Work, Dignity, and the Call to Local Catholic Leadership

The role of a community foundation is to keep a pulse on the needs of its people and to collaborate toward solutions that strengthen the common good. Over the past year, as I’ve traveled across Southern Minnesota, one concern has surfaced again and again: families are struggling to find work that pays enough to put food on the table. At the same time, employers tell me they can’t fill open positions. These two realities seem contradictory, yet both are true.

Even before the headlines about automation and mass layoffs, employers across the country were reporting difficulty filling roles. Meanwhile, many workers, especially in rural communities, have been unable to find jobs that offer a living wage. So, what’s really happening?

Recent economic analyses from the Society of HR Management among others, point to a structural mismatch. A significant share of open jobs cannot be filled by immediately available unemployed workers because of skill gaps, geographic barriers, or other obstacles such as childcare or transportation. This “friction” means that automation can coexist with labor shortages in certain occupations. Employers then face a crossroads: recruit and train local workers, rely on remote or migrant labor, or automate tasks entirely.

This mismatch is precisely the kind of challenge that local partnerships can address. Coordinated training pipelines, apprenticeships, and employer-led reskilling programs can convert open jobs into filled jobs—and do so in ways that uphold human dignity.

Why This Matters for the Church

Work is not just an economic issue. It is a spiritual one.

Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that work is a participation in God’s ongoing creation. When families cannot find stable, dignified employment, the effects ripple through every part of parish life:

• Fewer families in the pews
• Increased food insecurity
• Stress on Catholic schools
• Fewer volunteers
• Reduced giving capacity

The Church cannot solve the labor market alone, but it can be a convener, a listener, and a bridge-builder. Parishes are often the most trusted institutions in their communities. They are uniquely positioned to bring people together. Together, employers, educators, families, civic leaders can discern what dignified work looks like in their town and how to support it.

The Opportunity Before Us

The good news is that solutions exist, and they work best when they are local.

Communities across the country have seen success through:

• Training pipelines that connect employers with community colleges and local organizations
• Apprenticeships that allow workers to earn while they learn
• Employer-led reskilling that prepares workers for new roles rather than replacing them
• Wraparound supports like childcare, transportation, and emergency assistance that make training possible

These are not just workforce strategies. They are acts of unity. They honor the dignity of work and the dignity of the worker.

The Foundation’s Role

At the Catholic Foundation, our mission is to steward resources faithfully and to strengthen the Church for generations to come. That includes listening deeply to the economic realities facing families and parishes.

We are not trying to “fix the economy” or even the workplace. But we can convene conversations, share data and insights, support parish-level initiatives, connect donors to workforce-related needs and help fund pilot programs or partnerships that promote dignified work

Our goal is simple: to support the people who make up the Body of Christ in Southern Minnesota.

A Call to Reflect, Pray, and Act Locally

This moment invites all of us, pastors, parish leaders, families, and employers, to take a next faithful step.

Reflect

• Where do you see families struggling with work or wages in your community?
• What gifts or resources does your parish already have that could help?

Pray

• For those seeking work that honors their dignity
• For employers striving to balance economic pressures with care for workers
• For wisdom in building partnerships that serve the common good

Start Conversations

• Talk with local employers about their needs
• Invite parishioners who work in HR, education, or business to share insights
• Ask: What would it look like for our parish to support dignified work in our town?

This is not about solving every problem. It is about taking the next step together, in faith, with hope for the future of our communities.

Is this topic of interest to you? I'd love to take you to out coffee to discuss. Reach out anytime: Elizabeth 507-218-4098, ewilliams@catholicfsmn.org