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Genesis 2:2
September 1, 2013
Labor Day Weekend
Dear Friends,
Labor Day weekend reminds us that summer draws to a close. It is
also the occasion for an annual Statement from the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops. In their letter this year, they quote
the words of Pope Francis that “work is fundamental to the dignity of a
person…It gives one the ability to maintain oneself, one’s family, and
to contribute to the growth of one’s nation.”
But the Bishops also point to widespread unemployment and the fact
that “more than 46 million people [in the USA!] live in poverty,
including 16 million children.” The challenging, and all important way
to celebrate Labor Day, according to the Bishops, is to “renew our
commitment to promote the dignity of the human person through work that
is honorable, pays just wages, and recognizes the God-given dignity of
the working person.”
No easy task, no quick solutions, but with the help of God, guided by
the wisdom of the Spirit, we can begin to move in the right direction.
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Heavenly Father, You have blessed our weekday work both by Your own work
of creation and by Your Son’s labor at a carpenter’s bench. Give the
nation’s leaders the wisdom to solve the problem of unemployment. Enable
those of us who are employed, not only to find fulfillment in
ourselves, but also to enjoy the privilege of cooperating with You in
the service of the community,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen
Rev. Peter Schineller, S.J., CMMB Board of Directors
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