Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America

Reflections on Poverty in America

Catholic Charities USA's Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America has four main priorities:

• To reduce hunger;

• To ensure universal health care coverage;

• To foster economic security; and

• To create more affordable housing.

We are developing reflection papers on these priorities to become better acquainted with the Campaign and discover new possibilities for action at the local level concerning the issue of poverty and its relation to hunger, health care, housing and economic security.

The method is fairly simple. Individuals can participate in a process that involves a series of prayer moments, information on church documents, and CCUSA’s Poverty in America reflection questions and group discussions. Through content, discussion, prayer, and reflection you will be able to discern your personal response and the response of your community to the hunger crisis in our world.

Download Reflections on Hunger

Download Reflections on Health Care

Poverty Reflection

The Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God, celebrating the sacraments, and exercising the ministry of charity. These duties presuppose each other and are inseparable. For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being.

—Deus Caritas est, #25a

Poverty Reflection

But charitable activity on behalf of the poor and suffering was naturally an essential part of the Church of Rome from the very beginning, based on the principles of Christian life given in the Acts of the Apostles. It found a vivid expression in the case of the deacon Lawrence († 258). The dramatic description of Lawrence's martyrdom was known to Saint Ambrose († 397) and it provides a fundamentally authentic picture of the saint. As the one responsible for the care of the poor in Rome, Lawrence had been given a period of time, after the capture of the Pope and of Lawrence's fellow deacons, to collect the treasures of the Church and hand them over to the civil authorities. He distributed to the poor whatever funds were available and then presented to the authorities the poor themselves as the real treasure of the Church.[15] Whatever historical reliability one attributes to these details, Lawrence has always remained present in the Church's memory as a great exponent of ecclesial charity.

—Deus Caritas est, #23

Poverty Reflection

Love of neighbor, grounded in the love of God, is first and foremost a responsibility for each individual member of the faithful, but it is also a responsibility for the entire ecclesial community at every level: from the local community to the particular Church and to the Church universal in its entirety. As a community, the Church must practice love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community.

—Deus Caritas est, #20

The Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the Sacraments and the Word.

—Deus Caritas est, #22

Poverty Reflection

As the years went by and the Church spread further afield, the exercise of charity became established as one of her essential activities, along with the administration of the sacraments and the proclamation of the word: love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential to her as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel.

—Deus Caritas est, #22

Poverty Reflection

As we strive to carry out the social mission of the Church, the words of Jesus to His disciples ring with renewed significance: “I give you a new commandment: love one another…This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34). With these words, the entire Christian vocation is conveyed in a simple, profound definition of charity. The “new commandment” of charity unites love of God with love of neighbor; it bridges Old and New Testaments; it provides the foundation for human morality; it spans all time and all peoples.

—In All Things Charity, USCCB

Poverty Reflection

We must continue doing what we are called to do by responding to the cries of people in our midst who are needy. Yet, we must also accept in faith that we cannot fulfill every need or solve every problem of human pain and suffering. We believe that we live betwixt and between the times, in the “already and the not yet,” for the reign of God may never be fully realized among us in our lifetime. The mystery of the Incarnation reminds us that Jesus did not come to take away pain and suffering or to solve the dilemma of human existence, but rather to fill it with his presence, and thus to transfigure and transform human life and indeed all of creation.

—Vision 2000, Catholic Charities USA

Short Prayer Service - The Cry of the Poor

The Cry of the Poor

Leader: Loving God, open our hearts and minds to your presence in one another. We call on your assistance and wisdom as we strive to serve the many needs of people in our communities especially those who are poor and without hope. As we gather this day to discuss and reflect on Poverty in America: A Threat to the Common Good send your Spirit and open our minds and hearts to new possibilities for service, advocacy and collaboration, we ask this in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

All: The Lord will reign forever: come let us praise God in prayer and song.

Song: Psalm 34: The Cry of the Poor

Refrain: The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Blessed be the Lord

1. I will bless the Lord at all times, with praise ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the Lord, who will hear the cry of the poor. R/
2. Let the lowly hear and be glad: the Lord listens to their pleas; and to hearts broken, God in near, who will hear the cry of the poor. R/
3. Every spirit crushed, God will save; will be ransom for their lives; will be safe shelter for their fears, and will hear the cry of the poor. R/
4. We proclaim your greatness, O God, your praise ever in our mouth; every face brightened in your light, for you hear the cry of the poor. R/
   John Foley, GIA Comprehensive, GIA, 2004 (Song #33)
   Used with Permission

Reading: James 2:14-16

Invite group to share thoughts on reading

Intercessions: Through the intercession of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marilac, two exemplary models of service to the poor, we pray: Response:

Fill us with your love, O Lord!
For the hungry, that we may find the means to feed them: R/
For the naked, that we may find the means to clothe them: R/
For the homeless, that we may find the means to shelter them: R/
For our donors and volunteers in thanksgiving for their support and dedication: R/

Personal Intentions

Leader: Let us say the Our Father together
Leader: May the Lord bless us in all our services and undertakings. Amen.

Song: Anthem
Refrain: We are called, we are chosen. We are Christ for one another. We are promised to tomorrow, while we are for him today. We are sign, we are wonder. We are sower, we are seed. We are harvest, we are hunger. We are question, we are creed.

1. Then where can we stand justified? In what can we believe? In no one else but Christ who suffered, nothing more than Christ who rose. Who was justice for the poor. Who was rage against the night. Who was hope for peaceful people. Who was light. R/
2. Then how are we to stand at all, this world of bended knee? In nothing more than barren shadows. No one else but Christ could save us. Who was justice for the poor. Who was rage against the night. Who was hope for peaceful people. Who was light.
3. Then shall we not stand empty at the altar of our dreams: When Christ promised us ourselves. Who mark time against tomorrow. Who are justice for the poor. Who are rage against the night. Who are hope for peaceful people. Who are light.
   Tom Conry, GIA Comprehensive, GIA, 2004 (Song #681)
   Used with Permission

Short Prayer Service - Open our eyes to those who live in Poverty

Open our eyes to those who live in Poverty

Leader: Let us pause for a moment to acknowledge God’s presence in our midst.
Women: Create in me a compassionate heart, O God,
Men: and put a new and right spirit within me.

Women: Create in me a caring heart, O God,
Men: That remembers how you went in search of the one that was lost.

Women: Create in me a merciful heart, O God,
Men: that reaches out to those in need this day.

Women: Strengthen us, O God, as we work to eliminate poverty in our land.
Men: May our humble actions serve as leaven that invites others to join us who exercise leadership in government, religious, and civic arenas.

Women: We pray for our local church community as well as our sisters and brothers from other faith traditions
Men: that we may serve as a sign of hope to all those in need.

Women: Create in us clean hearts, O God,
Men: Hearts of compassion and loving service,

Leader: Hearts that are moved to action so that others may see hope.
All: That together we can rejoice and pray, fill us with joy and gladness. Amen.

Reading: Isaiah 42:6-7

Share reflections on reading

Leader: As we continue our prayer, I invite you to share any special intentions that you may have at this time.

All: Our Father

Leader: May the peace of God which passes all understanding guard our hearts in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.