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.

Poverty, Disasters and Development

The Option for the Poor is central principle of the Church's social teaching and relevant in disasters such as the tsunami in South East Asia. This unit consists of fact sheets on the poverty and...

Poverty and Nutrition

Those who are poor often do not have the option of buying healthy and nutritious foods. Instead, they often rely on cheaper, high calorie foods that maximize calorie intake for each dollar spent....

United Nations Millenium Development Goals

The fact sheet summarizes the basics of the UN Millenium Development Goals, an world-wide initiative to fight poverty. The resource includes an update on the progress made and connects the goals to...

Scripture Citations and Quotes - Preferential Option for the Poor

For the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, October 17, this resource highlights selections from Peter J. Henriot's book, Opting for the Poor, which focuses on one of the basic tenets...

Walking in Another's Shoes: The Experience of Poverty

This resource is designed to help participants get a sense of how people living in situations of poverty experience indignities, and yet often possess a sense of their own basic human dignity....

Who is Rich and Who is Poor?

This unit includes activities to explore both domestic and global poverty and CST. Case studies, prayers, CST reflections, discussion questions, action suggestions, quizzes, and more are...
Quiz

International Poverty Quiz

True/False quiz on international poverty.

Prayer Service for the Eradication of Poverty

This three-page resource is a formatted, ready-to-use prayer service on ending poverty. It includes leader roles, prayers, and a scriptural reflection on the story of the Good Samaritan.  
Fact Sheet & Handout

Globalization, Trade, Poverty and Mexico

This one-page case study provides a clear illustration of the impacts and intersections of globalization, trade and development in Mexico.