On the occasion of International Workers' Day, the Assembly of Catholic bishops of Quebec (AECQ) have published a reflection titled "Dignified Work for Genuine Participation in Social Development." At a time of profound transformation in the workplace, the message makes a clear and urgent case: human dignity must remain at the heart of all work.

Since 1974, the bishops' May 1^st message has been an annual touchstone for reflection on labour and social justice. This year, the bishops turn their attention to the sweeping changes reshaping the world of work, among them automation and the rise of artificial intelligence. While these advances open new possibilities, they also raise pressing questions about the place of the person in the workplace.

The message insists that work cannot be reduced to an economic function. It is also a space for personal fulfillment and contribution to the common good. Fair wages, decent working conditions, and environments that recognize the worth of every individual are not extras, they are essentials.

As Bishop Raymond Poisson, president of the AECQ’s Church and Society council, puts it: "Every person should end their workday with a sense of having done something meaningful." Even in the most routine or repetitive tasks, human work participates in something larger than itself.

This year's message carries special weight. It was written by historian Frédéric Barriault, a member of the Church and Society council since 2019, who passed away on March 18, 2026. The message stands as one of his final acts of commitment to social justice. The bishops wish to honour his memory. His life's work — documenting and championing the tradition of social Christianity in Quebec — finds in this text an eloquent and faithful conclusion.

In keeping with its longstanding commitment to social movements, the Church in Quebec reaffirms its role as a companion in a changing world. It calls on all of us to build a society where work remains a place of dignity, recognition, and genuine participation in collective life.

We invite communities to share this message widely and to download the full text below — so that this reflection on the dignity of work may spark the conversations our times call for.

Joanne Dorcé
Content Manager and Assistant Director,
Communications Department
Archdiocese of Montreal

Source: https://evequescatholiques.quebec/fr/news-item/message-du-1er-mai-br-un-travail-digne-pour-une-participation-veritable-au-developpement-social-