Catholic Social Teaching
“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” St. Catherine of Siena
At The Priory Catholic Primary School, Catholic Social Teaching is at the heart of how we live out our faith in action. Inspired by the Gospel and the example of Jesus, we encourage our children to recognise the dignity and worth of every person and to use their gifts to serve others. Through learning, prayer, charitable outreach and care for our common home, pupils develop a growing understanding of their responsibility to promote justice, compassion and the common good. Through the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we nurture children who are called to make a positive difference in their local community and in the wider world as faithful missionary disciples of Christ.
Catholic Social Teaching Principles
As a school community, we seek to form children who encounter Christ, grow as His disciples and live as missionary disciples in service of others. Dignity is at the heart of all Catholic Social Teaching and underpins all that we do. Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and deserves to be treated with love, respect and compassion. Through prayer and action, we take seriously our responsibility to care for God’s gift of creation, recognising our role as stewards of our Common Home. As individuals, as a school family and as members of the wider global community, we are called to care for one another, especially those who are poor, vulnerable or in need.
At The Priory, pupils actively support CAFOD appeals and fundraising initiatives, including emergency appeals following natural disasters and humanitarian crises and participate enthusiastically in events such as the Big Lent Walk. Visitors and enrichment opportunities further enhance children’s understanding, including work with Anne Neale (CAFOD) and performances from RISE Theatre’s Treasure Within, which help bring Catholic Social Teaching to life in engaging and meaningful ways.
Through these experiences, our children develop a strong sense of justice, compassion and responsibility. We hope that they leave The Priory with the confidence, knowledge and faith to become agents of change, working to build a better world where the dignity of every person is upheld and the needs of the poor and vulnerable are never overlooked.
At The Priory, we recognise that prayer and action go hand in hand. Prayer is at the heart of Catholic Social Teaching because it helps us to see the world through God’s eyes and respond with love, compassion and justice. Through prayer, pupils reflect on the needs of others, give thanks for the gifts of creation and discern how they can make a difference in their communities and the wider world.
Prayer encourages our children to move beyond sympathy towards action. It inspires them to live out Gospel values, stand alongside those who are poor or vulnerable and work for the common good. By praying for others and reflecting on Scripture, pupils deepen their understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and recognise their responsibility to be stewards of creation, peacemakers, advocates for justice and witnesses to Christ’s love.
Through prayer, children come to understand that caring for others is not simply an act of kindness but a response to God’s call to love our neighbour. In this way, prayer nourishes the faith that inspires action and the action that gives witness to faith.
Each class take responsibility for one of the principles of catholic Social Teaching.
