Reaching Out – Stretch forth your Hand to the Poor

You are invited to join Bishop Mark O’Toole at our FREE Diocesan on-line event on Saturday 24 October 10.30-12.30.

In his message for the fourth World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis writes that ‘keeping our gaze fixed on the poor is difficult’, but that it is ‘more necessary than ever if we are to give proper direction to our personal life and the life of society.’ He draws on the Book of Sirach as a guide for reflection and action following the pandemic. ‘Now is a good time to recover the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world’, he says. ‘Until we revive our sense of responsibility for our neighbour and for every person, grave economic, financial and political crises will continue.’  Pope Francis argues that ‘Prayer to God and solidarity with the poor and suffering are inseparable. In order to perform an act of worship acceptable to the Lord, we have to recognise that each person, even the poorest and most contemptible, is made in the image of God. From this awareness comes the gift of God’s blessing, drawn by the generosity we show to the poor.’

Pope Francis’ new social Encyclical, ‘Fratelli Tutti’, looks at how we can build a better, more just and peaceful world, and is offered “as a modest contribution to continued reflection, in the hope that in the face of present-day attempts to eliminate or ignore others, we may prove capable of responding with a new vision of fraternity and social friendship.”

This event will bring people together from across the Diocese of Plymouth for prayer and reflection on the key messages in these documents, led by Bishop Mark. We will share  stories of outreach happening across our Diocese and discuss how we can work together to alleviate marginalisation and suffering and help people in their spiritual need. We hope you can join us.

Please register here to receive joining instructions or email mailto:caritas@prcdtr.org.uk