Just as Paul and the apostles, all members of the Church are called to bring the love, hope, and justice of the Gospel to the world. "Send Us Your Spirit" Use the unit song before or after opening prayer, during a prayer celebration, at the end of a session, or during special celebrations. The Early Church: People of Pentecost Today, the Church continues the missionary work of Christ through the efforts of all its members. The Church Today: Confirmed Believers Confirmation increases and deepens baptismal grace, uniting us more closely with Christ and the Church. Spreading the Gospel True Christian love is the basis of morality and begins in the family. A Prayer for the Guidance of the Holy Spirit At the heart of all prayer resides the Holy Spirit, who sustains and inspires us. The stories on these pages follow the last chapter of each unit. They introduce social justice issues from a Catholic perpective. "What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness and walk humbly with your God?" —Micah 6:8 Catholic Social Teachings To spread the gospel means not only to bring the word to those who have never heard it, but to also help those who have already heard it to better understand its message. The "We Care" section at the end of each unit focuses on a specific theme of Catholic Social Teaching. These include caring about creation, ourselves, family and friends, parish and community, and the world. This unit looks at "The dignity of work and the rights of workers," with a critical look at the reality of sweatshop labor, both in the United States and abroad. Our bishops remind us that they can inform us of the church’s social mission, but until it finds a home in our hearts and lives, it will fall short of what the Gospel requires. We are called to practice justice in our own lives and to help secure it for others. Once we recognize our own special talents and abilities we are to use them to give witness to our faith in both word and deed. • Do I have a "couch potato" mentality when it comes to Catholic Social Teachings? • What personal ability do I have to make a positive difference in the lives of people in need? Links Catholic Social Teaching Principles www.coc.org/rsv/catholic.html Catholic Relief Services, "CRS Kids" www.catholicrelief.org/kids/ Free the Children USA, sweatshop concerns www.freethechildren.org National Interfaith Committee on Worker Justice www.nicwj.org US Bishops, Social Development & World Peace www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/ Catholic Campaign for Human Development Pax Christi, USA www.paxchristiusa.org Interfaith Climate Change Network www.protectingcreation.org Salt of the Earth, resources for social justice salt.claretianpubs.org Network- A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby www.networklobby.org Desmond Tutu Foundation for Peace www.tutufoundation-usa.org Oxfam America www.oxfamamerica.org Resource Center of America, promoting human rights www.americas.org Books Gospel Scenes for Teens Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). Religion at 1-800-552-2259. ORDER NUMBER: 1-58595-111-0 All You Need to Know about... Planning a Youth Service Week Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 1-58595-145-5 People of Purpose Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-673-36371-6 To Act Justly – Introducing Catholic Socail Teaching to Children with Stories and Activities Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 1-58595-222-2 Leader’s Guide to Sharing Catholic Social Teaching USCCB, 2000; #5-366 In All Things Charity – A Pastoral Challenge for the New Millennium English, # 5-358; Spanish #5-832 USCCB, 2000 Communities of Salt and Light – Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish English, # 701-4; Spanish, #724-3 USCCB, 1998 Teaching Resources on Sweatshops and Child Labor Archdiocese of Newark, 2000 Videos In Search of Character Series – Program 2: Respect (30 min.) Discussions of children around the country discuss making responsible choices Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 1-57348-401-6 Mother Teresa—A Life of Devotion (50 min.) The story of Mother Teresa’s crusade to help the poor. Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-30979-0 Blessed Mother Katharine Drexel (60 min.) Describes Katharine Drexel’s efforts on behalf of the marginalized. Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36204-7 Martin Luther King, Jr. – The Man and the Dream (50 min.) Visits the life and legacy of this civil rights leader. Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-7670-1057-4 A Time for Justice (38 min.) Historic footage of civil rights participants from the perspective of ordinary people’s experiences. Teaching Tolerance 334-264-7310 For Justice: A Video Magazine with Study Guide (28 min.) Documents community groups experiencing economic justice. USCCB, #5-196 800-235-8722 Who Are My Sisters and Brothers? Understanding Immigrants and Refugees (27 min.) Personalizes the immigrant debate in the United States. USCCB, #5-053 800-235-8722 Music "Hope at the Crossroads," "With You by My Side," "With Hope and Healing," (Meditation Track) Blest Are We Music CD, Level 7-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36394-9 Blest Are We Song Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Words and melody for students; contains music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 Blest Are We Accompaniment Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Contains accompaniment music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2 "Voices that Challenge," "For the Life of the World" David Haas GIA Publications "Go Make a Difference" Make a Difference CD Steve Angrisano OCP Publications "Give Us Peace" Leon C. Roberts OCP Publications