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.

Prayer

At the Door: Prayer for the Caravan

This prayer reminds us that Christ is at the border door with “the least of these” who need our compassion and mercy.
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Reflection

Catholic Social Tradition, the Environment, and the Option for the Poor

This reflection discusses environmental ethics and the option for the poor and vulnerable within Catholic social tradition and identifies key Church documents that addressed the environmental...
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Film Discussion Guide

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The HBO film The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is based on Rebecca Skloot’s 2010 book of the same title about the life of Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cancer cells revolutionized medical...
Film Discussion Guide

I Am Jane Doe

I Am Jane Doe discloses the hidden truth about Backpage.com, an online classified website that, along with information about bikes for sale and apartments for rent, runs a thriving internet-enabled...
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Litany

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

This litany commemorates July 30th, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Let us be more attentive to the cries and needs of the victims and survivors of human trafficking and hold...
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Film Discussion Guide

Code Black

Code Black highlights the challenges of practicing medicine in a high-trauma zone while dealing with institutional bureaucracy. This discussion guide includes reflection questions that provide...
Prayer Service

Love Without Limits: World Mission Day

This resource calls everyone to be a missionary and a witness of mercy. The following mantra is repeated throughout this service: “Mary, model of missionaries, inspire us to embrace the mercy and...
Creative Voice

What Have We Done for the Poor Ones?

This artistic reflection is based on the song What Have We Done for the Poor Ones? written and performed by Lori True: http://bit.ly/21igPUC.
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Film Discussion Guide

Film Discussion Guide: Voces Inocentes (Innocent Voices)

This striking movie tells the true story of a young boy in El Salvador who, during the country’s civil war, must choose between joining the military or the rebels. A synopsis, connections to CST...
Lectionary Reflection

First Sunday of Lent [c] February 14, 2016

First Sunday of Lent [c] February 14, 2016
Prayer

The Call to Mercy: The Model of Dorothy Day

Dorothy Day used the Works of Mercy to guide her vocation of serving the homeless and poor in New York City. This prayer commemorates the beginning of the Year of Mercy and offers Dorothy Day as a...
Film Discussion Guide

The Letters

The Letters recounts the story of Mother Teresa and her “call within a call,” to serve the poor in the slums of Calcutta, India. This guide includes a synopsis of the film, connections to CST,...