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How do we live out the principles of Catholic Social Teaching at St Mary's?

The church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, councilliar and eipscopal documents. The depth and richness of this tradition can be understood best through a direct reading of these documents. Below, we highlight the seven key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition and how we live this out at St Mary's.

1. Human Dignity- Everyone is Special

God made each person so every life is important and should be protected. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

Aquinas winning KS2 Sports Day
More winning EYFS and KS1 Sports Day
Lydia and her Brownies badges
Freddie receiving his concentration award at Kickboxing
Year 1 and 2 Athletics Competition
Logan finishing his first long distance walk.
Erin and Cora at a cheerleading event
Morgan our talented artist
The girls football team
Isabelle celebrating her Evoke Gymnastics award
St Mary's football team celebrating a win
St. Mary's cricket team
St. Mary's Year 2's athletics squad
Cross country
Ruby celebrating her gymnastics medal
Who is Jesus to you- Sept

St Paul tells us that each person is a work of art, created by God and chosen for a unique purpose. Ephesians 2:10

2. Participation- We want to contribute to our community

God made us to be part of communities, families and countries, so all people can share and help each other. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and wellbeing of all. It's about living together as a community.

Our fabulous Starlight Walkers
Donating to the Swindon Toy Appeal
Visiting the house bound
Giving to our local community
Donating to Growbaby and reflecting on CST
Easter Fayre- teddy tombola- Growbaby Swindon
Donating cutlery to those in need
Walking to support CAFOD
Walking to support CAFOD
Thank you card from a parishioner
Afternoon Tea for Parishioners
Afternoon Tea for Parishioners
Delivering our Remembrance Day Poppy's to St. Mary's church
'Well Being Day' stay for a cuppa and a chat
Hello Yellow day
Visiting the elderly in the community
Visiting the elderly in the community
A hair cut for Little princess Trust
St. Mary's children cutting their hair forLittle princess trust
'Lily's Sweets Shop raising money for Sabrina's World
Crazy hair day to raise money for Little Princess Trust
Praying with the community
Letters sent to care home residence
Year 3/4 caring for our community
Ruby and Leo litter picking at Lydiard Park
Posters made to say thank you to the keyworkers
Cards for elderly
Cards for elderly

"You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to them what is theirs." St Ambrose (340-397 AD)

3. Subsidiarity- All people should have a say

God wants us to help make sure everyone is safe and healthy and can have a good life. The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsbilities are met.

Chaplaincy Commissioning
Chaplaincy Meeting
Year 6 Visit to the Houses of Parliament

Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right- Pslam 106:3

Fear not for I am with you. I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable- Some people need extra help

God wants us to help people who are poor, who don't have enough food, a safe place to live or a community.

Lily's letter
Governors and children cooking for Alternative Angels
Our reading volunteers and children cooking for Alterative Angels
Delivering food to Alternative Angels
Raising money for Growbaby
Making hampers for Women's Refuge
Making more hampers for Women's Refuge
Raising money for CAFOD's Walk for water
Harvesy Festival items
Harbour project - giving Harvest gifts
Harbour project - delivering the gifts

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:35-40

5. Common Good and Rights of Workers- What is best for everyone

Work is important in God's plan for adults and their families, so jobs and pay should be fair. Work is more than a way to make a living, it is a way of taking part of God's creation.

Fairtrade Week 2023
Planning the new curriculum

Do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour. (James 3:17)

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

6. Solidarity- We are one big family

God made everyone so we are all brothers and sisters in God's family wherever we live. We are one human family whatever our differences. Loving our neighbour has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of Solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

Y6 Leavers Mass at Clifton Cathedral
Let's Connect
Raising awareness for CAFOD's Eyes of the World climate campaign
Raising awareness for Eyes of the World climate campaign
A letter from a year 5 pupil to our local MP raising the issue of climate change

Blessed Pope Paul VI taught that "If you want peace, work for justice". The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers.

7. Stewardship- Care for God's Creation

We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation. The environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.

Litter picking
Walk, ride or scoot to school
Year 5's learn about coastal erosion at Lulworth Cove
Year 2's learn how to look after chicks
Mary's Haven before work started on clearing it
Mary's Haven during work
Mary's Haven after the clean up and repair
Mary's Haven all ready for outdoor learning and Forest School

Pope Francis wrote us a letter called Laudato Si - see it here

"Who turned the wonderworld of the seas into underwater cemeteries bereft of colour and life?" Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, 1988

What has happened to our world?

Year 3/4 Ermin class created this video in response to climate change. They wanted to get the important message across that we need to be acting on the words of Pope Francis in our role as stewards of creation, not just for our lives now, but for future generations.

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