Catholic Social Teaching
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.
Catholic social teaching is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements. It underpins the essence of our daily school life. It is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live out our faith in the world. Pope Francis emphasises that it is our duty to work together to bring about a more just and peaceful world: to put love into action. It is vital that our children can articulate the connection between Jesus’ teaching and doing good deeds.
At St Wilfrid’s, Catholic Social Teaching is incorporated into our curriculum and the principles are shared with our children through all that we do in our learning, special events, activities and through our ordinary actions in school. Children are asked to put their faith into action and reflect on how their learning enables them to do so. Our prayer times refer to Catholic Social Teaching which helps make the worship relevant to our lives today.
Human Dignity
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:5
Our school mission is ‘Everybody Matters’ and we encourage our whole school community to display this in our everyday interactions. God made each one of us. This makes us incredibly special. It doesn’t matter who we are, our friends, what we own, or what we look like. What matters is that we are unique because we are God’s children. This means we must treat others respectfully and fairly because God made us all.
Ways we show care for the dignity of others at St Wilfrid’s:
- We ‘live’ out our school mission that ‘Everybody Matters’.
- We are respectful of others.
- We treat people with fairness.
- We pray for those in need
- We teach and celebrate other faiths.
- We provide Mental Health & Wellbeing Support for children and families through Caritas counselling, Early Help (FIS) and Healthy Minds (CAMHS).
- We use a Trauma informed approach and have ‘Unconditional Positive Regard’ for all.
- We promote respect for individual differences through our assembles- R.E, RSHE and PSHE Curriculum.
- We celebrate diversity- valuing different languages, cultures, gifts and talents.
- We have a thriving School Chaplaincy Team and School Parliament who act as role models within our school community.
- We raise money for local and national charities and donate to local food banks
- We have a behaviour policy which recognises the value and worth of our children and puts the dignity of people at its core.
- Access to Pastoral and SEND support
Stewardship – Caring for God’s Creation and Gifts
“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” Pope Francis – Laudato Si
The earth and all life on it are God’s creation. We are called to take care of it because it is a holy gift from God and the only place we can live. When we make good choices about how we treat other living things (people, animals, plants) we help all living things to live as God intends. Making wise choices about the care of God’s creation is called good stewardship.
Ways we show care for God’s Creation and stewardship at St Wilfrid’s:
- Having awe and wonder for the natural world
- Gardening club who care for our school grounds
- Use of our school woods and pond to share the beauty of creation with the children
- We encourage people to recycle and reuse at school and at home.
- Paper recycling bin in every classroom
- Each class conserves energy/water by turning off the taps and turning off the lights and interactive whiteboards when they are not in use.
- Litter Picking in our local area.
Family and Community / Participation
This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12-17
Jesus understood that people need each other. We all need our families, friends, and neighbours. He tells us that these important people can help us. Jesus says that we must help them too. By doing this, we create a loving community where everyone can live life to the full.
Ways we value participation and community at St Wilfrid’s:
Recognising the importance of helping people – both who we know and those in need who we don’t know.
- Family involvement with our school activities – parent coffee mornings, PTA fundraising and community events.
- Circle time / PSHE
- Friendship bench
- Buddies
- Pupils supporting pupils across the school
- Ethos of our classrooms and schools
- Values champions’
- Celebration assembly – of what children are doing for their local communities – e.g helping with a charity, fun runs, helping at a food bank, visiting house bound people.
- PSHE and RE curriculum
- Pupil Premium support
- Pre-used Uniform available to any family
Solidarity and the Common Good
‘The word ‘solidarity’…refers to something more than a few sporadic acts of generosity.. (it is about) community and the priority of the life of all…’ Pope Francis
The world’s people are interdependent. That means we need each other if we are to live. We must work together if we are to go on living. When we walk alongside our sisters and brothers around the world and learn from each other, we call this solidarity. Even though there are huge distances between us, we are still one family- the family of God.
We show solidarity at St Wilfrid’s by:
- Raising awareness of social justice
- Writing to our local leaders
- Praying for others
- Making connections
- Making socially responsible choices
- Working with CAFOD –Close links with our CAFOD worker who delivers workshops for every class and encourages action and fundraising
- Participating in CAFOD The Big Lent Walk
- Organise charity events/responses to worldwide crises.
- Pupils are encouraged to turn off taps and save energy to show solidarity for those who do not have access to safe clean water/energy.
- We have worn poppies to show support and solidarity for victims of war.
- All pupils are taught the importance of self-respect, honest and open communication with others and fair play
Option for the poor
‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:35-40
Every person needs food, water, work, housing, school and medical care. Those who do not have these are poor. Our church teaches that these sisters and brothers must be treated with extra respect and have access to what they need. Those who are not poor must share what they have with others because the gift of God’s world is for all people.
At St Wilfrid’s we show a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable by:
- Fundraising for charitable causes in our local and global community
- Raising awareness
- Treating others with dignity and respect
- Thinking and praying for the needs of others
- An open-door policy for all families in need
- Collecting food for our local Food Banks
- Every child attends a school trip or residential
- School Uniforms/ Reading Books /support towards cost of trips and support are offered to all vulnerable families
- Monitor all children to ensure they have the same opportunities
- We do not judge others
- Early help and support
- Access to Pastoral and SEND support
- Pupil Premium support
Dignity of Work
“We do not get dignity from power or money or culture. We get dignity from work.” Pope Francis
Work is important in God’s plan for adults and their families, so jobs and pay should be fair.
Work is a valued medium for improving our own and the lives of others. Every person – employer and employee is called to be treated with due regard and respect. The human person is above profit and gain. What are our gifts and how can we share these? How does work build us up?
At St Wilfrid’s we recognise the Dignity of Work by:
- A diverse and inclusive curriculum
- Celebrating our many gifts and talents and sharing these with each other
- Through the work of our Pastoral and SEND leads
- A ‘Can Do’ attitude towards our work and goals
- Adapting lessons to provide for all
- A broad and balanced curriculum
- Pupil Premium funding
- School values
- Community links
- Links with outside agencies
- Links with parents who come into school to share the experience of their work
