11-Week Reflection Series on Catholic Social Teaching: An Exploration of Sacred Scripture and Tradition

Gather a small group and meet for an hour per week for 11 weeks. By the end, you’ll have explored Scripture and Tradition around the themes of Catholic social teaching and participation in public life.  No advance reading required! Take me to this resource.

Interested in Pope Benedict XVI’s newest encyclical but intimidated by its length?  These study sessions explore the new encyclical by looking at four of its major themes:

1) Charity, Justice and the Common Good,
2) Human Rights and Duties,
3) Morality in Economic Life, and
4) Unity of the Human Family and Global Solidarity.

Take me to this resource.

Catholics Confront Global Poverty Videos, Study Guides and Discussion Questions

If you’re serious about solidarity with your human family around the world, then this is the resource for you. Eight short videos explore the Catholics Confront Global Poverty initiative and its seven focus issues, which include International Assistance, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, Debt Relief, Global Trade and Agricultural Policies, Natural Resources, Climate Change, and Migration. After watching each video, use the discussion questions provided to go deeper! Take me to this resource.

The foundations of Catholic social teaching are Scripture and Tradition. Your small group can explore the scriptural roots of CST with this Scripture Reflection Guide. Take me to this resource.

College Justice Walking, or J-Walking, is a semester-long “Discipleship Journey” that forms small communities of college students who engage in prayer, retreats, reading, dialogue, and relationships, in order to explore living the Gospel message and the social implications of our faith. The program includes: seven weekly sessions, ever other of which is located at a community social service agency; two retreats; a Pilgrimage; journaling; and reflection on two short books. Take me to this resource.

Sitting down with a mocha frappuccino or a chai tea latte? Ready to philosophize, hypothesize, and theologize? Then pull out your copy of Faithful Citizenship and sit down with a friend or two to reflect on the statement’s deep themes: How does your faith affect your views on issues facing your world? What is the relationship between your roles as a Catholic and as a citizen? How do you feel called to respond to issues you care about? Use the questions below, or go where the spirit (and the caffeine!) leads. Take me to this resource.

Whether an election is coming up or not, we can all benefit from reflection on the moral framework that the United States Catholic bishops provide to help Catholics evaluate issues in the light of our faith. With a small group, use these six study sessions on: Faithful Citizenship; Forming Consciences; Avoiding Evil and Doing Good; Life and Dignity of the Human Person; Solidarity; and Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. Take me to this resource.

With a small group, learn about and discuss fair trade through scripture, prayer and Catholic social teaching using this guide created by RENEW International and Catholic Relief Services. Take me to this resource.

This icebreaker or introductory activity asks participants to step forward or backwards in response to a series of questions. The results and discussion that follows may surprise you! Take me to this resource

This demonstration uses volunteers from the audience and decks of cards to help identify some of the root causes of poverty. Take me to this resource.