Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

“The Church’s love for the poor is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, by the poverty of Jesus and his love for the poor.” Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #184

Migrant receives assistance emphasizing importance of assisting poor and vulnerableDiscover a powerful collection of resources focused on the Catholic Social Teaching principle of the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable. This principle calls individuals and communities to prioritize the needs of society’s most marginalized members, recognizing their dignity and working toward justice and equity.

On this page, you’ll find:

  • Prayers and Reflections: Spiritual resources to inspire compassion and solidarity with the poor and vulnerable in light of Gospel values.
  • Lesson Plans and Educational Materials: Engaging tools for teaching about economic justice, human dignity, and the Church’s call to uplift those in poverty.
  • Multimedia Content: Videos, articles, and infographics that highlight the lived realities of marginalized communities and the Church’s response to their struggles.
  • Advocacy Guides: Practical resources for promoting policies, actions, and systems that prioritize the well-being of the poor and address systemic injustices.

These resources provide educators, faith leaders, and advocates with the tools to reflect on their role in creating a just society where the needs of the poor are met with compassion and action. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, they inspire a deeper commitment to walking with the vulnerable and advocating for systemic change—to truly expressing an option for the poor and vulnerable.

Prayer

An Examen for Young People on the Mission

Preparing to leave for a service experience can stir a mix of excitement, gratitude, anxiety, and hope for young people and their families. This guided prayer adapts the...
Prayer

Venezuela: Oración en Tiempos de Violencia (2026)

La Oración en tiempos de violencia (2026) es un recurso espiritual en español que invita a comunidades educativas, parroquiales y pastorales a reflexionar, lamentar y orar frente a las múltiples...
White dove made of paper surrounded by paper cutouts of people holding hands in a circle
Prayer

Venezuela: Prayer in a Time of Violence (2026)

In response to ongoing violence and instability in Venezuela, Catholic communities are invited to turn to prayer as an act of solidarity, hope, and moral responsibility. Rooted in Catholic Social...
Two hands in image that are made up of groups of people standing together
Prayer

A Prayer at the Moment of Mary’s Yes

Philip Berrigan’s A Christmas Prayer is a powerful Catholic prayer for peace that confronts the enduring realities of war, violence, and the global arms trade through the lens of Christian faith...
Film Discussion Guide

Film Discussion Guide: Otis’ Dream

Otis’ Dream is a 2020 narrative short documentary (14 minutes) directed by Jason Gerber and Sarah Blue Winslow Gerber and produced by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III and Stacey Buckner. Featuring...
Reflection

Discussion Guide for Dilexi te

Dilexi te (Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Leo XIV, 2025) reflects a vision of a Church renewed through love, simplicity, and justice. Issued on October 4, 2025, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi,...
Film Discussion Guide

Discussion Guide on Deportations and Assaults on Human Dignity

This discussion guide explores the U.S. Church’s response to widespread deportations and the defense of human dignity. Drawing from a Georgetown Initiative on Catholic Social Thought event...
Lesson Plan

Rerum Novarum - Theology, Philosophy, and History

This resource offers educators a practical and engaging way to help students understand and connect with Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, a foundational document in Catholic Social Teaching....
Labor acknowledgement Juneteenth image of red, green, yellow, and black bricks

Labor Acknowledgment Juneteenth

On Juneteenth, we recognize the painful legacy of slavery and honor the resilience of Black Americans whose forced labor helped build the United States. In our labor acknowledgment, we reflect on the...
Hour glass on it's side with time running out urgency
Prayer

May We Be Moved to Urgency Prayer

May we be Moved to Urgency Prayer calls for urgent action to address plastic pollution, climate change, and environmental racism. It asks for strength, wisdom, and courage to protect the Earth,...
Prayer

No Hands But Yours

This prayer expresses the deep human yearning for healing, love, justice, truth, and peace in a troubled world filled with deception and uncertainty. It calls for personal responsibility and...