| Year |
Scriptural Theme |
Issue |
| 2005 |
"Loving the Lord…means life to you, and length of days…" (Dt 30:20) |
The elderly |
| 2004 |
"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me." (Mt 18:5) |
Children |
| 2003 |
"It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) |
Solidarity |
| 2002 |
"You received without paying, give without pay" (Mt 10:8) |
Freely giving as a sign of solidarity |
| 2001 |
"Love is not resentful" (1 Cor 13:5) |
Forgiveness and reconciliation |
| 2000 |
"I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Mt 28:20) |
Jubilee: conversion and reconciliation |
| 1999 |
The Lord will prepare a banquet for all peoples (cf. Is 25:6) |
Communion in Christ and sharing with brothers and sisters |
| 1998 |
"Come, O blessed of my Father, for I was poor, marginalized and you welcomed me!" (cfr. Mt. 25: 34-36) |
Poverty |
| 1997 |
"Come, O blessed of my Father, for I was homeless and you took me in" (cf. Mt 25:34-35) |
Homeless |
| 1996 |
"Give them something to eat" (Mt 14: 16) |
Hunger in the world |
| 1995 |
"The Spirit of the Lord... has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim... recovery of sight to the blind.." (Lk 4:18). |
Illiteracy |
| 1994 |
The family is at the service of charity, charity is at the service of the family. |
Family |
| 1993 |
"I thirst." (Jn 19:28) |
Lack of water and desertification |
| 1992 |
Called to share the table of creation. |
Indigenous people and "campesinos" |
| 1991 |
"As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40) |
The poor |
| 1990 |
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me… I was a stranger and you did not welcome me" (Mt 25:35, 43) |
The exiled and refugees |
| 1989 |
"Give us this day our daily bread" (Mt 6:11) |
Hunger in the world |
| 1988 |
"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me..." (Mt 18:5) |
Infant mortality |
| 1987 |
"He has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty" (Lk 1:53) |
Spiritual poverty |
| 1986 |
"Through love be servants of one another" (Gal 5:13) |
Sharing with one’s neighbour |
| 1985 |
"I have compassion on the crowd" (Mk 8:2) |
Hunger in the world |
| 1984 |
"...‘Come O blessed of my Father… for I was hungry and you gave me food…’" (cf. Mt 25:34-35) |
Material, moral and spiritual suffering |
| 1983 |
"And all who believed where together and had all things in common" (Acts 2:44) |
Sharing |
| 1982 |
"Who is my neighbour?" (Lk 10:29) |
Are you a good Samaritan to your neighbour? |
| 1981 |
"A new commandment I give to you, that you also love one another" (Jn 13:34) |
Coresponsibility |
| 1980 |
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Mt 6:21) |
Sharing one’s treasure |
| 1979 |
The widow in the Gospel who knew that what she was giving away was already a gift to her from God. |
Penance and solidarity |
