Sunday is the Fourth Annual World Day of the Poor

The Annual World Day of the Poor was instituted in 2016 by Pope Francis, at the end of the Year of Mercy. It invites Christians to see people who are poor not simply as recipients of charity, but as human beings who we have an on-going relationship with, and as people who have a particular insight into the Gospel. This year’s theme “Stretch forth your hand to the poor” is a summons to responsibility and commitment as men and women who are part of our one human family. Pope Francis’ message for this World Day of the Poor can be found on the Vatican website http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/poveri.index.html