Center of Concern: Education For Justice

One of the graces in the liturgical movement coming out of the Second Vatican Council was to see more clearly the communal character of the sacraments. The sacraments are a celebration of the community--not something that is normally done in private. They are a celebration for the nourishment of the community. It is in the renewal of the communal aspect of our sacramental life that we find a powerful challenge to our social life and the possibility to receive the grace to put our faith into practice more powerfully

There are beautiful and organic connections between the social teaching of the church and the liturgies of the church year.

A healthy celebration of the sacraments supports social ministry. Our sacraments are meant to be communal celebrations and to empower us into action. The following reflections are not an invitation to make every sacramental celebration into a rally against the death penalty or a reflection on the moral issues around world trade and globalization or a call for an increase in the minimum wage. Rather, these thoughts are presented to promote awareness-an awareness of the social values imbedded in our liturgical practice when it is at its best-an awareness of the larger implications that flow from the story of Jesus and the living practice of Christ among us. Our desire is to nurture awareness, not a political ideology. As Jesus says: “The truth will set you free.”

Baptism and Catholic Social Teaching

• Five-page downloadable resource that identifies and explains the connections between the Sacrament of Baptism and Catholic Social Teaching. Get resource.

Reconciliation and Catholic Social Teaching

• Four-page downloadable resource that identifies and explains the connections between the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Catholic Social Teaching. Get resource.

The Eucharist and Catholic Social Teaching

• Four-page downloadable resource that identifies and explains the connections between the Sacrament of the Eucharist and Catholic Social Teaching. Get resource.

Confirmation and Catholic Social Teaching

• Three-page downloadable resource that identifies and explains the connections between the Sacrament of Confirmation and Catholic Social Teaching. Get resource.

Marriage and Catholic Social Teaching

• Four-page downloadable resource that identifies and explains the connections between the Sacrament of Marriage and Catholic Social Teaching. Get resource.

Anointing of the Sick and Catholic Social Teaching

• Three-page downloadable resource that identifies and explains the connections between the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Catholic Social Teaching. Get resource.