Take Action for essential workers
Dear Brothers and Partners in Mission;
This weekend (May 1) the Church celebrates the feast of Joseph the Worker, patron saint of all laborers. This feast day, I ask you to consider giving some special attention to nearly 5 million essential workers who continued to work through the worst of the pandemic, but are still denied a pathway to citizenship. As our country has a national debate about the meaning of “infrastructure,” may we keep the dignity of these human lives who are so vital to our infrastructure central, and pray for them to be granted the pathway to full rights as equal citizens of our nation. I ask you to consider including one of the below prayers in your Eucharist this week, and to raise up the cause of these workers in your teaching and preaching.
If you are interested in taking further action, consider signing onto this letter to Congress, shared by our partners at Faith in Action, and circulating it with your ministries and communities. You can find more info here or feel free to email afox@jesuits.org for questions or support.
Gratefully yours,
Scott Santarosa, SJ
Provincial
Prayers for Essential Workers During the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
Prayer Option 1, by Kate Carter
St. Agnes Parish, San Francisco
This weekend (May 1) the Church celebrates the feast of Joseph the Worker, patron saint of all laborers. We call on our national leaders to honor the dignity of essential workers during this time of the Coronavirus pandemic. Let us especially pray for the nearly 5 million essential workers who are still in need of a pathway to citizenship. May we recognize their fundamental role in the infrastructure of our nation, may their voices be heard, their stories be honored, and their rights recognized. We pray to our God…
Prayer Option 2, by Fr. Elias Puentes SJ
St. Leo’s and Sacred Heart Parishes, Tacoma, WA
English:
Almighty and Loving God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: You ask us to be one in faith in times of doubt, and one in hope in times of hopelessness, just as you are One. Listen to the pleas of immigrant families who are essential workers in the labor industry of this nation. Listen to the pleas of those who work for peace and justice in this nation so that together, we may provide a path to citizenship for these essential workers and their families.
We also pray that the hearts and minds of our legislators may be open, so that they may see that it is a just cause to grant them this right. And finally, grant all of us the grace, O Lord, to keep united in faith, in hope, and in love throughout this struggle so our brothers and sisters may live as one family, in peace, without fear. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Brother. Amen.
Prayer Option 2, by Fr. Elias Puentes SJ
St. Leo’s and Sacred Heart Parishes, Tacoma, WA
Español:
Dios Todopoderoso y Amoroso, Padre, Hijo y Espíritu Santo: Tú nos pides que seamos uno en la fe en tiempos de duda, y uno en la esperanza en tiempos de desesperanza, así como tú eres Uno. Escuche las súplicas de las familias inmigrantes que son trabajadores esenciales en la industria laboral de esta nación. Escuche las súplicas de quienes trabajan por la paz y la justicia en esta nación para que juntos podamos brindar un camino hacia la ciudadanía para estos trabajadores esenciales y sus familias.
También oramos para que los corazones y las mentes de nuestros legisladores estén abiertos, para que vean que es una causa justa concederles este derecho. Y finalmente, concédenos a todos la gracia, Señor, de mantenernos unidos en la fe, en la esperanza y en el amor a lo largo de esta lucha para que nuestros hermanos y hermanas vivan como una familia, en paz, sin miedo. Te lo pedimos en el nombre de Jesús, Nuestro Hermano. Amén.
