Catholic Social Teaching Our tradition of justice Caritas study and discussion programme PARTICIPATION Introduction: This is one of seven 90 min sessions on principles of Catholic Social Teaching. They can be used as an individual one-off session on a particular Catholic social teaching principle or as a series of seven sessions. They are designed to be used by a group of 4-10 people, but can also be adapted for individual study and reflection. They are based on a set of seven posters and videos, available from the Caritas office and also provided on the Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand website: www.caritas.org.nz/resources/cst If used as a group, it is suggested that participants gather around a table with a focal point, such as a cross and candle as a centre. It will help to have facilitator to lead the sessions and encourage full participation, and a timekeeper to light the candle at the beginning, assist in keeping the group on track time-wise and set up the video. Each session are framed around the SEE-TIROHIA JUDGE-WĀNANGATIA ACT-MAHIA model of reflection and action. Times are approximate only but it is important that the whole session concludes after 90 minutes.
PARTICIPATION Everyone has a Part to Play Catholic Social Teaching Our tradition of justice Opening Prayer Open with the sign of the cross in English, Te Reo Māori and other languages of the group: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Ki te ingoa o te Matua, o te Tamaiti, o te Wairua Tapu. Āmene. Lord God, who has made us all into one body in Christ, Enable us to honour one another in our work. Help us to understand the ways in which we depend upon one another. Teach us to bear one another s burdens and share one another s joy. In our varied occupations enable us to serve one another with dignity and carefulness. May we receive with gratitude the work of other people. So continue your work of binding us together in your human family. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen (St Benedict Community: Prayers for the world of work) Introductions If this is the first time the group has met, or if there are new people in the group, allow time for brief introductions. 2
SEE - TIROHIA (30 mins) 1. Pondering the poster Spend some time looking at the Caritas Participation poster. Different members read out a paragraph each from the poster, pausing after each one. Promoting participation means recognising we each have something unique and important to contribute to society. As human beings we live in community with others, growing together. We are called to be active members of our local and global communities to improve the wellbeing of all people. We have a responsibility to be inclusive in our churches, our workplaces, our neighbourhoods and our decision-making processes. As communities we can work creatively to provide opportunities for all people to participate. Each of us has a part to play, a gift to share, a service to offer, for building up the Body of Christ in love. Pope Francis What activity is the woman in the foreground of the poster taking part in? What statement from the poster best illustrates for you the idea of participation? 2. Viewing the video Watch the Caritas Participation video on L Arche Kapiti 1. In the whole group read out the following explanation: Promoting participation means recognising we each have something unique and important to contribute to society. At L Arche Kapiti people with and without disabilities live together, each participating and contributing to the life of the community in daily tasks and in decision making. At L Arche, members of the community with disability are called core members because they are at the centre of the community. At meetings everyone is given an opportunity to contribute and be heard. At prayer time pictures and symbols are passed around for everyone so core members who are non-verbal can express their prayer. L Arche seeks to be an inclusive community and works creatively to allow everyone to participate and engage in a way that they feel comfortable and accepted. Ask each person in the group to share with their neighbour: What is your immediate reaction to this video? What feelings does it arise in you? 1. available on-line at http://www.caritas.org.nz/resources/catholic-social-teaching/participation or on DVD from Caritas 3
How does the video show that each community member has something unique and important to contribute? What incidents in this video touched your heart? How does the example of this community challenge us to live today? 5 minute break JUDGE - WĀNANGATIA (40 minutes) 1. Searching the Scriptures Commitment to enabling everyone to participate is part of our Scriptural tradition. Group members take it in turns to read out quotes from Scripture from this Discussion outline or from a Bible, pausing after each one. As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fish for people. Matthew 4:18-19 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.1 John 3:18 So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. Romans 12:5 Are there other Scriptural references which speak to you of participation? Why did Peter and Jesus respond to Jesus call to follow him? How could the early Christian community provoke one another to love and good deeds? What is the significance of being one body in Christ and members one of another? 4
2. Learning in the light of Catholic social teaching: Group members take turns to read out each of the following passages, pausing after each: Many try to escape from others and take refuge in the comfort of their privacy or in a small circle of close friends, renouncing the realism of the social aspect of the Gospel. For just as some people want a purely spiritual Christ, without flesh and without the cross, they also want their interpersonal relationships provided by sophisticated equipment, by screens and systems which can be turned on and off on command. Meanwhile, the Gospel tells us constantly to run the risk of a face-to-face encounter with others, with their physical presence which challenges us, with their pain and their pleas, with their joy which infects us in our close and continuous interaction. True faith in the incarnate Son of God is inseparable from self-giving, from membership in the community, from service, from reconciliation with others. The Son of God, by becoming flesh, summoned us to the revolution of tenderness. Pope Francis: Evangelii Gaudium - The Joy of the Gospel (paragraph 88), 2013 Participation is the voluntary and generous engagement of a person in social interchange. It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person. Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 1913) Participation is a duty to be fulfilled consciously by all, with responsibility and with a view to the common good. it becomes absolutely necessary to encourage participation above all of the most disadvantaged Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (paragraph 189) Be assertive. Be a participant in life at all levels. The future will be what you make of today. New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference: Love life, give life, 1985 Our aim should be to create the conditions the mentality, the legislation, the living facilities, the service, the work the environment which make it possible for the disabled person to participate in and enjoy the quality of life of the total community. New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference: Statement for the international year of disabled persons, 1981 Why is participation in life at all levels so important for us as followers of Christ? Why is it so important to have a face-to-face encounter with others? How is promoting the common good dependent on the voluntary and generous engagement of people? 5
ACT - MAHIA (15 minutes) Reflect personally on the following questions: How do I ensure that I enable the participation of all members of my family and community? What do I need to change to ensure that I can exercise my responsibility to actively contribute to society? How well does my parish or community enable the participation of people with disabilities? How can I become more conscious of the people in my life, and so be part of Pope Francis call to participate in the revolution of tenderness? Choose one of these to share briefly with the whole group. CLOSING Prayer God, life is your gift to us. Through Baptism, you invite us to share the gift of life in service to others. Be with us as we chose each day to show your presence in our world. Give us the courage and generosity to respond to your love and your call. We pray especially for those who serve you in all ministries here in our parish. May they bear the Good News to those in need and keep them close to you. Open the minds and hearts of many that they may accept your challenge to build the Kingdom in our parish. Lord Jesus, You tell us that the meaning of life consists in giving. Help us to realise it is not riches or fame or power that gives life meaning. Rather it is generosity and service to You and others that brings fulfilment and makes life worthwhile. May all our activity help us to build Your Kingdom. Amen. (Archdiocese of Brisbane) Close with the sign of the cross in English, Te Reo Māori and other languages of the group: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Ki te ingoa o te Matua, o te Tamaiti, o te Wairua Tapu. Āmene. 6