What is Catholic Social Teaching?

Catholic Social Teaching at St Sebastian’s

At St Sebastian’s, Catholic Social Teaching sits at the heart of our mission and guides the way we live, learn and grow together. These teachings come from Scripture and from the wisdom shared by Church leaders across many generations. They help us understand how to live the Gospel in today’s world and remind us of Jesus’ call to love God and to love our neighbour, especially those experiencing poverty or injustice.

Modern Catholic Social Teaching began in 1891 with the encyclical Rerum Novarum. Since then, the Church has continued to reflect on the needs of our changing world. Recent encyclicals from Pope Francis, including Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, continue to challenge us to care for creation, to seek justice and to build communities shaped by compassion and hope.

From these documents, we draw a number of key principles. Different organisations express them in slightly different ways, yet all share the same message of dignity, justice, stewardship, solidarity and the common good. At St Sebastian’s, these principles underpin everything we do. They guide our curriculum, our relationships and the way we serve our wider community.

We help our children understand and live out Catholic Social Teaching through a rich variety of experiences. These include themed enrichment days, Star of the Week celebrations, assemblies, Celebration of the Word, Religious Education and Prayer and Liturgy. We are continuing to build these principles into all aspects of school life so that our children recognise them not only in lessons but in the choices they make each day.

We encourage our pupils to link Catholic Social Teaching with our school mission and our SMC values. We help them to grow as thoughtful, reflective young people who are ready to question injustice, to care for the Earth and to work with others to build a fairer world. Throughout the year, our school community supports local, national and international charities, and our children consistently show a deep sense of care for all members of God’s family.

Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that each of us has the power to make a difference. Jesus calls us to bring love, dignity and kindness to those near and far, following the example of the saints and of generations of Christians who have worked to transform our world. As our children journey through St Sebastian’s, they learn about the nine key principles of Catholic Social Teaching and discover the many ways they can put their faith into action.