The renewal of Catholicism as the most positive result of the Reformation for Catholics is the focus of Unit 5. "Send Down the Fire" Use the unit song before or after opening prayer, during a prayer celebration, at the end of a session, or during special celebrations. Modern Ecumenical Councils The living God continues a personal revelation through Scripture and Church Tradition. Renewal of the Liturgy Sincere liturgical participation brings worshippers closer to God and helps them experience God’s own holiness. The Moral Struggle of a New Age Social justice is imperative for the survival of life, and is the Gospel of life Jesus preached. A Prayer for the Church Building the Church of tomorrow begins with prayer and action that shows respect for all humanity. The stories on these pages follow the last chapter of each unit. They introduce social justice issues from a Catholic perpective. Charity and Justice "By means of catechesis, in which due emphasis is given to her social teaching, the Church desires to stir Christian hearts ‘to the cause of justice’ and to a ‘preferential option or love for the poor,’ so that her presence may really be light that shines and salt that cures." —General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) # 17 Following the Church’s social teaching, the role of the catechist is to help young people comprehend the necessity for both acts of charity and justice in their lives. To do so, they must understand the difference between charity and justice. Charity responds to the immediate needs of people. It could be for food, housing, clothing, or funds for medical help. Justice, on the other hand, responds to what is causing the need for charity. It looks to institutions and governments, in particular, to solve problems such as unfair wages, lack of affordable housing, unavailable medical insurance for certain groups of people, or the existence of sweatshops. Justice is the more challenging of the two, as it requires involvement over time. It takes longer to write a letter to a member of congress, or to make contact with a retailer or local government official than to drop coins in a collection box or write a check. It also requires more personal involvement. While each is unique, they complement each other, and thus are both necessary. To ‘give someone a fish’ takes much less time than to ‘teach someone to fish’. Yet the latter action will feed the person for life. • Do I find myself more involved in acts of charity or of justice? • What justice issue in my area could benefit from my personal involvement? Links Center of Concern – promotes global peace www.coc.org Catholic Relief Services www.catholicrelief.org Bread for the World – ending hunger www.bread.org Free the Children USA, sweatshop concerns www.freethechildren.org National Interfaith Committee on Worker Justice www.nicwj.org TAP – Teens for Peace, includes "Youth Pledge of Nonviolence" www.ipj-ppj.org/tap/index.html Pax Christi, USA www.paxchristiusa.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). 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 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 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 Growing in Faith Series (18 min. each) Three-video sacrament series by Gaynell Cronin and Jack Rathschmidt, O.F.M. Cap., challenges viewers to take a new look at sacramental life. Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36217-9 Romero (105 min.) The true story of the courageous Archbishop Oscar Romero, who took a stand against social injustice in El Salvador. Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36025-7 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 Bring Down the Walls (12 min.) Bishops’ reflections on the heritage, principles, and practice of CST. USCCB, # 746-4 800-235-8722 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 "We Are the Hope," "Send Us Your Spirit" 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 "Honduras Alleluia" Rob Glover GIA Publications Fresh as the Morning CD OCP Publications "Open My Eyes" Jesse Manibusan OCP Publications "Give Us Peace" Leon C. Roberts OCP Publications