Works of Mercy Living christ’s mission

Defining characteristics of catholic schools are:

National Standards and Benchmarks

for Effective Catholic Schools

● Centered in the person of Jesus Christ ● Contributing to the Evangelizing

Mission of the Church ● Distinguished by Excellence ● Committed to Educate the Whole Child

● Steeped in a Catholic Worldview ● Sustained by Gospel Witness ● Shaped by Communion and Community ● Accessible to All Students ● Established by the Expressed Authority

of the Bishop

Evangelization Excellence

enrollment

three E’s from the cs0

EVANGELIZATION GOAL #3 BTEOT 16-17 SY, elementary students across the Archdiocese

will complete 75,000 hours of service in the context

of the Works of Mercy;

5 case studies, 1 per Cluster, will highlight the impact of service.

THE PERFECT NUMBER 7 WORKS OF MERCY -

CAN YOU NAME THEM?

7 CORPORAL

7 SPIRITUAL

What are the works of mercy? 2447 CCC

The Works of Mercy are charitable actions by which

we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual

and bodily necessities.

GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE…..TURN AND TALK….. HOW CAN WE AS CATHOLIC EDUCATORS GET OUR

FACULTIES AND STUDENTS THINKING IN TERMS

OF WORKS OF MERCY THAT ARE A CONTINUATION

OF THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST, RATHER

THAN IN TERMS OF SERVICE PROJECTS THAT

HELP ORGANIZATIONS FULFILL THEIR

PROJECTS/GIVE KIDS SERVICE HOURS?

GET BACK TO THE BASICS AND FOCUS ON CURRICULUM…..

Dimensions of the Religion Curriculum

“The fundamental task” of the

Religion Curriculum “is to

achieve…the formation of disciples of

Jesus Christ. Jesus instructed His

disciples; He prayed with them; He

showed them how to live; and He gave

them His mission.” (NDC) Ch. 2, #20

Overarching goals of student catechesis in this area Prepares the Christian student

to live in community and to

participate actively in the life

and mission of the Church.

“Catechesis encourages the

disciples of Jesus to make their

daily conduct a shining and

convincing testimony to the

Gospel.” This preparation

encourages service and social

justice as it promotes unity and

ecumenical spirit.

Promotes a missionary spirit

that prepares the student to

be present as Christians in

society. This catechesis

prepares the student to live

as witnesses of their

Christian faith; it provides

the Christian model of the

Beatitudes; and it encourages

the student to understand the

other world religions.

Turn and talk What can we do to change and/or

encourage our teachers to ensure that

they are meeting the fundamental task of

the religion curriculum, which is to

achieve the formation of disciples of

Jesus Christ THAT WILL CARRY ON HIS

MISSION TODAY AND IN THEIR FUTURES -

HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND CAREER?

What the cso is going to do….. ➢Create a grade level specific presentation for teachers to watch this Spring to educate

themselves on the Works of Mercy, as well as what objectives in their current curriculum guides are met by teaching these to students; they will receive 2 hours of elective credit towards their catechist certification.

➢Ask teachers to ensure that they are using the vocabulary of the Works of Mercy when they are teaching, as they help students that are completing service, and as they discuss and give guidance throughout the day.

What the cso is going to do….. ➢ Highlight the works being done on various

campuses and how they fulfill Christ’s mission.

➢ Track the hours and projects that our schools

are doing so that we can share the Good News

about how our schools are forming disciples of

Jesus Christ every day.

➢ In our efforts that we are already doing,

encourage “out of the box” thinking and

coordination/collaboration!

What the cso is going to do….. ➢ Provide a list of archdiocesan ministries and

their contacts so that our collaborative efforts

can make a greater impact in the Archdiocese of

Galveston-Houston, within local municipalities,

across our nation, and through mission work

around the globe.

➢ Provide more opportunities for teachers to learn

and grow in their faith, as well as, embed

Catholic doctrine and teaching in their subject

areas.

What you can do as a principal... ★ Use the vocabulary of the Works of Mercy in your

own work.

★ Talk with parents about the Works of Mercy as

they are helping to complete activities in this

area.

★ Highlight your school’s efforts to meet the needs

of others in your newsletter, using Works of

Mercy terminology to educate parents on the work

you are doing to fulfill Christ’s mission as you

form disciples of Jesus Christ in your school.

What you can do as a principal... ★ Ensure that the service projects that you allow on campus

meet one of the 14 Works of Mercy.

★ Require teachers to complete the Works of Mercy

assignment for catechist credit.

★ Ask teachers to brainstorm ways to make the Works of

Mercy come alive on your campus daily...instruct the

ignorant, admonish the sinner, counsel the doubtful, bear

wrongs patiently.

★ Review the service you do on your campus and make sure

that it serves a local need and/or is in communion with

other ministries in our archdiocese.

St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Missions Office Donation and Distribution

SVDP Food Network

Youth Mission Trips

The Pontifical Mission Societies and

Catholic Relief Services

Resale Store

Ministry of the Archdiocese The Office of Catholic Cemeteries: Burying the dead. Praying for the living and the dead. Comforting those who mourn. - Catholic burial practices, Catholic approaches to death and dying (including end of life issues), and the "nuts and bolts" issues faced by people having to make funeral arrangements. In these presentations they promote the full use of the Order of Christian Funerals, and the benefits of preparing all funeral arrangements (form liturgy to funeral home to cemetery) before the time of need.

Ministries of the Archdiocese Ministry with Persons with Disabilities St. Dominic's Center/Priests Retirement HoME

Office of Vocations Office of Aging/homebound Angela/Isaiah houses

GRIEF MINISTRY Hispanic Ministry San Jose Clinic

St. Mary’s Seminary Pro Life Office Catholic Chaplain Corps

Respect Life Catholic Charities/REFUGEES Special Youth Services

Our Daily Bread Pastoral Care for Inmates

School of Environmental Education Texas Catholic Correctional Ministers (TCCM)

ARCHDIOCESAN VISION SCHOOLS WORKING WITH ARCHDIOCESAN ENTITIES TO SUPPORT PROJECTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES, IN

the HOUSTON AREA, IN TEXAS, IN U.S., AND GLOBALLY THROUGH LOCAL MISSIONARIES

SCHOOLS HELPING SCHOOLS – BACKPACK AND SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVES, FOOD DRIVES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, COMMUNITY GARDENS,

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!

St. John Berchmans Catholic School, in partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, established a 'Giving Garden' for students and

the community.

BRAINSTORMING FOR WHAT YOU CURRENTLY DO ON YOUR CAMPUS,

Make a list of service opportunities

that answer God’s call to serve others

through the 14 Works of Mercy.

Make a list of projects that are good

for the community, but would NOT be

categorized as Works of Mercy.

In your cluster…. Discuss amongst yourselves a project or two

that you feel would be the BEST example of a

Work of Mercy from your lists. Perhaps one

project demonstrates multiple Works of Mercy.

Decide to nominate that project to be the one

from your cluster that is highlighted for its

impact as a Work of Mercy this year.

Works of Mercy Living christ’s mission