Catholic education is focused on our Catholic faith as an essential aspect of our students’ lives. However, Catholic schools aren’t just “regular schools” with religion classes. Instead, its mission is to provide not only excellence in academics but also strong spiritual formation that puts love into action. One of the areas of focus at The Franciscan School (TFS) is Catholic Social Teaching (CST), which underscores the moral basis of our faith and guides students to build a better society for all. “However,” emphasizes Celina Manville, a learning specialist at TFS who helps coordinate the CST program, “this is not a new, modern thing. After the Industrial Revolution, Pope Leo XIII recognized the need for Catholic social teaching.”
Pope Leo XIII first articulated the foundations of CST in his 1891 encyclical, Rerum novarum. He recognized the need for Catholic doctrine to address human dignity and the common good. It addresses oppression, the role of the state, subsidiarity, social organization, social justice, and wealth distribution. Dawn Smith, principal at TFS, notes that St. Francis has always embraced this focus; however, it now has an intentional, schoolwide emphasis. The school works closely with Mary Ellen McGuire, Director of Justice and Peace at St. Francis Parish, and Casey Slock, coordinator of Justice and Peace, to connect with the 32 Justice and Peace ministries and their emphasis on CST. “Casey has been incredible with helping us tap into ministries that already exist at St. Francis and in helping us to reach out to others,” says Celina.
Since its inception in 2000, TFS has been committed to service and has undertaken the mission of implementing a Catholic Social Teaching Program. This endeavor built momentum with the formation of a CST Committee in 2022, composed of teachers and administrators who gathered to pray and discern how to create a dynamic schoolwide program. With the Holy Spirit at work, the pieces began to come together. The TFS CST Committee identified unity, collaboration, and faith as the three pillars of its success. Reflecting on past efforts, TFS recognized that launching a program with a strong, united front was essential, and the committee agreed that a dedicated and schoolwide effort was needed.
TFS achieved this through leveraging a principal and administrative team that recognized and celebrated the value of the CST program, setting the stage for fantastic outcomes! Each school year, they designate five to seven early-release days (or half-days) as CST events focused on one of the seven CST themes. The entire school participates in this day, which features relevant activities, speakers, and service projects.
Working with the parish Justice and Peace coordinator, the CST committee aims not only to engage speakers but also to offer meaningful service opportunities for students. As an example, Celina shared, “The migrant ministry is very active in this parish. We’ve always run a school-wide drive for clothes, toiletries, and supplies, which is great, but those donations come from parents. So what can the kids do? One seventh-grade service project is to organize all of the donations as a service project on a CST day.” This is just one example of how TFS makes CST relevant for students.”
As another example, Celina highlights the upcoming Catholic Schools Week at the end of January. “The last day of Catholic Schools Week is focused on the CST theme of Family, Community, and Participation,” she says. “At this event, kindergarten and first-grade students make Valentine crafts for residents of assisted living homes. To give students a sense of the ‘bigger connection,’ Casey Slock is arranging for Eucharistic ministers in homebound ministry to share with students the impact of their service.”
“We always want to place greater emphasis on ‘community,’” she adds. “Laureen Wacenske, the K-5 counselor, and Virginia Blum, the middle school counselor, are ‘all in’ for every CST event. They’ll take the specific theme and develop a full activity or service project around it for a grade. They emphasize the community aspects and aim to build in as much service as possible.” Another way ‘community’ is reinforced is through a thoughtfully selected mentor text (i.e., a picture book) that highlights the CST theme. This book is read across grades K-8 and supports collaborative conversations in the school community about the CST theme. These books may be nonfiction, discussing a Saint or hero who helped those in need, or a work of fiction that illustrates a real-world injustice.
CST is an effective way to teach students how to put their faith into action while integrating the richness of our faith: saints, sacraments, liturgical seasons, and prayer. “For example,” says Celina, “October is the month of the Rosary. In addition to highlighting the CST theme of human dignity, the school gathered in the Church for a Living Rosary led by Eighth graders and their kindergarten buddies.” Learning about Saints can also inspire students in the Works of Mercy. During the ‘Care for the Poor’ event, which occurs during the Advent season, the committee includes lessons on Mother Teresa. The goal is for students to experience the intrinsic connection between faith and action that permeates their school environment and highlights their connection to the world community.
Our Catholic faith is a treasure trove of wisdom and love. Catholic schools have the responsibility to form students to love and creatively serve those in our communities and beyond. TFS is taking up this call to set the world ablaze with our faith and action.
