World Day of the Poor. Sunday 19 November

"A great river of poverty is traversing our cities and swelling to the point of overflowing." Every Christian is called to become "personally involved' in the struggle against it. Pope Francis (2023) World Day of the Poor Message

Read the complete message from Pope Francis HERE 

A Prayer to the Creator

Lord, Father of our human dignity

you created all human beings equal in dignity:

Pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit

and inspire in us a dream of renewed encounter,

dialogue, justice and peace.

Move us to create healthier societies

and a more dignified world.

A world without hunger, poverty, violence and war.

May our hearts be open

to all the peoples and nations of the earth.

May we recognise the goodness and beauty

that you have sown in each of us,

and thus forge bonds of unity, common projects

and shared dreams.

Amen

(Pope Francis encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti)

Resources

Homily Notes for this Sunday including the scriptures for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary time HERE  

Caritas Aotearoa have a comprehensive range of supporting resources on their website HERE

Te Kahu o te Ora - A consistent ethic of life.   Read the chapter on Poverty pp.35-37 HERE

"Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." St John Chrysostom