As we embrace these difficult times, we stand together in our commitment to our mission to be the compassionate presence of Jesus to one another. Jesus brought the good news of God’s love to all people, attentive to those in need.  The Feast of St. Francis provides a powerful witness of care for the poor and care for the earth.  This witness informed Pope Francis’s choice of name and important letter Laudato Si’ five years ago on care for the poor and the earth. As Thanksgiving approaches, express gratitude in the spirit of St. Francis through donation, service and/or advocacy on behalf of those who are hungry.

Extending the compassionate caring of Jesus calls for gratitude.

• From the stories of Jesus multiplying loaves and fish to feed hungry crowds, we see gratitude for food expressed through sharing with the hungry (Matthew 14:13-21; Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 6:34-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13).

• The second UN Sustainable Development Goal from 2015 is Zero Hunger in a world where more than 821 million are hungry.

• Pope Francis reminds us that “approximately a third of all food that is produced is discarded, and ‘whenever food is thrown out it is as if food were stolen from the table of the poor’.” (Laudato Si’, #50)

• Catholic Social Teaching, as articulated by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’, helped shape the development of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Pope Francis spoke to the UN, advocating for care for the poor and care for the earth as the UN prepared to approve the SDGs.

The Catholic Health Association invites prayers of thanks:

• A Prayer of Gratitude for Creation

• A Prayer for the Care of Creation

The Greater Good Science Center provides:

• background on the definition, motivations and practices of gratitude from positive psychology 

  • What is Gratitude?

  • Why Practice it?

  • How to Cultivate it

• insights into the role of gratitude in promoting the common good

  • How to Keep the Greater Good in Mind During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Practices to Express and Deepen Gratitude

• Donation

  • The need for food has only increased as a result of the economic effects of COVID-19.

  • Support the work of organizations like Catholic Charities with monetary or food donations.

• Service

  • Volunteer at a food bank, food pantry or meal program through networks like Feeding America

  • Food that is thrown away not only hurts the poor but also hurts the earth.

    • Try one of these tips to reduce wasted food each week as an expression of gratitude for the food that nourishes you.

• Advocacy

  • Advocate for legislation to address food insecurity

    • Visit an advocacy action center like that of Catholic Charities and look for opportunities to contact your representatives about legislation to address food insecurity.

    • “The loss of forests and woodlands entails the loss of species which may constitute extremely important resources in the future, not only for food but also for curing disease and other uses.” (Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, #32)