What Is Solidarity?

• There are seven themes of Catholic Social teaching:  Life and Dignity of the Human Person; Call to Family; Community, and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities; Options for the Poor and Vulnerable; the Dignity and Rights of Workers; Solidarity and Care for God's Creation.

• Solidarity means that we are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological difference are. We are brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they may be.
• Popes John XXIII, John Paul, John Paul II and Benedict XVI have written documents and encyclicals challenging Catholics to take action against poverty, especially in developing nations.
• There is a special solidarity between the Diocese of Rochester and several dioceses in Kenya. Over the years priests have come from Kenya to study and do pastoral work in the Diocese of Rochester.
• Father Stephen is from Kenya and his home parish is St. Joseph's in the rural village of Gitare. He has been ministering in the Diocese of Rochester in the United States since 2000. He was assigned to Holy Family as parochial vicar in June 2003 and was incardinated in the Rochester Diocese in 2005. Fr. Stephen became parish administrator for Holy Family Catholic Community in June 2006   and pastor of Holy Family in June 2007. As a parish we are blest with his ministry.    
• This connecting link to Kenya gives each of us an opportunity to directly respond to the challenges of solidarity in the universal church.
• Solidarity is reflected many times in the gospels: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did to me." Matthew (25:40)   "You should love your neighbor as yourself." Mark (12:3)

Sources adapted from: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Washington, DC, Poverty Fact Sheet.  www.usccb.org/.globalpoverty   // www.vacatholic.org  // www.usccb.org/faithfulscitizenship  // www.usccb.org/sdwp