On May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the Archdiocese of Santiago, Chile, gathered workers, business leaders, and government officials for a special Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Cardinal Fernando Chomali presided over the Eucharist, joined by Cardinal Emeritus Celestino Aós and several auxiliary bishops. The event was attended by Labor Minister Tomás Rau Binder, along with representatives from unions, companies, and international organizations.
The celebration was not just a religious service; it was a space to reflect on the deeper meaning of work in people's lives. In a context where precarious employment and insufficient wages are everyday realities, the Chilean Church raised its voice to remind that work is not merely a means of survival but a vocation that dignifies the human being.
“Work is a gift from God, and through it we are entrusted to transform the world,” Cardinal Chomali said in his homily, citing the book of Genesis where God places man in the garden to cultivate and care for it (Genesis 2:15, NIV).
Work as Gift and Vocation
Cardinal Chomali emphasized that work is not an accidental dimension of life but something essential that touches the human heart. In his message, he highlighted that work provides sustenance but also constitutes a true vocation. “We have been entrusted, through work, to transform the world,” he said, recalling that each person has a unique purpose in God's plan.
This vision of work as a divine gift contrasts with the modern tendency to reduce it to a mere economic transaction. The Church invites us to recover the spiritual and communal dimension of work, where the person is at the center and not instrumentalized. As the apostle Paul writes in Colossians 3:23 (NIV): “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
The Primacy of Persons Over Things
One of the strongest points of the homily was the warning against dehumanization in the workplace. Cardinal Chomali stressed that “there is nothing more painful for a human being than to feel instrumentalized.” In a world where profits are often prioritized over people, the Church calls for putting the human being at the center of all economic activity.
This teaching resonates with the Church's social doctrine, which since the encyclical Rerum Novarum has defended workers' rights and social justice. Dignified work not only implies a fair wage but also conditions that respect health, family, and rest time. As Psalm 127:2 (NIV) says: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.”
A Call to Unity and Inclusion
Cardinal Chomali addressed the leaders present, reminding them that “before being a union leader, businessperson, or politician, we are human beings, and that unites us.” In a often polarized social climate, this call to unity is especially relevant. The Church proposes sincere dialogue between workers, employers, and government to build a more just labor future.
Furthermore, the archbishop emphasized the need to offer dignified work opportunities for everyone, including migrants. Chile, like many Latin American countries, faces the challenge of integrating people who arrive seeking a better future. The Church reminds that love for neighbor knows no borders, and that everyone deserves working conditions that respect their dignity.
“Work is a right and a duty, and it must be exercised in conditions that allow the person to fully realize themselves,” the cardinal said, citing the encyclical Laborem Exercens of St. John Paul II.
The Mass concluded with a blessing for all workers, and a commitment to continue promoting labor justice from the faith. The Chilean Church reaffirms that work, when lived as a vocation, not only transforms society but also brings us closer to the heart of God.
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