Catholic Social Teaching

At Our Lady of the Rosary School, our mission is to nurture every child in a loving, faith-filled community, inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are committed to fostering compassion, justice, and service, ensuring that our pupils grow as responsible global citizens who care for others and the world around them.

Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching (CST), we guide our pupils to live out the Gospel through actions that reflect dignity, solidarity, and the common good. The CST themes help to shape our learning and school ethos, supporting our children to understand how faith calls us to make a difference.

Dignity of the Human Person

Dignity means ‘the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect’. Therefore, ‘Dignity’ in Catholic Social Teaching means that every human being should be treated equally. This is because everybody is made in God’s image and His likeness and therefore equal in the eyes of God. This is so important that the other principles are based on this.

‘Every person is immensely holy and deserves our love.’ Pope Francis

‘So God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. … God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.’ Genesis 1:27

‘”You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than this.’ Mark 12:31

Community and Participation

As humans, we are made to live in community with one another.  This means being active members of the world we live in. We are meant to look out for each other and build each other up. This is how God wants us to live. Living in community with others is more than simply living near people. We need to recognise the dignity in other people and treat them as such. We are also called to recognise our own gifts and talents and use them to make our communities better!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37-39

‘Don’t be observers, but immerse yourself in the reality of life, as Jesus did.’

Pope Francis, World Youth Day, 2013

Care of Creation

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1)

• God calls us to protect His creation and be responsible stewards of the earth.

• Our pupils engage in eco-initiatives, recycling projects, and sustainability efforts to care for our common home.

• We support CAFOD’s Lenten fundraising appeals, raising money for communities affected by climate change.

• Our school allotment initiative teaches children about sustainability, caring for the environment, and growing food for our community.

Dignity of  Workers

"Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,

for the Lord will take up their case."

(Proverbs 22:22-23)

• Work is more than a job—it is a way to serve others and uphold dignity.

• We teach respect for all professions and encourage children to value fairness and justice in the workplace.

• As part of our commitment to social justice, our pupils write to our local MP about issues affecting workers, families, and communities.

Preferential Option for the Poor 

As Christians, we believe that those in need deserve the best. This is because of everyone’s inherent dignity. It is important that we advocate for those in need by listening to what they have to say and speaking up for them. The ‘preferential option’ means allowing someone to have the first choice. It means giving someone the best that is available; not just the scraps or leftovers.

In the Gospels, Jesus shows a preferential option for the poor by putting them first. He gives them special importance by thinking of their needs and helping them have their rightful place in the world.

‘If anyone is well off in worldly possessions and sees their sister or brother in need but closes their heart to them, how can the love of God be remaining in them?’

     1 John 3.17-18

Solidarity and Peace

God has created us to live peacefully with one another. Sadly, this is often not the case and many people live lives that are not peaceful, due to the actions of others. God calls us to be peacemakers in the world – to stand in solidarity with those in need.

‘The paths of peace are paths of solidarity, for no one can be saved alone. We live in a world so interconnected that, in the end, the actions of each person affect everyone.’

Pope Francis

‘Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with those in need.’

Romans 12:16

SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS DURING THE LITURGICAL YEAR

Autumn

Prayer tables are green at start of academic year.

Harvest Thanksgiving - A whole school assembly with gifts of food and drink. Harvest Gifts are kindly donated by families to the Manna foodbank.

Month of the Rosary: October is the month of the Rosary. Classes are encouraged to pray the Rosary regularly. 

Month of Remembrance: During November we remember all those souls who have gone to Heaven. We have an All Souls Mass, which is offered up for all of the faithful departed.  On the 11 November, Year 2 lead us in a Remembrance Assembly. A class from the school attends the Armistice Day ceremony at Staines War Memorial. The rest of the school take part in a two-minute silence on the playground.

Advent: This is the season to prepare for Christmas.  The Advent Wreath is placed in the hall. Each class has an Advent Calendar with thoughts for the day. The prayer table should be changed to purple. Year 5 attends the Advent Liturgy at Westminster Cathedral.

Christmas: EYFS/KS1 lead a Nativity play and KS2 take part in a Carol Service at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.

Reconciliation Services for Years 4-6.

Spring

Prayer tables are gold for Christmas season then green for Ordinary Time after Feast of Baptism of Our Lord.

Epiphany (if in term time) – Visit of the Wise Men– We attend Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.

Candlemas: Celebration of Light and Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. We hold a Mass in school for parents, parishioners and pupils.

Lent: We attend an Ash Wednesday liturgy at Our Lady of the Rosary Church.  This season is to prepare for Easter. Opportunity for Prayer and Penance is given to all children. We encourage awareness of our greater responsibilities and of our privilege to help our brothers and sisters in the wider world. Each class takes part in a Lenten fundraising appeal. Classes in KS1 and KS2 attend Stations of the Cross at church. Year 5 take part in a whole day retreat during the period of Lent.

Reconciliation Services for KS2.

EYFS/KS1 Mother’s Day Assembly: Celebrated before the week leading up to the 4^th Sunday in Lent.

Easter – The Resurrection of our Lord is celebrated during the school holidays. Year 5 lead a Passion Play that is attended by their parents.

Summer

Prayer table in gold for Easter season until Pentecost, when they change to green for Ordinary Time.  

First Holy Communions: The children in Year 3 (there may be children from other year groups) make their First Holy Communion in May.

Month of Mary: A special Crowing of Mary liturgy takes place. The pupil chaplaincy team leads the Rosary in the sensory garden or the prayer area daily through the month.

Ascension: Celebration of our Lord’s return to Heaven.

Pentecost: Celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Service of Reconciliation: The whole school studies the topic of Reconciliation this term. 

Corpus Christi: Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. KS2 join in with Eucharistic adoration at the church. An outdoor procession takes place to celebrate this feast day.

Feast of St. Peter and Paul: A Mass is celebrated for this special feast day.

Leavers Mass: A farewell celebration for the Year 6 leavers. 

A number of other whole school and class liturgies take place during the year.