Social Services Sunday - 15 September 2024 - Catholic Social Services Victoria

What is Social Services Sunday?

Social Services Sunday is observed in the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne on the third Sunday of September. In 2024, this falls on Sunday 15 September. It is an opportunity to give thanks, pray for and stand with the dedicated work that the thousands of staff and volunteers of Catholic social services do to serve the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised in our communities. It also provides us with the opportunity to reflect on what might our role be in this work of service and justice?

Why is Social Services Sunday important?

Core to the Gospel message is the offer of love and hope, particularly for those who are isolated, in need and experiencing suffering. Catholic Social Teaching provides us with a rich tradition of wisdom in how we can live out the values of justice and mercy that permeate the Scriptures – respecting the dignity of the human person, having a preferential option for the poor, committing ourselves to solidarity with our human family, caring for our common home, ensuring subsidiarity and participation, and working for the common good.

At a time when more and more people are relying on the support provided by community service organisations, we acknowledge with gratitude all of Catholic Social Services Victoria’s 40 member organisations, their 7,000+ staff and 15,000+ volunteers who bring their talents and diversity into the service of the social mission of the Church. It is important work that they do to serve more than 300,000 people each year, especially when there are so many more in need.

Social Services Sunday is also a time for reflection on why the need for this work continues to grow in our society – and to consider how we can together pursue more justice and compassion from a variety of perspecitves: personal, community and society-wide.

Catholic social service organisations often have their beginnings in small groups of people working to bring to life Catholic Social Teaching principles in their own contexts, and have arisen in response to particular needs in particular places. They continue to bring good news to the poor. They need your prayers and support, and Social Services Sunday is a great opportunity to bring this prayerful focus to their work of service and justice.

What can we do to observe Social Services Sunday?

CSSV has developed a Social Services Sunday parish kit (available below) that provides information, text for inclusion in parish bulletins, and actions that we can all take to honour and show support for the work of Catholic social services.

Social services may also like to mark this day in some way within their own organisations. They may also wish to get in touch with the local parish in their area and explore opportunities to partner together for Social Services Sunday.

Suggested Prayer

We thank you, loving God,
for this unfenced and fertile world,
that is your gift,
for all to sow and reap,
to work and play,
to wonder at and pray.

We thank you, loving God,
for all our fellow workers in your garden –
for those who plan and plant,
who prune and harvest,
so that all may flower
in a glory of shapes and colours.

We promise, loving God,
we servants at your table,
to open your banquet to all your guests,
to seat the hungry, lame and poor,
to find a seat for those shut out
and hold the door open against the crowd.

May we follow Jesus, your Son,
who walked in our world in wonder,
reached out and healed and died
to free and save it (us).

– Written by Fr Andy Hamilton SJ for the Catholic Social Services National Conference 2024.