Jesus called all his listeners, of whatever profession, to be saints. A few he called to leave their fishing boats or tax tables behind to proclaim the Gospel. The vast majority he called to proclaim the Gospel by living that Good News right where they were. That’s still what Jesus does today.

Work is not principally about earning a paycheck, but about serving and loving others. When work takes on this meaning, the perfection of the human person continues, the workplace is evangelized, and God’s work is advanced.  

Share a story with your students about a priest who believed in the dignity of every worker and organized young people to make a difference. In the early 20th century, seminarian Joseph Cardijn witnessed how industrialization in the cities led to harsh treatment and injustice for workers. His schoolmates who were working in the mines and mills told him they believed the Church had abandoned them. It became Cardijn’s life’s work to evangelize and bring the core messages of the Gospel back to the working class. He was inspired to found an international youth movement, the Young Christian Workers, to promote the dignity and worth of each person. His movement received praise and encouragement from Pope Pius XI. Cardijn served as a critical contributor to the Second Vatican Council, working closely with Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI, and he was named a cardinal in 1965. The cause for Cardinal Cardijn’s beatification was initiated in 2014, and he is titled as a Servant of God.

Cardinal Cardijn taught the young workers that one’s desk, or sewing machine, or kitchen, or chalkboard, or operating room, or workbench, or boat, is meant to become an altar which sanctifies not only what is given to God in work, but the giver as well. It is there that the vast majority of men and women are called to be sanctified and sanctify others through showing the original dignity and meaning of human work.

Labor Day is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the meaning of human work, and specifically our work, not only for the good of our country but also in God’s divine plan. On this Labor Day, the One who worked in St. Joseph’s carpenter shop says, “Come, follow me!”

Litany for Workers in Our Neighborhood.  Ask students to identify the different workers they see in their neighborhood, like store clerks, gardeners, and police.  What workers are not so visible to students, such as workers in the electric power plant or in the online stores? Turn the list into a litany for workers, praying together for their safety and welfare. 

Role Play Workers. Ask students to choose a profession and play that role. Have each worker tell the class about what they do to help people and live the Good News right where they are.

The Family Life series features God’s Gift of Community, emphasizing how every person contributes to the common good. Students can appreciate all workers as essential members of the community. 

About the Author
Dr. Lauri Przybysz specializes in equipping families to live their vocation to be domestic churches and signs of God’s love. Lauri received the Doctor of Ministry from the Catholic University of America, and she has been both a Catholic middle school religion teacher and a faith formation coordinator at the archdiocesan and parish levels. She is the mother of six children and grandmother of 21.

Product Highlight

Family Life Second Edition

RCL Benziger’s Family Life program continues to be adaptable and flexible to supplement any religious education basal program. Resources included in the program help family members improve communication skills, share faith, and grow in their practice of Catholic family living.

The new Second Edition includes:

• An all New Design - The cover and interior design, as well as the images have been updated to reflect today’s families in diverse situations.
• New diverse life stories - The life stories open each lesson and reflect the growing concerns of today’s families.
• Alignment with social-emotional learning -  Both the student textbooks and teacher guides align with SEL standards and benchmarks.
• Child safety education in the student edition - The student edition now includes the Safer Together feature in every lesson, providing quick, resourceful tips empowering children to be confident and safe.
• Inspiring quotes from the Popes - The Faith on the Fridge feature now includes inspiring statements from Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, connecting the Family Time take-home pages to the Parent Connection: Opportunities to Love magazine.
   

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