“The person of each individual human being, in her or his material and spiritual needs, is at the heart of Christ’s teaching; this is why the promotion of the human person is the goal of the Catholic School"  -  John Paul II

Our secondary students have always been encouraged to be of service to their school, parish and local community, as this involvement develops the values, knowledge and skills within our students necessary to undertake lifelong personal and spiritual growth. Each year the student’s efforts are recorded and each student that reaches the level of activities for their year group is presented with Spirit of Service Award to celebrate their service to the community.

Students who have exceeded the number of activities for their year group during the year will be considered for the Secondary Catherine McAuley Award at the end of year Awards Ceremony.

Each time a student assists at a school, parish or community event their pastoral teacher records this activity. Each child’s aim is to reach the same number of activities as they are in year groups. ie. Year 9, nine different activities they have supported our school, parish or community during the year.

A Reflection - Spirit of Service

The Mercy Value of Human Dignity is a focus throughout this term. One woman whose life was spent helping the poorest of the poor and showing them respect and human dignity was Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who worked with the poorest of the poor in India.

A journalist once asked Mother Teresa why she bothered working with the poor in Calcutta, because it was all just a drop in the ocean - there being millions of poor people in India. Mother Teresa said in reply that she was not concerned with a big way of doing things - she was concerned with individuals: “This person”, she pointed to someone, “thinks it makes all the difference!”

Prayer:

Let us pray:

Loving Lord, inspire me

to be welcoming and generous

in my attitude to others,

showing individuals

that they matter and are important.

May I make a difference to someone

in my part of the world today.

Amen.

- Anita Mason, REC