St Werburgh's & St Columba's Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching
Understanding Catholic Social Teaching: A Guide
At St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s we believe in nurturing not just the minds, but also the hearts and souls of our pupils. Central to this mission is our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching (CST), a cornerstone of our educational philosophy that instils values of love, justice, and peace in our young learners.
What is Catholic Social Teaching?
Catholic Social Teaching is a collection of principles that guide us in living out the Gospel in our daily lives. Rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the tradition of the Church, CST emphasises the dignity of every person, the importance of community and family, and our responsibility to care for those in need.
Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching:
Human Dignity: Every person is made in the image of God and deserves respect and care, and we take part in celebrate the uniqueness of every individual throughout our school. We celebrate this through display, sharing traditions around the world and celebrating achievements. We ensure the children are able to understand the different challenges and strengths that people face in their learning. We make the children aware of dyslexia, autism, Downs Syndrome through assemblies and visiting speakers.
Community and Participation: We are called to be active members of our communities and to work together for the common good. At St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s we worked together with members of the community through our Harvest appeal supporting the Foodbank, Macmillan coffee morning, cake sales/ raffles for the SVP, Lent Walk for CAFOD and many more events where we reach out to our local and wider community. The children also deliver small acts of kindness to people in the local area and sing at local care homes.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: We should prioritise the needs of the less fortunate and advocate for their well-being.
Rights and Responsibilities: Each of us has rights that must be protected and responsibilities we must fulfil. Our Pupil Parliament work hard to raise awareness of how to stay safe online. Eco Team work hard to raise awareness of climate change and the actions we can take to look after our world. Children were involved in the creation of our school Behaviour Policy. We regularly gather pupil views and take them into account when planning.
Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers: Work is a form of participating in God’s creation, and the rights of workers must be respected.
Solidarity: We are one human family, regardless of our differences, and we must work for justice and peace for all. In solidarity to our brothers and sisters across the world who are suffering from the devastating effects of climate change on our planet, we took part in The Big Lent Walk.
Care for God’s Creation: We are entrusted with the care of the Earth, our common home. We have an active Eco Committee and have worked with The Nature Trust to develop a wildlife area in school. We have Eco Weeks where we look at how we can play our part in looking after our planet. We have looked at the encyclical Laudate Si and carried out work around this.
How We Integrate CST in Our School
Curriculum Integration: Our lessons incorporate these principles, encouraging pupils to think critically about social justice issues.
Service Projects: Pupils participate in various service activities, helping them practice compassion and generosity.
Community Building: We foster a strong sense of community through collaborative projects and family engagement.
Environmental Stewardship: Our eco-friendly initiatives teach pupils the importance of caring for the planet.
By embracing Catholic Social Teaching, we aim to develop well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also compassionate, responsible, and active members of society.
