“Love for the poor – whatever the form their poverty may take – is the evangelical hallmark of a Church faithful to the heart of God,” Pope Leo XIV wrote in “Dilexi Te” (“I Have Loved You”), an apostolic exhortation “to all Christians on love for the poor.” The document was begun by Pope Francis, but Pope Leo added to it and signed the document on Oct. 4, 2025, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. There are many volunteer opportunities available through local parishes that allow individuals and families to help the poor directly by contributing to food banks and supply drives, or assisting at shelters. Check with your parish or Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte to learn more.
This week, churches and communities across the country gathered to commemorate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His message of justice, equality and love aligns with Catholic teaching on the inherent dignity of every person created in the image of God, and the civil rights leader’s commitment to nonviolence and social justice reflects the Church’s call to love one’s neighbors and work toward the common good. Here are a few ways you can help carry on that legacy: