This school year, students will learn, live out works of mercy

Monday, August 24, 2015

*Kim Pryzbylski

English Spanish

Each school year brings a new beginning, new opportunities, and new challenges for students, parents and teachers. For the 2015-16 school year, the focus will be on the Mission and Catholic Identity standard.

Pope Francis has asked all Catholics to celebrate the Year of Mercy. In the schools, both the corporal and spiritual works of mercy will provide the theological bases for the Community Service Learning Program. Students will learn and live out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as they extend themselves in service to others —not just to count and tally a certain number of hours, but to activate their faith unselfishly.

Corporal Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry
Shelter the homeless
Clothe the naked
Visit the sick and imprisoned
Bury the dead
Give alms to the poor

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Instruct
Advise
Console
Comfort
Forgive
Bear wrongs patiently

Two activities that have already been planned for the school year are a Solidarity Pilgrimage with our sister diocese in Haiti. Students will raise money to provide for the children in Haiti as well as participate in 10 stations which will provide learning activities about life in Haiti. More information will be forthcoming.

The second activity is on October 7. Students in Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Miami will pray the rosary together at the same time. Again, more information will be sent out closer to the date.

Also, Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’, will be used not only in religion classes, but also science and social studies. The pope is an excellent role model in reaching out to all people as well as living a modest lifestyle. The encyclical provides ideas on how we can take care of one another as well as the environment.

Our students are blessed to be supported by the generosity of many. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people who have provided supplies and services to the students in many of the Catholic schools in our archdiocese:

The Joseph and Winifred Amaturo Family Foundation for the Accelerated Reading and Math Programs;
the Navarro Family Foundation for the Accelerated Reading Program;
and our Catholic community through the 55th anniversary Archbishop's Gala: A Church for the Poor, for the school supplies and backpacks.

I would also like to acknowledge the many donors who have contributed to our schools and have remained anonymous. Each gift, each prayer, each act of mercy is greatly appreciated.