Rooted in Love

What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) applies Gospel values such as love, peace, justice, compassion, reconciliation, service and community to modern social issues. It is informed by the wisdom of Church leaders and influenced by the needs of the contemporary world. Catholic Social Teaching forms part of a moral compass, guiding us in how we live out our faith in everyday life.

Catholic Social Teaching helps us to understand why we support particular charities, causes, and movements. We strongly believe that children should learn about the charities we support and the many ways in which we serve our wider community. Many of these charities have a personal connection to our school community.

"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:18 (ESV)

The children learn about Catholic Social Teaching throughout the year by following the Caritas Rooted in Love programme. This enables them to develop a deeper understanding of each of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. These principles are closely linked to the Religious Education curriculum and are explored through the different branches of learning. This gives children the opportunity to understand how these values can be lived out in daily life and seen in the wider world, while also learning about their foundations in Catholic teaching.

At Our Lady Catholic Primary School, Catholic Social Teaching is woven throughout our curriculum. Children are encouraged to put their faith into action and reflect on how their learning enables them to make a positive difference in the world around them.

The Rooted in Love Approach

Each half-term, our school focusses on one of the six principles of Catholic Social Teaching:

· Autumn 1: Care for Creation

· Autumn 2: Preferential Option for the Poor

· Spring 1: Solidarity and Peace

· Spring 2: Community and Participation

· Summer 1: Dignity of Workers

· Summer 2: Human Dignity

At the start of each half-term, the focus principle is introduced through phase-group assemblies led by our Liturgy Leaders.