1. Poor and low-income families are among the worst affected by the current economic crisis. Visit the “Outreach and Charity” resource in the parish section of this website and use the guidelines to identify ways that families in your community are being particularly impacted by the current crisis

7. Present stewardship not just as a way to dispose of one's excess or superfluous time, talent, and treasure, but as a way of shaping all of one's life, as individuals and families, as people who want to live faithfully and morally in God's image and likeness.

 2. In the marriage preparation program section on budget and finances, incorporate a discussion of how the couple's faith relates to their work and family finances; how they can give priority to their personal lives together over their economic status; how they can grow closer by working on a volunteer project together, and so on.

3. Offer a parenting program on how to raise children in a socially responsible way, in a way that gives priority to persons rather than economic worth.

4. At the end of Sunday Mass (e.g., on the Feast of the Holy Family), have some families talk about how they apply the Catholic Framework for Economic Life to their own lives

5. . Provide a forum for retired individuals to discuss their use of time, talent, and treasure in a socially responsible way, using the ten principles for economic justice.

6. Encourage parish families to not only bring gifts for the Giving Tree at Christmas but also as a group to deliver and distribute the gifts to the recipient families; invite the families back to the parish for fellowship and a discussion on ways to combat poverty.

8. Hold a discussion with those making their First Communion and their parents about a socially responsible way of handling the gifts received on that occasion, suggesting the possibility of tithing both treasure and some time to a nonprofit group working for neighborhood or community improvement.

9. Encourage parents, godparents, and sponsors to join with the children who are to be Confirmed in their social action project.

10. Provide information in the parish bulletin on the use of child labor in making various products that families purchase on a regular basis or on the living standards of those foreign workers who manufacture products in demand by families.

11. Provide a list of Scripture references on justice for family reading and reflection during Lent. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development offers “A Justice Prayer Book.” Visit the website at: /cchd.

1. On the Sunday before Labor Day, or on Labor Day itself, host a breakfast forum on work and the moral issues faced in the workplace; have some parishioners from different types of work experience and different levels to start the discussion.

Distribute the cards that contain the Catholic Framework for Economic Life.

5. Incorporate a discussion on the faith dimension of choosing one's work as part of the Confirmation program and again, as part of the Marriage Preparation program.

6. Ensure that the parish itself acts in a socially responsible way and respects the primacy of persons in the hiring process, by paying just wages and benefits, honoring contracts, conducting employee reviews, etc.

7. Have the parish make a special effort to utilize minority contractors thereby providing a model for those in other businesses.

8. Consider the Catholic Framework for Economic Life when discussing the parish budget.

2. On Labor Day, some parishes also affirm the Church's support for labor by inviting Catholic union members and labor leaders to speak at the end of Masses.

3. Invite various parishioners who are in particular professions, trades, or services to meet periodically and discuss how these principles apply to their work. Publish the results in the parish bulletin.

4. In homilies, draw on the work experiences of parishioners to affirm the importance of their efforts to act on their faith in the workplace and public square..

1. Join with other parishes (and/or the diocese) to invite Catholic members of various government entities to meet to discuss the Catholic Framework for Economic Life and its implications for government action. In particular, discuss how Catholic teaching on economic life calls you to promote policies that protect those who are most vulnerable during this time of economic crisis: poor and low-income persons..

2. Encourage parishioners to join the arch/diocesan or State Catholic Conference legislative network and to sign up for mailings on issues of economic justice before the state legislature, and to participate in lobbying days, etc.

3. Organize parishioners (and perhaps parishioners from neighboring parishes) to meet with local members of the state legislature to discuss the implications of the Catholic Framework for Economic Life on  pending legislation.

4. Utilizing the Sunday bulletin, provide parishioners with a list of local organizations concerned about economic justice (for example, groups funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development) and encourage participation by parishioners in these groups.

5. Invite area organizations concerned about economic justice to give a presentation to the parish or parish organizations linking their work to the Catholic Framework.

6. Encourage parishioners to write letters of approval and support to members of Congress or to the state legislature when they appear to be voting in accord with the Catholic Framework.

7. Encourage parishioners to participate in local government bodies that deal with economic justice or development.

8. Distribute copies of the U.S. Bishops' statement, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility. Direct parishioners to the website: faithfulcitizenship.org for additional resources and materials about taking action as “faithful citizens.”

9. Promote voter awareness by distributing information on economic justice issues prior to the elections. Host candidates’ forums; to ensure you remain nonpartisan.  Work with your diocesan attorney, diocesan social action director, or State Catholic Conference director.