MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION for week of November 22, 2009

Providing Help. Creating Hope.

VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

MISSION: Rooted in the Mission of the Diocese of Youngstown "to minister to the people in the six counties of northeastern Ohio . . .(and) to the world community", we are called to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.

GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people. Working to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality

WHAT WE DO: Organizing Love. "As a community, the Church must practise love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community" (Deus Caritas Est, par. 20)


On Sunday (The Solemnity of CHRIST THE KING, Last Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B) we ponder the readings about the Kingdom of God that Jesus reigns over. We hear in the Old Testament and New Testament readings about the "One" who was, is and will be, who "like a Son of Man" is presented to the "Ancient One" where he will receive dominion and glory. We know that God is the beginning and the end of all things. We then learn that Jesus' kingdom is nothing like that we would expect someone with political and military power to exert. Pontius Pilate in today's Gospel confronts Jesus and wonders where his "kingdom" is. Jesus reiterates that he is the Truth and all those who follow him follow the Truth. This Truth is the Word of God. The Kingdom of God is not based on social or economic power protected by military might. Rather the Kingdom of God is based on love, compassion, justice, mercy and sacrifice. Seeing Jesus in action points the way to the true nature of the Kingdom. We are called to do the same.

In Catholic Charities we must show love, mercy, justice compassion and sacrifice in all we do. Catholic Charities is unlike other social agencies. We seek to witness to the Truth that all persons are made in God's image, and that the Kingdom of God does begin here and now through acts of mercy and love. We witness to the truth that life and thus human dignity must be respected at all stages. We also help usher in the Kingdom of God today by welcoming anyone to our door and lending a hand to help each visitor find peace and experience love.

Reflection from Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate: "The Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, for its part, is very closely linked with development, given that, in Paul VI's words, 'evangelization would not be complete if it did not take account of the unceasing interplay of the Gospel and of man's concrete life, both personal and social.' 'Between evangelization and human advancement — development and liberation — there are in fact profound links”': on the basis of this insight, Paul VI clearly presented the relationship between the proclamation of Christ and the advancement of the individual in society. Testimony to Christ's charity, through works of justice, peace and development, is part and parcel of evangelization, because Jesus Christ, who loves us, is concerned with the whole person. These important teachings form the basis for the missionary aspect of the Church's social doctrine, which is an essential element of evangelization. The Church's social doctrine proclaims and bears witness to faith. It is an instrument and an indispensable setting for formation in faith." (Caritas in Veritate, par 15 b).

N.B. Note: Please consider joining our new Twitter account, CCDOY, for current updates and calls to action that we can all use.


Some important date(s) this week:

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29: The First Sunday in Advent. The beginning of the Church's new liturgical year.

(Latin ad-venio, to come to).

According to present [1907] usage, Advent is a period beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (30 November) and embracing four Sundays.

With Advent the ecclesiastical year begins in the Western churches. During this time the faithful are admonished

* to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love,
* thus to make their souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer coming in Holy Communion and through grace, and
* thereby to make themselves ready for His final coming as judge, at death and at the end of the world.
* For more visit http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01165a.htm



CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WITH JUSTICE: Work of Human Hands Exhibit



This unique exhibit of fair trade gifts, coffee, jewelry, baskets, Christmas ornaments and other items will be ongoing in the Office of Religious Education at the Diocesan Offices at 225 Elm Street, Youngstown, until December 23, 2009. Please feel free to stop in and shop for quality products provided through Catholic Relief Services and A Greater Gift, a non-profit organization of SERRV International. Every purchase helps the artisans and farmers who create or grow the items, maintain a sustainable income for their families. For online shopping visit: http://www.crsfairtrade.org/


Sharing Hope In Tough Times: Catholic Charities Responds to Families Facing Economic Crisis

Reflection: Pope Benedict XVI writes, “Every economic decision has a moral consequence.” (Caritas in Veritate, #37) Christ is our King, even in the marketplace. May we all conduct business accordingly.


Prayer Intention: That Christian business leaders run their companies with honesty, compassion and fairness toward their employees, their customers, and their competitors.



PAPAL INTENTIONS:

November 2009
General: That all the men and women in the world, especially those who have responsibilities in the field of politics and economics, may never fail in their commitment to safeguard creation.

Mission: That believers in the different religions, through the testimony of their lives and fraternal dialogue, may clearly demonstrate that the name of God is a bearer of peace.



Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor

1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Clothe the naked
4. Shelter the homeless
5. Visit the sick
6. Visit those in prison
7. Bury the dead


See our website at www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org for links to the our ministries and services.

For more information on Catholic Social Doctrine and its connection to our ministries, visit my blog at: http://corbinchurchthinking.blogspot.com/