Religious Education and Parish News
St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Primary School
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching – Hope in Action
You may sometimes hear us use the words Catholic Social Teaching (CST). But what does this actually mean, and why does it matter in the everyday life of our school?
At its heart, Catholic Social Teaching comes from a simple but challenging message of Jesus: love God and love your neighbour. Jesus taught that every person has dignity and showed, through his own actions, what it means to stand alongside people who are poor, excluded, overlooked or treated unfairly.
When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, he gave us a powerful example of humility and service. Across generations, holy men and women have continued to show what this can look like in different times and places. More recently, Pope Francis continually called the Church to go to the margins and encounter those who might otherwise be forgotten.
Love of neighbour is inseparable from love of God.
So, what is CST?
Catholic Social Teaching is the Church's way of helping us think about how our faith should influence the way we live together.
It is not a political party or political platform. Rather, it asks Christians to consider the world through the lens of the Gospel: How are people being treated? Who is being left out? Is this fair? Are we protecting human dignity? Are we caring for our common home? What can we do?
CST is grounded in Scripture and Catholic Tradition and has continued to develop as the Church responds to the changing world.
For more than a century, popes and Church leaders have written specifically about issues facing society. In 1891, Rerum Novarum addressed the dignity and rights of workers. Later teaching responded to the Great Depression, war, poverty, human rights, disability and meaningful work. More recently, Laudato Si’ called us to care for our common home, while Fratelli Tutti challenged us to recognise one another as brothers and sisters and build a more just and peaceful world.
The issues change, but the fundamental questions remain:
How do we protect the dignity of every person? How do we work for the common good? How do we live the Gospel here and now?
Why does this matter at our school?
This helps explain why, as a Catholic school, we do some of the things we do.
When our students learn about fairness and inclusion, care for creation, raise money or collect goods for others, learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures, welcome people who are different from themselves, or consider whose voice might be missing from a conversation, these are not simply additional activities.
They are opportunities to put our faith into action.
Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that God has a place in everyone's story and that every person has something to contribute to the common good.
We sometimes describe this as Hope in Action.
Christian hope is grounded in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is not simply hoping that things will get better. It calls us to participate in making our communities and our world more loving, just and peaceful.
For our young people, that can begin with very small actions: noticing someone who is alone, sharing fairly, caring for our environment, listening to another person's experience, speaking up when something is wrong and asking, “What can I do to help?”
These are the beginnings of something much bigger: young people learning that faith is not only something we know or talk about. It is something we are called to live.
Be the change you want to see.
Want to know more? Check out what our Australian Bishops have issued this year.
| Date | Community Leading | Community Invited | Saint or Special Celebration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14th October | Damascus Yr 2 | Jericho Yr 4 | St Callistus I |
| 21st October | Ephesus Yr 3 | Galilee Foundation | |
| 28th October | Bethlehem Yr 6 | Jericho Yr 4 | Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles |
| 4th November | Bethany Yr 5 | Bethlehem Yr 6 | St Charles Borromeo |
| 11th November | Jerusalem Yr 1 | Damascus Yr 2 | St Martin of Tours |
| 18th November | Jericho Yr 4 | Ephesus Yr 3 | Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul |
| 25th November | Galilee Foundation | Bethany Yr 5 | St Catherine of Alexandria |
| 2nd December | Jericho Yr 4 | Foundation to Year 4 | End of Year Mass and Advent |
St Thomas Parish Weekend Mass Schedule
Masses
† Saturday Vigil Mass: 6.00pm
† Sunday Masses: 9:00am, 10:45am & 5.00pm
For other Masses in the week and Reconciliation times...
If you have any wonderings about Religous Education at St Thomas you are always welcome to email or arrange a time to chat with me.
Sarah Chappell
Acting Deputy Principal
Religous Education Leader
schappell@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au