1.9 Work and professionalism
The dignity of the worker and work
The Church brings a unique vision of work, one that finds in work great dignity and great value. For the Church, the human person is never to be viewed as a commodity or means to a more profitable financial end, but always as a person called share in the creative work of God. "Work is for man, and not man for work." (Compendium, No. 272) There is a personal, indeed spiritual dimension of the person involved in work. There is also a social dimension. Work binds us in solidarity with others. We seek to work with others and for others, building professional learning networks that extend well beyond the bounds of Broken Bay.
Getting the balance right
The recognition of the need for people to rest, to undertake personal and spiritual development, to engage in community and cultural activities, and to take time with their friends and family are important requirements for every person. We should never aspire to be regularly working excessively long days or weeks or applaud this work pattern in colleagues. Rest from work is not only a right (CSDC, n.284) but an obligation for it relates to the Lord's command to 'Keep holy the Sabbath'. To rest is to enter into the spirit of the Sabbath, the Lord's Day, the day of resurrection. In gathering with the Catholic community for Eucharist we are renewed in heart and mind, in fellowship with Christ and other disciples, to be sent out again on mission working for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
If you could.....
The role of Unions
Support for labor unions enjoys a long history in the Catholic Church, especially since the publication of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891). Popes from Leo to Benedict XVI have encouraged workers to form unions.
Professionalism
The Church values your professionalism and your efforts to meet and maintain professional accreditation.
Integrity in the Service of the Church
Integrity in the Service of the Church is a document of principles and behavioural standards which serve as a resource for Lay Church Workers, both employees and volunteers. The principles and standards in this document, with due distinction, parallel those for religious and clergy found in Integrity in Ministry, and reflect the fundamental belief that all people are made in the image of God and are worthy of respect. Integrity in the Service of the Church aims to help Church Workers reflect on and uphold Christian vision and values in all relationships and actions. The service of Church Workers has its origins in the Gospel and in particular in Jesus’ statement that he had come that all might have life, ‘life in all its fullness.’(John 10:10). The principles and standards put forward in this document are extensions of five basic principles for Church Workers in which they:
Service, given according to these principles, is life-enriching for both providers and recipients.
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Listen to medical professionals speaking about what it means to be a professional. What do they say that could be applied to every professional?
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