Economic justice

From Cambodia to El Salvador, Bangladesh to Tanzania, Maryknoll missioners accompany people and communities affected by poverty and extreme poverty.

Based on our belief that each person is both sacred and social, created in God’s image, and destined to share in the goods of the Earth as part of a community of justice and mercy, we hear the cry of the poor and we are called to respond. From the time of the Old Testament to today, we recognize poverty as a common result of unjust oppression of those forced to live on the margins, prohibited from participating in society. We listen to our suffering brothers and sisters and we hear echoes of God’s frequent warnings to the Israelites in the Book of Exodus, of their duty to care for those who are poor, powerless, and excluded by society.

Embracing this duty, we advocate for social and economic change, to eliminate the roots causes of poverty found in unjust economic structures. We promote the globalization of solidarity, the enhancement of inclusive human security, and development that is rooted in social justice and ecological sustainability.

Maryknoll Leadership Statement: Trading in justice: The local impact of global economic decisions

WEBINAR: U.S. Trade Policy – Putting People and Planet First

PRAYER: Virtual Good Friday Way of the Cross for Economic and Ecological Justice

POLICY BRIEF: End the Pandemic Through Global Vaccine Access

SPECIAL PROGRAM: Integral Ecology Program

NEWSLETTER: Encounters Where Faith, Economy, Ecology Meet

PRESS STATEMENT: Faith communities call for a new trade model

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

The Parable of the Prodigal Son, this Sunday’s gospel reading, is a story so familiar that it is easy to feel immune to both the breadth and depth of its message. It is the story of three people, a father and his two sons, and the actions and reactions of each of them in an…

First Sunday

First Sunday

This reflection was published as part of the Lenten Reflection Guide: A Jubilee of Hope. The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to Jesus, “I shall give you all this power and the glory… All this will be yours, if you worship me.” But Jesus…

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

This reflection was published as part of the Lenten Reflection Guide: A Jubilee of Hope. Today’s readings call the community of believers to pious communal actions demonstrating penitence and prayer for God’s deliverance. The admonitions against hypocrisy indicate that it is not the actions that are criticized but the underlying motivation for doing them. Almsgiving,…

Lenten Reflection Guide 2025: Jubilee of Hope

Lenten Reflection Guide 2025: Jubilee of Hope

Join us for prayer this Lent with reflections on the readings from Ash Wednesday, March 5, through Palm Sunday, April 13. The 2025 Lenten Reflection Guide: Jubilee of Hope from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns contains reflections, questions, prayers, fasts, and actions based on each week’s Gospel reading and the experience of Maryknoll missioners…

Maryknoll Leadership Joins Letter to G20 Finance Minister Negotiators Urging Debt Relief

Maryknoll Leadership Joins Letter to G20 Finance Minister Negotiators Urging Debt Relief

The leadership of the three Maryknoll entities, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Maryknoll Sisters, and Maryknoll Lay Missioners, joined 120 global faith leaders in a letter to G20 finance ministers on the global debt crisis urging them to champion debt cancellation, debt reform, and establish a UN Debt Convention.

Responding to the Foreign Aid Freeze

Responding to the Foreign Aid Freeze

In this webinar we cover the recent changes to U.S. Federal foreign aid spending through a lens of Catholic Social Teachings. The questions we attempt to answer are: The recording of the webinar and the presentation slides are below, as well as the referenced resources from the webinar. This webinar was broadcast live at 3pm…

Maryknoll OGC Joins Letter to Secretary of State Rubio urging Reinstatement of Foreign Aid

Maryknoll OGC Joins Letter to Secretary of State Rubio urging Reinstatement of Foreign Aid

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined a letter with faith-based groups to newly-appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to request that he restore foreign aid programs, reopen critical refugee resettlement programs, and fully reinstate USAID. Read this letter as a PDF. February 14, 2025 Dear Secretary Rubio, Congratulations on your confirmation as Secretary of State. This…

Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the Bishops of the United States

Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the Bishops of the United States

Pope Francis addresses U.S. bishops, urging them to uphold the dignity of migrants. He criticizes policies that equate illegal status with criminality while acknowledging a nation’s right to security and calls for compassion, integration, and respect for fundamental rights. Read the letter as a PDF and on the Vatican website. February 10, 2025 Dear Brothers…