PASTORAL PLAN. Elementary Pastoral Plan School: School Mission Statement: School Motto: Pray and Work. Our Parish: St.

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1 PASTORAL PLAN School: School Mission Statement: We at St. Benedict, in partnership with the parents and parish community, believe that each individual is a unique gift from God. Together we foster our children's spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social and physical development in a secure, warm and welcoming environment. Working as a team, we can be successful in developing the maximum potential of each child, so he/she will acquire the values, beliefs and knowledge to become successful contributors in our society. School Motto: Pray and Work Our Parish: St. Timothy Pastor: Rev. Luis Calleja Parish website: Message from the Pastor: St Timothy RC Church assists the students, parents and staff members of St Benedict School to live their baptismal call. Through our collective efforts, we inspire our community of believers to answer the call to act justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly, to serve generously and to live peacefully. We invite you and your family to celebrate the Sunday liturgy on: Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00pm, Sunday Masses at 9:00am & 11:00am. God Bless, Fr Luis Calleja Page 1 of 6

2 Message from the Catholic School Council: Our Catholic School Council is an integral part of the school-parish-home connection at St. Benedict School and is diligent about keeping our parent community informed regarding parish activities and events, in an effort to promote involvement in our Parish. Through collaborative practices, we support many faith-forming and community-building initiatives and events which develop the whole child and contribute to improved student achievement and overall wellbeing. We value and depend on the strong partnership that already exists among our parents, staff and parish. We look forward to continually building on this and to continue to demonstrate our united commitment to Catholic Education. Catholic Education Week Theme: Living as Joyful Disciples Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education s presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society. May 5 May 10 is Catholic Education Week. The sub-themes for Catholic Education Week 2019 are as follows: Monday: Rooted in Prayer Tuesday: Living in Community Wednesday: Doing Justice and creating Hope Thursday: Journeying together in Faith Friday: Sharing in the Good News Page 2 of 6

3 Faith Formation: Forming ourselves in our Catholic faith is a foundational element in helping each of us understand and live in the example of Christ. Faith formation is a process of journeying into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Through prayer and reflection, we come to know Jesus more profoundly and we are shaped as Christians. In we will continue to live out our call to be a Eucharistic community by promoting and empowering youth to embrace a catholic worldview through community, catholic prayer and sacramental life. Liturgies to foster faith formation among staff School-wide Virtue Assemblies and Liturgies Monthly celebration and recognition of Virtues in students Regularly held Masses with Pastor Sacramental Preparation for Grade 2 and Grade 7 students Staff and students begin each day with prayers Classrooms participate in prayer at lunch and dismissal Daily Religious/Family Life instruction Living and teaching our faith throughout daily interactions Respect for self, others and the learning environment Advent and Easter Staff Weekly Liturgies Staff Prayers (per need) Weekly Rosary club led by parent volunteers Page 3 of 6

4 Sacramental Preparation: As Catholics, we understand sacraments to be "outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace." Together in partnership with our parish, we support the preparation of God s children in receiving the sacraments. Sacramental preparation is central to the faith formation of each and every student. At St. Benedict, our grade two and grade seven teachers work to support the parish team at St. Timothy s Church in preparing students for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Dates and parent meetings will be provided through the parish. Confirmation will be held in Early May First Communion will be held on May 25 and May 26 Liturgical Celebrations: The gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and share in prayer marks the Liturgical calendar. Celebration Date Opening Liturgy September 13/18 Remembrance Liturgy November 9/18 Advent Mass December 11/18 Ash Wednesday March 6 /19 Confessions March 21/19 End of year Mass/Crowning of Mary May 29/19 Graduation Liturgy June 25/19 Page 4 of 6

5 Social Justice / Outreach Activities / Charities: Catholic Social Teachings of the Church root our actions in supporting human dignity and the preferential option of the poor, which calls us to serve the most vulnerable in the world. Outreach Projects and Food Drives Thanksgiving, Advent and Easter food drives Giving Tree for the donation of mittens/hats/gift cards for those in need at school and our school community Share life fundraising activities Operation Christmas Child by Youth Faith Ambassadors Intermediate students attending Lighthouse to help with food /clothing donations Terry Fox run Recognizing Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations: Framed by the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE), our graduates will be effective communicators, reflective thinkers, lifelong learners, collaborative contributors, caring family members, responsible citizens and discerning believers formed in the Catholic faith community. Celebrating Virtues: A virtue is a habit or established capacity to perform good actions according to a moral standard. When we practice these virtues, we strengthen them and thereby make the presence of God more and more visible in the world around us. We celebrate the virtues of faith, empathy, conscience, hope, self-control, respect, kindness, love, acceptance and fairness. Page 5 of 6

6 Visible Signs of our Faith: Through symbol and service, we are instruments of God s love whose work within our communities stands as a witness to our faith. At St. Benedict, we strive to make each classroom a place of peace where Christ is central to the teaching and activities that occur. We have a sacred space in the front foyer and main office, and each classroom has a sacred space, with crosses and bibles for all to use. A statue of St. Benedict is placed in the front garden for all to see. Resource List for Parents/Guardians: Religious Education Curriculum - Ontario Religious Education Curriculum Family Life Curriculum - Ontario Family Life Curriculum Fully Alive Program information - Ontario Bishops' information on Fully Alive Resource List for Schools: Board Vocations Units We have Vocations units as part of the Grades 2, 5, and 8 curriculum. The goal of these supplementary units is to deepen one s understanding of God s call the vocare to various forms of life within the Church. History of the Parish Through the resource book Our Story, Our Tradition, Our Journey, grade 7 students have the opportunity to learn about the history of our parish. Enduring Gift Video All about Me program Page 6 of 6