person deserves to be treated with respect because of their inherent dignity as a child of God. Pope Francis talks of learning to find Jesus in the face of others, in their voices, in their pleas (Joy of the Gospel, 91). Remember the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, where Jesus is asked when they have helped him. He says it s whenever they have helped anyone in need, whether hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, or in prison. It s an idea we often hear, but do we truly accept it? How does it affect the way in which we treat one another? Our family, our friends and colleagues, the people we meet on the street, and even those we may never meet but are also our sisters and brothers across the world? It s about how we share our love with others, which we re all called to do as Christians. We re called to be a Caritas people. The Latin word, caritas, means love, charity, justice, and is at the heart of Catholic social teaching. How we live this love in action, inspired by the guideline of human dignity, is our backdrop as we explore the other principles of Catholic social teaching. In the Diocese of Westminster, a need was seen to help members of the community less able to get out of their homes, to meet up with others and share Sunday afternoon tea once a month. There s a coordinator, a host, a driver, and the guests, all of whom get to know one another, support one another, and share hospitality. It s a chance to socialise and build community. Simple, effective, and having a huge impact on those who attend. Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27 REFLECTION Spend some time in quiet prayer, giving thanks for all people those whom you know, those whom you have never met. - People from your local community you may recognise but have never spoken with. - People you see on TV or in newspapers from around the world. - Give thanks to God for your sisters and brothers in the global human family.
Using the model from Cardinal Cardijn, reflect on where human dignity is not being upheld locally and globally, what our faith calls us to do about it, and what actions we may be able to take to enable all people to flourish. Where can you see people unable to live in dignity? As people of faith, how are we called to love our sisters and brothers? What concrete action can you take to enable all people to flourish? SEE JUDGE ACT The guiding principle of all the Church s social doctrine, is a correct view of the human person and of their unique value. St John Paul II, One hundred years, 11 The principle of human dignity that we all have a unique worth not because of anything we do, but because we are made by God is central to Catholic social teaching. For more background visit : catholicsocialteaching.org.uk ACTION Spend 5 minutes noting down any people, individuals and groups of people, locally, nationally, globally, whose dignity is unable to flourish. They may not be able to live lives to the full. How might you enable them to live their lives to the full? GET INVOLVED! Consider being involved in organisations that support those with physical and intellectual disabilities. E.g. St Joseph s Pastoral Centre, Westminster Diocese welcomes volunteers to assist in courses for people with learning difficulties and befriending families www.stjoseph.org.uk Union of Catholic Mothers: diocesan and national association supporting family life, and sanctity in the home www.ucm.org.uk Volunteering with organisations which support the elderly. E.g. the hospital visiting rota in your parish; Age UK; volunteering to bring someone to Mass, or even parish bingo PARISH PLAN Think about gathering a few times to look together at how we can respond to the needs of our local community in the light of what we re learning in Love in action. Resources and ideas are available to help identify the needs of the community and plan how to respond. Photos Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk Catholic Children s Society assisting children and families in need
DIGNITY AND EQUALITY OF EACH HUMAN PERSON Stick a post it note or large label on everyone s back. Give everyone a pen. Everyone encouraged to walk around and write one positive thing on the person s back about them. Make sure everyone understands that it s about affirmation. Once people have done this, before they are allowed to look at what s on their backs, bring the group together in a circle for the opening prayer. For the prayer You may wish to draw an outline of a body on the floor using chalk or masking tape. You could make it look like an outline of Christ. You need a piece of mirror card for each person in the group (A6/postcard size is fine) and some permanent markers. Begin with the sign of the cross. Invite someone to read Genesis 1:26-31. This is the very heart of what we call Catholic social teaching how our faith challenges us to treat one another and the world. We believe that we are made in God s image and likeness. In a special way, we are part of God s family, lovingly made by God. As part of God s family, every other person whether male or female, Catholic or not, from the UK or around the world, even if we ve never met them they are our sister or brother. As part of the global family, we want to support and love each person. Simply by being born, everyone deserves our respect, even if we don t always think the same way or agree on things. All of us are equal before God. Lovingly and specially created by God. Invite people to look in their piece of mirror card, maybe bending it to see themselves properly, and realise how they are loved by God, created by God, full of gifts and unique talents, and yet equally special before God. Invite people to take the sticker from their back and to read the positive things others see in them, and to stick this onto their piece of mirror card. Ask people to sign their name across the piece of mirror card, as a sign of them acknowledging who they are, their unique worth, their specialness before God, and to place it either in the outline of the body, or around a lit candle. As they do so, remind them that we all make up the Body of Christ. Our community, locally and globally, requires all of us to play our unique part to enable all people to have the best lives they can. As people sit down, invite some people to read aloud In all the world there is nobody, nobody like you (see end of resource, you may wish to give this out on a handout). Pray together the Glory be, giving thanks to God for our own gifts and talents, and those of all in our group.
SOCIAL MEDIA RESOURCE The following can be used as tweets or posts, emails or text messages, depending what outlets your parish community has for using them. Each week, including the pre-week, has content for each day: One intro message; two helping people 'see', two helping people 'judge', and two helping people 'act'. i # Some also include an image which can be uploaded, all of which are available online for you to download and use. INTRODUCTORY WEEK Sunday: A poor church, and a church for the poor. What does Pope Francis mean by this? #LoveInAction Monday: What are the issues people are struggling with in our local community? #LoveInAction Tuesday: Pick up your local newspaper: what stories speak to you? #LoveInAction Wednesday: What would shock Jesus most if he walked among our community today? #LoveInAction Thursday: If we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others? Pope Francis #LoveInAction Friday: What concrete action will I take to support my local community? #LoveInAction Saturday: Our love must not just be words or mere talk, but something active and genuine. 1 John 3:18 #LoveInAction DIGNITY AND EQUALITY OF EACH HUMAN PERSON Sunday: All people enjoy an equal dignity. All are loved by God. It's why no one can remain indifferent before the lot of our brothers & sisters. Pope Francis #LoveInAction Monday: Where are members of our community not treated with dignity? #LoveInAction Tuesday: 1 in 4 people in UK experience a mental health problem each year. A quarter of our community; 1/4 of our parish #LoveInAction Wednesday: So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them Genesis 1 #LoveInAction Thursday: Every person is immensely holy and deserves our love. Pope Francis #LoveInAction Friday: How can you enable one person to realise their God-given dignity? #LoveInAction Saturday: Caritas: Latin meaning #LoveInAction How do we show it each and every day? #