I do my best to anticipate events and celebrations ahead of time when I pen this column each week. Labor Day is upon us and the opportunity for us as a country to remember, pray for and give thanks to God for those who labor, both inside and/or outside of their homes to support themselves and their families. We also remember and pray for those who are currently unemployed and are looking for employment and those who are working full time and are not getting enough of a wage to support themselves and their family. Prayer is always a good starting point and a source of blessing for the participant and a recipient of words and hearts that are lifted up to the Lord. Christian charity, however, also calls on us to promote fair wages for all who labor - as well as decent and safe working conditions for them.
While the latest news on the employment front in our country is encouraging toward jobs for those who can work, wages are often remaining stagnant or are decreasing for the vast majority of people. The Church urges us to support efforts to increase the minimum wage so that all persons who work a full time job, can provide for himself or herself, at least above the poverty level. I urge you to access the website usccb.org and key into the search window "Labor Day Statement" and inform yourself on the challenges that still present themselves in the most basic and important area of employment.
While most of our parishioners are retired from the work force, that doesn't mean we should not have an ongoing concern for and a willingness to act for those who are currently unemployed and those who need employment right now. To this end I remind you that annually we have the opportunity to support job-creating efforts through the "Campaign for Human Development." In our diocese this collection will be taken up on November 17-18. In advance, I ask that you be generous in helping those who are given an opportunity through this ongoing effort of our American Bishops to give people a hand-up that will lead them out of poverty to a self-sufficient way of life. With all the negative publicity about a few of our hierarchy, I'm happy to remind us all of the good that is happening through the teaching and actions of our American Bishops in this and in so many other ways!
While the latest news on the employment front in our country is encouraging toward jobs for those who can work, wages are often remaining stagnant or are decreasing for the vast majority of people. The Church urges us to support efforts to increase the minimum wage so that all persons who work a full time job, can provide for himself or herself, at least above the poverty level. I urge you to access the website usccb.org and key into the search window "Labor Day Statement" and inform yourself on the challenges that still present themselves in the most basic and important area of employment.
While most of our parishioners are retired from the work force, that doesn't mean we should not have an ongoing concern for and a willingness to act for those who are currently unemployed and those who need employment right now. To this end I remind you that annually we have the opportunity to support job-creating efforts through the "Campaign for Human Development." In our diocese this collection will be taken up on November 17-18. In advance, I ask that you be generous in helping those who are given an opportunity through this ongoing effort of our American Bishops to give people a hand-up that will lead them out of poverty to a self-sufficient way of life. With all the negative publicity about a few of our hierarchy, I'm happy to remind us all of the good that is happening through the teaching and actions of our American Bishops in this and in so many other ways!