What is my child learning this month?
During session three, we focused on learning the 2 feet of Justice and hearing our call to serve the community and world to make positive impacts
Bringing this session home
Learn the 7 Themes of
Watch the following videos and read the descriptions for a better understanding of the themes!
Life and Dignity of the Human Person / Vida y dignidad de la persona humana
The Catholic belief in the life and dignity of the human person is the foundation of our moral vision. All life is sacred, and all people must be treated with dignity.
Call to Family, Community, and Participation / Familia y comunidad
Participation in family and community is central to our faith and to a healthy society. From this foundation people participate in society, fostering a community spirit and promoting the well-being of all, especially those who are poor or vulnerable.
Rights and Responsibilities / Derechos y responsabilidades
The Catholic Church teaches that every person has a right to life as well as a right to those things required for human decency. As Catholics, we are responsible for protecting these fundamental human rights in order to achieve a healthy society.
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable / Opción por los pobres y vulnerables
As Catholics, we are called to pay special attention to the needs of poor people. We can follow Jesus’ example by making a specific effort to defend and promote the dignity of those who are poor or vulnerable and to meet their immediate material needs.
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers / Dignidad del trabajo y derechos de los trabajadores
The Catholic Church teaches that the basic rights of workers must be respected: the right to productive work, to fair wages, and to private property, and the right to organize and join unions and to pursue economic opportunity. Moreover, Catholics believe that the economy is meant to serve people, not the other way around.
Solidarity / Solidaridad
Because God is our Father, we are all brothers and sisters with the responsibility to care for one another. This spirit of solidarity unites all people whether they are rich or poor, weak or strong. It also helps to create a society that recognizes that we live in an interdependent world.
Care for God’s Creation / Cuidado de la creación de Dios
God is the creator of all people and all things, and he wants us to enjoy his creation. We are called to make the moral and ethical choices that protect the ecological balance of creation both locally and worldwide.
Adapted from Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
More resources:
Click here for information for Catholic Relief Services in english and spanish
Click here for in depth descriptions
Click here for information about the themes from the USCCB
Click here for a video
Click here for a short presentation about social teaching in the New Testament
Recursos para la misión social
One Step Ahead: Parent Resources
Every day we have an opportunity to teach our children and one another how to be merciful.
Click here for an article about every day works of mercy
Take a moment to review the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy with your child.
Click here to watch a Skit Guys production with your child about God's mercy for mankind.
Jumping Ahead
Next month we will be learning about the importance of Catholic Morality.
LISTEN is an acronym for decision-making process:
Look for the facts
Imagine possibilities
Seek insight beyond your own
Turn inward
Expect God's help
Name your decision
Choose a current event that challenges all of us in our decision making.
Discuss the issue with your child and use the LISTEN process below to make a good moral decision.
Look for the facts
- What facts do I need to know to make a good decision?
- What exactly is going on in this situation?
- Why is it happening?
- Who is involved?
- Why are they involved?
- What are their motives?
- When is this situation happening?
- Is there a time frame involved with this situation?
- Where is this situation happening?
Imagine possibilities
- What are all the possible choices I could make in this situation?
- What are the consequences, short- and long-term, for each possible decision?
- What is the most loving response I could have in this situation?
- How can I be creative in my approach to this decision?
Seek insight beyond your own
- What would my family advise me to do?
- What would my friends and community say I should do? Is there a legal issue involved?
- What would Jesus do?
- What does the Bible say about this situation?
- How could the values in the Ten Commandments or Beatitudes lead me to a good decision in this situation?
- What is the church teaching on this matter?
Turn inward
- What is my inner reality saying to me?
- What is my conscience telling me?
- What are my personal feelings about this situation?
- What are my motives for acting one way or another?
- What do I need from the decision I make?
- What do I most want from the decision I make?
- What does my gut-level sense of things say about this?
- Do I have an intuitive understanding of this situation?
Expect God's help
- How is God present in this situation?
- How is God with me as I discern what I should do?
- What can I pray for as I make this decision?
Name Your Decision
- What am I going to decide?
- Why should I decide this?
- What values am I living out in making this decision?
- What is my plan for carrying out this decision?
Photo of the Month
Reflect on this picture and discuss it with your child.
How does this image reflect our call to serve? How does it relate to each of the 2 feet of social justice?