Religious Education at Island Catholic Schools

Catholic Schools Creating a Just and Loving World.

Jamie Zwicker Coordinator

Students attending Island Catholic Schools have a long history of outreach ministry as an extension of their religious education programs. These outreach activities are not undertaken for purely humanitarian reasons but to help the school community acquire the values Jesus emulated—promoting justice for others, love of neighbour and service to the world. Students are carefully prepared for what they will encounter.

Three points are considered. First, students must know exactly what they are expected to do: for example, how are they to help younger students with their reading? What will they talk about with patients in a nursing home? In addition to details of the experience, teachers prepare students mentally and emotionally so they understand and appreciate why they are invited to have this experience.
Second, time is provided so students can internalize the values promoted.

Third, following the experience, students share their reflections.
Activities chosen include both direct service and social change. Students learn that direct service rarely addresses the root causes of problems. Its strength is the face-to-face interpersonal nature of the action, such as contributing to the food bank or tutoring. Direct service eventually needs to be coupled with social change or actions aimed at removing the causes of the problems that direct service is addressing.

God Bless..

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