By John Bosio
In these days, whenever I read statistics about job losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, (20.5 million jobs lost in April alone) my heart aches for the families affected. I think of the people those numbers represent: the tears shed; the anxiety of fathers and mothers who wonder how to tell their children. I imagine the private conversations between parents on how to meet the family obligations: rent and bills of all sorts. I think about couples discussing how to stretch the family budget, the disagreements that under the stress of the moment escalate into arguments and can at times explode into violence. I think of the single parents who have to weather this crisis alone. My heart aches for all these families. Anyone who has experienced a job loss knows some of the pains.
The news of job losses brings back memories of a time when, during an economic downturn years ago, I was left without a job. Even though the loss of my job was not something I had caused, I felt that I had let my family down. I felt responsible for the fact that now we would not be able to carry out certain planned family activities, trips, vacations. I feared that we would have to uproot our family and move to a different city.
I remember the day I was told of my separation. After the shock wore off and reality set in it came to mind that Teri was on her way to the orthodontist with our youngest to start treatment for braces. This was something we could not afford without my income and insurance. I had to deliver the bad news while Teri was in the orthodontist’s office and my daughter was being prepped for her braces. I was angry, depressed, anxious, and most of all felt sorry for the pains I was causing my family. I cried a lot.
Today’s job losses and the devastation rained upon communities are a grave injury to our society. When a family suffers, we all suffer because those affected are our friends and neighbors. If they are in pain how can we not be affected? How can we not feel compassion for the parents who are running out of money and despair because they do not know what to do next? How can we not ache for those parents who deprive themselves of what they need to give it to their children? How can we not feel touched by the courage of the children who hide their fears so as to not worry their parents?
I have not seen much advice from the experts on coping with today’s job losses as a family and as a community. When I feel uncertain about what to do, I turn to the wisdom of our Catholic tradition for guidance and support.
On March 27 an extraordinary event happened in Rome that caught the world’s attention. Pope Francis, standing alone in St Peter’s square during an evening rainstorm, prayed for the world. He compared the pandemic to a storm that we can overcome only by coming together in faith. He repeated several times the words of Jesus to the Apostles caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee: “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” Pope Francis said: “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time all of us are called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other.” The Pope is reminding us that in this crisis we cannot think only about ourselves, we must help one another. We are all in the same boat. So, what can we do?
- First of all, we join together with the Church to ask for God’s consolation and healing for the sick, the jobless, the business owners who struggle to survive, and anyone experiencing financial distress.
- Obey the safety guidelines provided by our local authorities.
- If someone in your family is without work and needs help, do not despair. There are resources in your community. Your parish office may be able to direct you where to turn.
- If you know someone outside your family who is in need, reach out, and offer help and support even if it is just by making a phone call.
- Contribute what you can to the charitable organizations in your community that provide assistance to those in need.
“Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives. Let us hand over our fears to him so that he can conquer them.”—Pope Francis, Urbi Et Orbi Blessing, March 27, 2020
Question for reflection: What can you do to support those in your community who are in distress because of illness or job loss?
John Bosio is a former marriage and family therapist, director of religious education, and diocesan family life coordinator. He and his wife, Teri, wrote Joined by Grace, a marriage preparation program from Ave Maria Press.
