My Exposure to the 7 Themes of the Catholic Social Teachings | August 16, 2026 | Bryan Caston

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBzgiholrrw&list=RDIBzgiholrrw&start_radio=1

In July of last year, I had a conversation with my sister after her and my brother-in-law’s trip to Frenchville, Pennsylvania. Frenchville is home to a non-profit organization, Young People Who Care (YPWC). YPWC is a Christian volunteer service community with a retreat center led by the Catholic sisters of the Community of Anawim. YPWC ministers to the needs of people in Central Appalachia Pennsylvania. Volunteers help with home repairs, cleaning, yard work, transportation to medical appointments, and other services not provided by other groups or agencies in the area. YPWC has one mission, responding to the cries of the poor. This special and unique mission of solidarity with the poor allows people to volunteer and to live at the retreat center in community with one another for a week.

Last month, I had the opportunity to visit my sister and brother-in-law in Webster, NY and we traveled to Frenchville to volunteer for one week. We arrived at the retreat center on Sunday night. We were greeted by our host, the Executive Director, Sister Suzanna. On that evening, I was introduced to the Catholic social teachings. In the retreat center, there are large banners that extend from the 20-foot ceiling with a word or two referencing each theme of social teaching.

Approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on June 19, 1998, the seven themes and a sentence or two of social teachings are:

Theme #1: Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.

Theme #2: Call to Family, Community, and Participation

In a global culture driven by excessive individualism, our tradition proclaims that the person is not only sacred but also social.

Theme #3: Rights and Responsibilities

… Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency.

Theme #4: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

In a world characterized by growing prosperity for some and pervasive poverty for others, Catholic teaching proclaims that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening division between rich and poor, our tradition … instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.

Theme #5: The Dignity of Work and the Right of Workers

If the dignity of work is to be protected then the basic rights of workers must be respected, the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

Theme #6: Solidarity

Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and Ideological differences.

Theme #7: Care for God’s Creation

On a planet conflicted over environmental issues, the Catholic tradition insists that we show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan; it is a requirement of our faith…. These principles build on the foundation of Catholic social teaching: the dignity of human life.

I discovered during my visit the Catholic life is rich in prayer. The Knights of Columbus had many free booklets about prayers on display at my sister and brother-in-law’s church. I only took two, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray” and “Prayer Time: A collection of Catholic Prayers” (60 pages). The Prayer Time booklet did not contain the prayers from each Catholic social teaching prayer card. Yes, I came away convinced that prayer in central to Catholic life.

Here is what Harry Emerson Fosdick said about prayer in 1954…

“A troubled generation like ours, that makes a heavy demand on our resources, calls for prayer.”

“Luke’s gospel tell us that on the critical day when Jesus told his disciples… that the Cross confronted him, he prayed; and ‘As he was praying, the fashion on his countenance was altered.’ Perhaps he, too, had looked tense and drawn, harassed and fearful. Perhaps even his face had revealed his inner struggle. But while he was praying, so Moffatt translates the verse ‘the appearance of his face altered.’ Faith for fear, strength for anxiety, confidence for hesitation, inward power adequate for whatever peril—that change showed in his face. If such experience is possible, we of this generation certainly need it.”

[From the] Catholic social teaching prayer cards – Theme #1: Life and Dignity of the Human Person –

God of all life,

Help us to appreciate the great gift that is human life

formed in your image, a reflection of your holiness.

Help us to recognize you

in all whom you have created:

children not yet born,

families affected by poverty and war,

people of different abilities,

people from other lands, and

all who are victims of hatred and racism.

Help us to bear witness to the dignity of all whom you

have created

regardless of stage of life,

or wealth,

or ability,

or color, or creed,

for every person is fully equal in your loving eyes.

Share with us your holy knowledge

that we are all your children,

each bestowed with inherent dignity.

May you justice reign forever!

Amen

Now here is my prayer wherein I tried to incorporate all seven themes of the Catholic social teachings.

Dear Mother/Father of us all, 

We pray for a world that fully embraces the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching. 

Help us to embrace your understanding of the life and dignity of every person. 

Lead us in ways that show we are social beings—formed for families, community, and participation— 

so that our actions express real neighborliness. 

Awaken in us respect for human rights and the courage to live our responsibilities: 

to defend the dignity of each person, and to help build a just common life. 

Especially teach us to respond to the poor and vulnerable— 

no matter their race, creed, color, ability, or circumstance— 

so that your mercy reaches them through our hands, our time, and our solidarity. 

In this time of artificial intelligence and economic change, 

teach us peace and help us protect the dignity of work: 

to support decent work and fair wages, 

and to ensure that no one is left behind when livelihoods are disrupted. 

Strengthen our commitment to solidarity— 

so that we recognize one human family across every boundary, 

and learn to live as brothers and sisters, wherever we find ourselves. 

Finally, help us to be faithful stewards of all you have entrusted to us— 

care for your creation, and gratitude for the world you have given. 

We thank you for listening to our prayer. 

Amen.

I am using a part of our commitment because I truly believe these Catholic social teachings gives me an opportunity to -

…affirm my need for a growing understanding of all peoples as children of God, and I seek after a vital experience of God as revealed in Jesus of Nazareth and other great religious spirits whose fellowship with God was the foundation of their fellowship with all people.

I conclude with the hope for a world where most of the people exhibit living proof that  these social teachings are meaningful in their lives, and then I will say to myself “what a wonderful world.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaCSuzR4DwM&list=RDCaCSuzR4DwM&start_radio=1