What is Social Justice Sunday?
Social Justice Sunday falls on the last Sunday of August each year. It is a day to centre the Church’s social mission, and encourage parishes to reflect on the social, political, economic and environmental issues that face our society. Each year, in the lead up to Social Justice Sunday, the Australian Catholic Bishops release a Social Justice Statement in a tradition dating back to the 1940s. The statement reflects on a current and pressing issue of justice in Australia and beyond, and is foundational in establishing focus on the Church’s social mission of the time.
2024-2025 Social Justice Statement, Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World
The 2024-25 Social Justice Statement, Truth and Peace: A Gospel Word in a Violent World, is an urgent cry for peace amidst the worrying rise in violence, armed conflict and suffering around the world. The statement reflects on how our ‘post-truth’ society cannot foster peaceful dialogue, and therefore trust, which is a pillar for building global peace. It tells that the erosion of truth, brought on by new technologies and algorithms, loss of faith in generally accepted authorities, a well-resourced persuasion industry, and a generalised atmosphere of social distrust, increases the risk of conflict, and more importantly, damages means of building peace.
With the ultimate goal of local and global peace, the bishops declare the importance of promoting a robust education system so that children may better navigate the world they find themselves in. They also provide a list of simple, but meaningful, actions that anyone can partake in, from inviting the true God to nurture peace in your heart, to making your concerns known to your local Member of Parliament or reaching out to a local reconciliation or refugee support group.
The Church, and everyone within it, has a responsibility to be an agent of positive change for peace, and to respond to conflict by supporting the disadvantaged, vulnerable and voiceless.
Read the full statement and find its accompanying resources here.
Hear more from Archbiship Timothy Costelloe SDB
Ideas for Social Justice Sunday and Beyond
The bishops emphasised action in this year’s Social Justice Statement. In your own context, whether that be a parish, social service organisation or other community group, consider some of their suggestions:
- Take action on an issue that matches your passion and skills.
- Set up a group to read, discuss and pray about one of the Church documents referred to here, such as Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti, chapters 6 and 7.
- Make your views and concerns known to your local Member of Parliament.
- Reach out to a local reconciliation group if you want to support First Nations Peoples, or a refugee support group or service if you want to work with refugees seeking justice.
- If you are interested in trying to address conflict in another part of the world, there may be ethnic community organisations from the conflict zone in your local community. You could reach out to them to learn more and to give them support. You could also offer to help Caritas Australia with its work in war-torn countries.
- Join an ecumenical or interfaith group which seeks to foster dialogue and peace-making.
Prayer for Social Justice Sunday
Adapted from Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti
O God, Trinity of love,
from the profound communion of your divine life,
pour out upon us a torrent of sisterly and brotherly love.
Grant us the love reflected in the actions of Jesus,
in his family of Nazareth,
and in the early Christian community.
Grant that we Christians may live the Gospel,
discovering Christ in each human being,
recognising him crucified
in the sufferings of the abandoned
and forgotten of our world,
and risen in each sister or brother
who makes a new start.
Come, Holy Spirit, show us your beauty,
reflected in all the peoples of the earth,
so that we may discover anew
that all are important and all are necessary,
different faces of the one humanity
that God so loves.
AMEN.
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