http://www.inclusivecatholiccommunity-nycr.org/
Welcome and Theme
Jesus’ life not his death was the source of his empowerment and
subsequently our source of empowerment. He modeled living and loving for us
right up to the moment he breathed his last breath. The stories about Jesus,
and the parables he taught, were examples of how to live and love in the midst
of suffering. Suffering is not what
makes us whole. Loving in spite of the suffering makes us whole. As we listen
to the following readings, reflections and songs, let’s focus on the how of
loving.
Opening prayer
Loving One, we are in you and you are in us. We know Jesus struggled just as we
struggle, We accept our path as he accepted his. Your presence enables us to walk the path of
life with love, peace and empowerment. We are filled with gratitude for You and
for each other. Amen
Reflection 1: Uphold Human
Dignity of Each Person as an Equally Valuable Member of the Human Family
Introduction
Catholic social justice teaches us that all people are made in the image
of God and so possess an equal and inalienable worth. Because of this essential
dignity, each person has a right to all that they need to allow them to live
their full potential as intended by God. God is love, and we were created to
love and be in relationship with each other. Human dignity is upheld when each
person's needs are met and when they live in harmony with others in a community
that together pursues the common good.
Scripture
Scripture
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who
loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know
God, for God is love. In the end this is Love: not that we love God, but that
God loves us, Beloved, if God so loves us we also must love one another. (1
John 4:7–8,10-11)
O Great Love by Jan Novotka
O Great Love, heart of all
that is
O Great Love, O Great Love
Ground of Existence, Source
of All
That is seen and unseen
O Great Love, arise,
in our world rise up
Fire of truth within us
O Great Love, arise.
Prayer
God of Love, you have created
all that is good and rich and full, all that sustains
and energizes humanity. You have created all women
and
men in your very image- of goodness and of worth.
We believe that you are truly
present in each of us,
no matter our heritage or our creed
We pray that all people can live in harmony with a place to call home, and be nourished
in body and in spirit.
We hope for immigrants to be welcomed, and are saddened when anyone is oppressed because of race, gender
or heritage. We grieve the violence and hatred in our cities and in countries around
the world.
We ask your forgiveness for any times we have succumbed to words or actions that harm another human person.
Help us to always honor each person as created in your likeness.
We look to you to open all human hearts, lead us to show your goodness by always placing
people before money or power. Written by Sister Marge Clark, BVM
Reflection 2: Embrace Our
Right and Responsibility to Participate with Others in Our Shared Public Life
Introduction
Catholic Social Justice
teaches us that we have a responsibility to participate in politics out of a
concern and commitment to the good of the community. This means that we cannot
be bystanders who scoff at the political process. Instead, we are called to
vote, to inform ourselves about the issues of the day, to engage in serious
conversation about our nations future, and to learn to listen to different
perspectives with empathy. This responsibility to participate means each person
also has a fundamental right to participate, and must be equipped with the
resources needed to do so.
Scripture
“What good is it, my sisters and brothers, if
someone says he or she has faith but does not have good works? Can that faith
save him or her? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for
the day, and one of you says to them, go in peace keep warm and well fed, but
you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also
faith of itself, if it does not have good works, is dead." (James 2:14 to
17)
We Go Forth
By Jan Novotka
We stand here together
Hand in hand, side by side.
We walk into mystery
For the sake of all.
We go forth, as one,
As one, we stand strong.
Letting go, letting in,
We emerge with new wings.
Prayer
God of the ages, you placed us at this point in history with the mandate to serve. We are standing on the shoulders of giants who brought us to this place of freedom and equality. You ask us to continue their good work and to right the wrongs that remain. We have the power to speak our truth, to vote, to work on behalf of those who still yearn for freedom and full inclusion in society.
God of the ages, you placed us at this point in history with the mandate to serve. We are standing on the shoulders of giants who brought us to this place of freedom and equality. You ask us to continue their good work and to right the wrongs that remain. We have the power to speak our truth, to vote, to work on behalf of those who still yearn for freedom and full inclusion in society.
This is our time. It is our
challenge to raise up those who are pushed aside. Strengthen us to see beyond
appearances and find you in everyone. Bless us with the gift of leadership, the
courage to walk unafraid into the future, the compassion to reach out to those
in need, and the conviction to stand alone when necessary. Amen.
Written by Sister Carren
Herring, RSM
Reflection 3: Be in
Solidarity with Those Who Are Living in Poverty in the Struggle against
Structures of Injustice
Introduction
Catholic Social Justice
teaches us to look at reality through the eyes of those who have been made poor
by oppression and injustice. We do this when we join together to end poverty.
People forced into poverty have the single most urgent claim on the conscience
of the nation because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their
inalienable dignity. The responsibility to uphold the dignity of each person
means that we must judge our lifestyles, policies, and social institutions in
terms of how they affect those suffering from the injustice of poverty
Scripture
"If someone who has worldly means sees a
sister or brother in need and refuses her or him compassion, how can the love
of God remain in this person? Children, let us love not in word or speech but
in deed and truth." (1 John 3:17-18)
Come Be In My Heart by Sara
Thomsen
Wisdom, compassion, love, understanding (3x),
Come be in heart, come be in
my hands,
Come be in my feet, come be
in my working and playing,
the words that I am saying,
my laughing, my crying,
my living, my dying.
Come be in my heart, Holy
One, come.
Prayer
God of Wisdom, open our eyes
and minds to the unjust economic structures that we have created that have
reduced our sisters and brothers to subsistence living. For we believe that
Response: We are not free
until we are all free.
God of Transformation, help
us to find ways to change our life styles and ways of supporting greed so that
all have enough of the earth's resources to live with abundance and dignity.For
we believe that
Response: We are not free
until we are all free.
God of Insight, enable us to
see beyond our narrow perspectives and to realize that our social institutions
and national policies have created the degrading forces that condemn our
sisters and brothers to generations of poverty. For we believe that
Response: We are not free
until we are all free.
God of Goodness and
Compassion, grant us mercy for our blindness in NOT seeing you in those made
poor by oppression and injustice and grant us a fierce passion to join together
in the struggle to end poverty. For we believe that
Response: We are not free
until we are all free.
Written by Sr. Patty
Chappell, SNDdeN
Reflection 4: Bridge
Divisions, Rising Above Individualism for the Good of the Whole Community
Introduction
Catholic Social Justice teaches
us that all people are children of God so every person belongs to a single and
interconnected human family. As sisters and brothers, our needs are met in relationship with one
another. When making individual and collective decisions, we have a responsibility
to consider the good of the community over and above the interests of the few.
Authorities at every level must work together for the good of the entire
community. A just community is united in creating the conditions for every
person to flourish and realize their full human potential as children of God.
Scripture
"As a body is one
though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one
body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink
of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
Something New
Jan Novotka
Open the eyes of my heart.
Purify and bless my heart.
Open my heart,
That I might see,
That I might be,
Something new.
Behold, behold,
I’m making something new.
Open the eyes of our hearts.
Purify and bless our hearts.
Open our hearts,
That we might see,
That we might be,
Something new.
Behold, behold,
I’m making something new.
Prayer
O Divine Love, you create us
at every moment and call us into the fullness of life in community.
Open our eyes that we might
see how we as humans are all connected with each other and all of creation.
Open our minds that we might
have imagination and insight to create policies for the good of all.
Open our hearts that we
might reach beyond our personal preferences, fear and individualism to bridge
the divides in our world.
Open our hands that we might
give and receive caring even with those we disagree with.
Oh Divine Love, flame up in
us that we might know that together we reflect your fullness of life. Let
nothing separate us from the reality that in you we live, move and have our
being. In the name of all that is holy we pray. Amen
Written by Sister Simone
Campbell, SSS
Reflection 5: Unite With
Workers to Build an Economy That Puts People, Not Profit, at the Center
Introduction
Catholic Social Justice
teaches us that work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of
continuing participation in God's creation. Work should enhance the dignity of
the person by allowing all workers to express their uniqueness in a way that
contributes to the common good. The community must also recognize the dignity
of work by ensuring that it is justly rewarded with a living wage. As human
beings are social, they have a fundamental right to organize collectively to
create better working conditions for themselves and others.
Scripture
"Behold, the wages you
withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the
cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Holy One.” (James 5:4)
Spirit of the Living God
Sung by Michael Crawford
Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me
Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me.
Melt me mold me
Fill me use me
Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me.
Prayer:
Oh God, We cry justice for
workers who have a right to a just wage, safe working conditions and to a job
that enhances their human dignity.
We cry justice for workers
who labor in unhealthy environments thereby compromising their health and the
security of their families.
We cry justice for
immigrants who want a better life for themselves and their children.
We cry justice for refugees
who want safety and a place to live and to work but are discriminated against
because of their countries of origin, status, their language and their race.
We cry justice to change an
economic system that has put profit and greed before the common good of the
people they employ and serve.
We cry justice for our
Muslim brothers and sisters who are maligned and persecuted for their creed and
belief in Allah.
We cry justice for the
unemployed who want to work but because of circumstances are not given a
chance.
We cry justice for jobs that
allow each worker to express their creativity, thereby being co-creators with
the God of Creation.
We cry Justice... We cry
Peace. Amen
Written by Sister
Anne-Louise Nadeau,SNDdeN
Reflection 6: Nurture the Earth,
Recognizing That We Are Interdependent with the Rest of God's Creation
Description
God gave human beings the
task of caring for and nurturing all of creation. Because human beings are
intimately connected with all that exists, our health and well-being are
dependent upon that of the earth and all its creatures. We must cultivate and
care for the earth in such a way that its bounty can provide for and sustain
future generations. Creation was
entrusted to all of God's children, and thus all people have an equal right to
breathe clean air and drink clean water. Because those on the margins of
society are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation, concern
for creation is inseparable from concern for justice.
Scripture
Genesis 1:28 The Holy One blessed humankind and said, "Bear fruit,
increase your numbers, and fill the earth – and be responsible for it! Watch
over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things on
the earth! Genesis 1:28
Circle Chant
By Linda Hirschhorn
Circle round for freedom
Circle round for peace
For all of us imprisoned
Circle for release
Circle for the planet
Circle for each soul
For the children of our
children
Keep the circle whole.
Prayer
God of all life, thank you
for the gift of our Mother earth home and for intimately uniting us as sisters
and brothers with all your creation on whom our health and well-being
depends. We want to live in greater care
and solidarity with the earth and with people on the margins of society who are
disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation.
Empower our response to Pope
Francis's challenges -rejecting the harms of a throwaway culture and an economy
of exclusion, and nurturing life through supporting sustainable development,
investment in 'green jobs' and advocating for those in poverty.
Inspire us with Wisdom that
we may cultivate and care for the earth in ways that its bounty enables future
generations to thrive in a peaceful world that is free from war over resources
and that sustains all with clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, and
nourishing food to eat.
Guide us in all these ways
of justice, now and forever, Amen.
Written by Sister Leanne
M.Jablonski, FMI
Go in Peace!
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