WHAT IS MY CHILD LEARNING THIS MONTH?
This month, your child learned about the Church’s rich social justice tradition, commonly referred to as Catholic social teaching. We spoke about []. We went over the three pillars of Catholic social teaching—human dignity, solidarity (defined to the students as compassion), and subsidiarity (defined to the students as unity)—and how these can be practiced in our everyday lives. We did an activity where the Jr. High students pretended to be governing officials in Ridgewood and were called to address 1 important issue within the lens of Human Dignity (Why should we care about this issue? How does it affect human dignity?), Solidarity (How can we bring awareness to this issue in our own lives?) and Subsidiarity (What are some practical steps/laws that we can put into place to address this issue?).
Terms we went over:
Human Dignity: the idea that all human beings were created in the image and likeness of God (see Gn 1:27), whether saint or sinner, imprisoned or freed, powerful or marginalized. All people are created with an innate sacredness and dignity that cannot be taken away from them. Christ died for all, so all can have fullness of life and therefore every human life is considered sacred. Above all else, this is the heart of Catholic social teaching; all stem from this one fact. We are all called to respect, uphold, and treat all people with dignity.
Solidarity (Compassion): the idea that all people are brothers and sisters in Christ and that we are called to work together towards their good. The word compassion comes from the Latin compati, meaning “to suffer with.” We are called to build relationships with others different from us and understand what life is like for them. We are especially called to understand the livelihood of the most poor, most marginalized, and most vulnerable people in our society. We are called to bring awareness to, and ensure the well-being of, all people.
Subsidiarity (Unity): the idea that all communities of people deserve to be empowered and make decisions that uphold the well-being of people in their community. It is the principle that holds that social and political issues should be dealt with at the most immediate or local level. Larger organizations must work together with local communities, who have important insights into what is best for their communities.
BRINGING THIS SESSION HOME
This month, parents are asked to go over the seven themes of Catholic social teaching with their children. The Catholic Church has a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Please check out the video below:
Catholic Social Teaching in Two Minutes
PRAYING TOGETHER
This month, we ask that families choose a person/people in their lives that especially need prayers. This could be a family member who is suffering, or a friend who is going through a difficult time. Perhaps offer it up for someone who you have a difficult relationship with. Throughout the month, offer up our prayers and actions throughout the day for this person. Compassion means “to suffer with,” so we ask that you lift up your actions—your work, your days, and especially your sufferings—up to God for the intention of this particular person in prayer. When we offer up our sufferings to God, we unite ourselves with Christ, who suffered and died for us.
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen.
