Human Dignity and Solidarity

Poverty Awareness Month Resources

“Peace emerges from the depths of the human heart and political will must always be renewed, so that new ways can be found to reconcile and unite individuals and communities…The world does not need empty words but convinced witnesses, peacemakers who are open to a dialogue that rejects exclusion or manipulation.”
– Pope Francis, World Day of Peace 2020

During Poverty Awareness Month, join the U.S. Bishops, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the Catholic community in the United States in taking up Pope Francis' challenge to live in solidarity with the poor and marginalized.

Share the reflection calendar and longer daily reflections with your parish and school communities. Sign up here to receive them in your inbox each day.

Facilitate the Creating on the Margins Art Contest with your class or youth group. Inspired by St. John Paul II, this year’s theme encourages young people to explore poverty-related issues like the current housing crisis in the context of their faith. Download the contest guide and recommended educational activities from the USCCB website. The local deadline for art submissions is March 15.

View “The Poverty Web” video (3 minutes), which offers a unique insight into the complexity of poverty, how it connects to everything that we do and the factors that keep so many people and families entrapped.

Discuss the Two Feet of Love in Action with your family, faith-sharing group, class, or other community to learn about two distinct, but complementary, ways we can put the Gospel in action in response to God's love: social justice and charitable works. Lesson plans and activities are available on the USCCB website.

Identify a CCHD-funded organization in your community and explore ways for members of your parish to receive leadership development training and get involved with local campaigns to address root causes of poverty and injustice.

Research some major legislative policies that help people living in poverty get back on their feet. Choose one and contact your elected officials to tell them why you care. Take it a step further and organize a letter-writing or post-card campaign at your church or school.

Visit We Are Salt and Light for inspiring stories about parishes across the country that are responding to the poverty and injustice around them. Identify one that your parish might be able to adapt to meet a need in your own community.

Host a peace circle or dialogue on a topic like race, affordable housing, or work to learn how people in your community are directly impacted by unjust policies and practices. 

For more information or resources on poverty and faith-based efforts to address it, contact Liz Young in the Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity at 312.534.3891 or [email protected].