What is Catholic Social Teaching?

‘Young people are not meant to become discouraged; they are meant to dream great things, to seek vast horizons, to aim higher, to take on the world, to accept challenges and to offer the best of themselves to the building of something better.’ 

Pope Francis, Christus Vivit 15

 

Catholic Social Teaching is based on the belief that God has a plan for creation, a plan to build his kingdom of peace, love and justice. It holds that God has a special plan for every single one of us, whoever we are. Our part in this plan isn’t just limited to things ‘spiritual’, or times when we do “religious things.” It involves every aspect of our lives, from the things we pray about, to how we live as a responsible global citizen. Our part in this story is a kind-of vocation for the common good, a call to treat everyone as our brothers and sisters.  It is something that we all share.

The Catholic Church has seven principles of social teaching that we share with our children through all that we do, through the curriculum, special events and activity and through our ordinary actions in school.

At OLOP, the key themes of Catholic Social Teaching are:

• Care for Creation - (Taught in Autumn Term)
• Option for the Poor - (Taught in Autumn Term)
• Solidarity & Peace - (Taught in Spring Term)
• Community & Participation - (Taught in Spring Term)
• Dignity in Work - (Taught in Summer Term)
• Human Dignity - (Taught in Summer Term)

 

They address the objectives relating to Catholic Social Teaching from the new Religious Education Directory, including prayer and liturgy ideas around each theme, as well as suggestions for bringing this work to life in the Catholic life and mission of the school.

The children, staff, parents and all involved in the community of OLOP are here to serve.

Over the years we, as a community, have supported many different charities locally and across the world, including CAFOD, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Coffee Morning, Marys Meals, Save the Children, Catholic Children Society, NSPCC  and many more. We have had events ranging from cake sales, to group/ class fundraising, to our Lenten fundraising.

We continue to aim to stretch our awareness and time to ensure we as a school support those that are the most vulnerable in our world.