Creator God,
thank you for providing us
with the gift to share our talents.
Provide our community, our nation, our world
the fortitude to provide work for all
which is decent and fair.
Make us faithful stewards
of your creation
to enhance the human dignity
of our global family.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit
now and forever.
Amen
(From Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice, USCCB, April 1998)
"Lord God look down upon us! Look at this city . . . Look upon our families.
Lord, you were not without a job, you were a carpenter, you were happy.
Lord, we have no work.
The idols want to rob us of our dignity. The unjust systems want to rob us of hope.
Lord, do not leave us on our own. Help us to help each other; so that we forget our selfishness a little and feel in our heart the "we", the we of a people who want to keep on going.
Lord Jesus, you were never out of work, give us work, and teach us to fight for work and bless us all. In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
- Pope Francis, Meeting with Workers, Sept. 22, 2013