background
These next few weeks, we are exploring Global Challenges as our theme. Because of this, a major project/presentation will be about NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations). These organizations are a way to help people, without having to depend on the government to take care of the situation. It is a way for people to take the initiative and help others.
Organizaciones No-Gubernamentales
NGOs are non government sponsored or run organizations made to help people or to help a need in the community.
Catholic Works of mercy
The Catholic Church has a list of “works of mercy” to help us fulfill this command of being merciful to others. The list includes seven corporal works of mercy and seven spiritual works of mercy.
Corporal means physical acts of mercy, while the spiritual acts of mercy are as the word indicates having to do with the spirit.
The seven corporal works of mercy are as follows:
1. Feed the hungry. This act of mercy can be as simple as adding extra meat to a beef stew and extra rice in the pot and sending a meal over to a neighbor who doesn’t cook much anymore. What is important here is being conscious that there are hungry people not just in Calcutta, but right here in Opelousas and that we as believers are to do something to help alleviate a hungry stomach.
2. Give drink to the thirsty. This work of mercy goes hand in hand with the first.
3. Clothe the naked. How many of us have closets full of clothes that we have not worn within the past year? Clean that closet out and bring those clothes to Goodwill or offer them to people whom you know could benefit from a barely worn pair of shoes or coat.
4. Shelter the homeless. While it is difficult to open up our homes to people we don’t know, we are so fortunate in Opelousas to have two shelters, one for men and one for women. Making a donation to either the New Life Center or the Opelousas Lighthouse Mission would be an excellent way to do this act of mercy.
5. Visit the sick. This is such an important and beautiful thing to do. But the sick are not just those in hospitals. I think this work of mercy would embrace visiting those in nursing homes or assisted living centers. So many in these types of facilities are lonely and sometimes with no nearby family to look after them.
6. Visit the imprisoned. How important this is for those incarcerated because of bad choices. Now these visits cannot be unplanned, but the jail in the parish and city often have hours to visit. You may want to inquire with the sheriff or the chief about a visit. Needless to say, this has to be on the terms of the facilities for the sake of safety.
7. Bury the dead. Funerals are expensive. When we know of someone who was poor and has died, to help the family with a donation to help defray the cost would fulfill this work of mercy. I think this work of mercy would also include a person him/herself taking steps while alive to plan one’s own funeral and paying for it in advance so that family would not be unduly burdened while dealing with grief.
Spiritual Works of Mercy
Adapted from:
https://www.dailyworld.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/02/04/seven-spiritual-works-mercy/79814686/
https://www.dailyworld.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/01/21/seven-corporal-works-mercy/79114240/
Corporal means physical acts of mercy, while the spiritual acts of mercy are as the word indicates having to do with the spirit.
The seven corporal works of mercy are as follows:
1. Feed the hungry. This act of mercy can be as simple as adding extra meat to a beef stew and extra rice in the pot and sending a meal over to a neighbor who doesn’t cook much anymore. What is important here is being conscious that there are hungry people not just in Calcutta, but right here in Opelousas and that we as believers are to do something to help alleviate a hungry stomach.
2. Give drink to the thirsty. This work of mercy goes hand in hand with the first.
3. Clothe the naked. How many of us have closets full of clothes that we have not worn within the past year? Clean that closet out and bring those clothes to Goodwill or offer them to people whom you know could benefit from a barely worn pair of shoes or coat.
4. Shelter the homeless. While it is difficult to open up our homes to people we don’t know, we are so fortunate in Opelousas to have two shelters, one for men and one for women. Making a donation to either the New Life Center or the Opelousas Lighthouse Mission would be an excellent way to do this act of mercy.
5. Visit the sick. This is such an important and beautiful thing to do. But the sick are not just those in hospitals. I think this work of mercy would embrace visiting those in nursing homes or assisted living centers. So many in these types of facilities are lonely and sometimes with no nearby family to look after them.
6. Visit the imprisoned. How important this is for those incarcerated because of bad choices. Now these visits cannot be unplanned, but the jail in the parish and city often have hours to visit. You may want to inquire with the sheriff or the chief about a visit. Needless to say, this has to be on the terms of the facilities for the sake of safety.
7. Bury the dead. Funerals are expensive. When we know of someone who was poor and has died, to help the family with a donation to help defray the cost would fulfill this work of mercy. I think this work of mercy would also include a person him/herself taking steps while alive to plan one’s own funeral and paying for it in advance so that family would not be unduly burdened while dealing with grief.
Spiritual Works of Mercy
- To instruct the ignorant. This work of mercy means all of us are called to share and teach the faith passed on to us. This, of course, means that we must know our faith and what our church really teaches. And the best way to instruct and to teach is by example.
- To counsel the doubtful. Every one of us has doubts and questions about our faith. Even Mother Teresa had dark nights of the soul wherein she felt doubt and despair. This work of mercy reminds us how important it is to walk closely with people going through transitions, loss or great trials, holding them up in prayer and companionship.
- To admonish the sinner. This one is very hard to do, especially if one is honest about his/her own life. “People in glass houses should not throw stones,” or Pope Francis’ own remarkable words, “Who am I to judge?” But, nonetheless, this third work of mercy calls us to dialog with others about any sinful behavior that may exist. Here is where love and charity need to be used with words chosen carefully so that one doesn’t come off preachy, nagging or “holier than thou”. This one is not easy.
- To bear wrongs patiently. Here our pride is the culprit and revenge the temptation. The words of Jesus, “Turn the other cheek” ring out, but that is not easy to do. And I think it is sometimes harder to endure wrongs and to be patient with hardship when someone is doing harm to our children or grandchildren.
- To forgive offenses willingly. This work of mercy is inseparably bound with the patient endurance of wrongdoing. Forgiveness takes time, and even though one does not feel completely at peace with the other, the desire to want to forgive is the beginning of the road to full forgiveness. What helps me to forgive another is the promise from the Lord Jesus, “As many times as you forgive others, Keith, that’s how many times I’ll forgive you.”
- To comfort the afflicted. There are times when we see someone going through a bad time, and we can’t take it away from him or from her. Our words are inadequate and our actions pointless. All we can do is walk silently with him or her in love and prayer. I’ll never forget what my classmate in seminary did for me one day. Knowing I was so sad and fearful as Momma was dying, Bill tapped me on the shoulder one day in chapel and said, “I am thinking that you may be having a hard time to pray right now. I am praying extra right now in your stead.”
- To pray for the living and the dead. Clearly the most important part of any work of mercy, be it spiritual or corporal, is prayer. Prayer that seeks to unite us to God changes the physical act of feeding the poor into a spiritual act that does good to another and gives God the glory. As one writer says, “Our private intercession for our neighbors and for the departed brings us little fame or admiration from others, but in the end, when we stand before God, we will be able to give an account of our prayerful mercy to others, and so Jesus will, in turn, show us mercy.”
Adapted from:
https://www.dailyworld.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/02/04/seven-spiritual-works-mercy/79814686/
https://www.dailyworld.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/01/21/seven-corporal-works-mercy/79114240/
Works of Mercy in your statements
Creating an NGO will probably be easier if you base it on a Corporal Work of Mercy. You have a basis for your organization, so you must add a Spiritual Work of Mercy as a basis for creating the NGO or in your Mission statement.
brochure - instructions
As usual, there will also be an oral component.
All of this is due when we return from Spring Break - make sure you get the great majority of the work done in class.
Due date: March 24.
Due date: March 24.