Be the living expression of God's kindness.
- Mother Teresa
We are at our strongest when we are concerned for and involved with the welfare of the weakest among us. The Church has a unique and fundamental role to play in creating an environment that assists the sick and disabled to know they are not alone.
We are, in the full sense of the words, our 'brother's keeper'.
Food and drink, shelter and clothing are the basic rights of every person. Concern for those in need of life's necessities requires a compassionate and practical response from the Church community in addressing the causes and the remedies.
As followers of Jesus, the Church community takes seriously his words, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Matt. 25:40)
When families and individuals need help to heal hurts and solve problems, there are Church professionals who can help with counselling, family support and other life-skills programmes.
We are one Church, young and active, mature, experienced and elderly. Advancing years can be a time of serenity and security for some people, but for others it can be a time of loneliness, of declining health, insecurity and fear of what lies ahead.
Pope John Paul II has written that "the quality of a society is measured by the respect shown to the weakest of its members." This could equally be said of the respect and dignity which a society accords to its elderly.
"We are wise enough to know that we live in a blessed country. We are conscious of our own social problems and of the deprivation and poverty of an increasing number of our own citizens. But we also know that it is well within our capacity to change this situation. We must not let our own problems cause us to overlook the extreme needs of the destitute people whom we call refugees"
- from NZ Catholic Bishops' statement:
The Rights of Refugees & Migrants
October 2002
"Against a tendency to ostracise or dondemn a person with AIDS , the Christian community must offer support and understanding; care not judgment; practical assistance not self-righteous avoidance."
- from NZ Catholic Bishops' statement:
Care, not Judgment for Aids Victims
1987
"The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well."
- Church in the Modern World
No 1. Vatican II doc
Find your diocesean website for local Caring ministries.
Faith and Light helps the intellectually disabled to find a spirituality.
Soup kitchens, hospital care, outreach to the elderly, childcare, advocacy and prison chaplaincy: Sisters of Compassion, Ngā Whaea Tapu Pūaroha
Enhance the well-being of pregnant women, new mothers, their families and whanau: Pregnancy Help
Also: Family Life International | Project Rachel
Society of St Vincent de Paul promote human dignity and justice through personal contact with those in need.
Also: Young Vinnies
Meet with other mothers for discussion and prayer with Marian Mothers.
Family support in times of need and celebration with Passionist Family Group Movement.
Resolve relationship grief, promote healing and free people to live and love themselves, others and God with The Beginning Experience.
Also: Lazarus
Explore your relationship, name and work through your issues before getting married.
Get help through counselling, psychotherapy, budgeting, advocacy, social work and parent education. Contact your local diocese for sources of help closer to where you live..
Copyright 2008 Catholic Communications for the NZ Catholic Bishops' Conference
