The Pope Benedict XVI
CARITAS AWARD “Love - Caritas - is an extraordinary force.”
The Pope Benedict XVI CARITAS AWARD is administered by the Scottish Catholic Education Service on behalf of the Bishops of Scotland with the generous support of the Knights of St Columba.
What is the
CARITAS AWARD
What does it involve?
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he CARITAS AWARD is an exciting and new way for young people to record and share their learning about, and living of, their faith. It asks them to take up the invitation of God’s friendship by offering their talents in the service of others.
“My dear young Catholics of Scotland...this is the challenge the Lord gives to you today: the Church now belongs to you!” Pope Benedict XVI, homily at Mass, Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, 16th September 2010
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The CARITAS AWARD has been established by the Bishops of Scotland as a way of keeping alive the legacy of Pope Benedict’s historic visit to our country in 2010. During his visit the Pope handed over the baton of faith to Scotland’s youth when he said:
RREEFFLLEECCT
The Pope Benedict XVI CARITAS AWARD encourages and promotes the ongoing faith journey of young people. It recognises that some are already active and committed within their homes, schools, parishes and dioceses and it invites others to respond to God’s call of love. It supports and celebrates the faith witness which young people give within their communities.
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n our family homes, schools and parishes, young people discover and respond to “Caritas”, God’s love, through their learning, their reflection and their actions.
The award asks them to use their faith learning as a starting point for further faith reflection, leading to actions which show their faith witness. Participants in the Caritas Award will be supported in deciding how they can develop and use their gifts in a way that witnesses to God’s love (“Caritas”) in their communities.
It involves activities and skills in areas such as: • • • • • • • • • • • •
personal reflection and discernment learning about faith faith in action within school and parish prayer and meditation enquiring and explaining negotiation team-working leadership record-keeping written communication oral communication ICT use
Requirements for Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award 1 FAITH WITNESS
2 FAITH LEARNING
3 FAITH REFLECTION
40 hours engagement in service of others
Learning about aspects of Catholic Teaching
Reflection and discernment
Examples
Examples
Examples
• involvement in parish ‘ministries’ - as altar servers, readers, choirs /music groups, liturgy groups, supporting parish youth groups; • membership of school, parish or diocesan groups, such as: SSVP, Pro-Life, Justice & Peace, FairTrade, Knights of St Columba, Legion of Mary, HCPT and Lourdes groups; • contributing to school-based faith activities: retreats for younger pupils, liturgical services, school chaplaincy, peer support.
• Catholic Social Teaching
• gathering points
• The dignity of the person
• times of prayer
• The person of Jesus
• retreat programme
• Issues of morality
• personal reflection
• Prayer
• journal keeping
• The Sacraments
• use of Sacred Scripture
• Belief & Science
• participation in Mass and other liturgies
• People of Faith • The Church • The Trinity • The Creed • The Charter for Catholic schools
Evidence
Evidence
• reflection on vocation • decisions and choices • examination of conscience • reflection on key life events
Evidence
• at least 20 hours in parish activities
Examples of faith learning e.g.
One of the following:
• jotter work
• journal / blog
PLUS
• project material
• reflective essay
• at least 20 hours in school or community activities
• report on a piece of school learning
• audio / video of conversation with school co-ordinator
NOTE: Evidence of Faith Learning may come from your S4/5/6 work and does not require additional time for R.E. in S6.
NOTE: Faith Reflection will be through both organised ‘gathering points’ and time on your own in prayer and reflection.
Recorded in Caritas Log Book NOTE: Faith Witness activities should take place in your personal time, largely out-with school hours.
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Once you enter into friendship with God, everything in your life begins to change. Pope Benedict XVI, Address to school children and students, Twickenham 17th September 2010
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Who can do it?
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ny pupil in their final year of school can ‘sign-up’ to participate in the CARITAS AWARD. Parishes may nominate young people for the award, where no Catholic school is available to do so. The award is designed to be inclusive of all young people and is open to pupils of all faiths and denominations. Pupils can choose how they would like to record and share their learning, reflection and witness from a number of formats. Pupils studying at various levels will be able to achieve the requirements for the award.
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Think of all the love that your heart was made to receive, and all the love it is meant to give. After all, we were made for love
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Pope Benedict XVI, speaking to young people, Westminster 18th September 2010
What’s in it for me?
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ou might consider how participating in the Pope Benedict XVI CARITAS AWARD will help you develop key skills, motivate you to work as part of a team, and improve your C.V. Or how you will make new friends, set yourself challenges and improve your confidence. Or how you will be supported with learning resources and help from your teachers. However, when you consider the words of the Holy Father you will realise that there are far greater benefits than these. In sharing 'Caritas' (love) with others, you will “discover the joy of entering into Christ’s being for others” (Address to Teachers and Religious, Twickenham 17th September).
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There is only one thing which lasts: the love of Jesus Christ personally for each one of you. Search for him, know him and love him, and he will set you free.
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Pope Benedict XVI, Homily at Mass,
Bellahouston Park Glasgow, 16th September 2010
Photographs © Mazur/www.thepapalvisit.org.uk
Timeline For Award Year June
Induction
Opportunity to hear about and ‘sign up’ for the Caritas Award.
August
1st Gathering Point
Begin to identify appropriate Faith Witness activities in school and parish.
September
Personal planning
Plan which Faith Witness activity you will engage in. Start to think about how this connects to your Faith Learning. Make time for prayer and Faith Reflection.
October
2nd Gathering Point
Begin Faith Witness activities. Begin to record evidence of Faith Witness, Learning and Reflection using log book and Caritas resources.
November December
3rd Gathering Point
Continue to engage in and record Faith Witness activities in log book. Continue to make time to reflect on your Faith Witness activities and Faith Learning, using information from the Gathering Points. Continue to record your evidence.
January
4th Gathering Point
Decide which format to use to share your Faith Reflection with Caritas Awards body and begin to prepare this. (e.g. Journal, Video Diary, Recorded Interview, Essay, Blog) Continue to engage in and record Faith Witness activities in log book.
February
Compile evidence
Identify and gather completed evidence of Faith Learning and Reflection. Choose one piece of class work or write a report which demonstrates your Faith Learning. Complete all evidence of Faith Witness, Learning and Reflection.
March
Submission
Submit all evidence to school co-ordinator and awards body.
May
Results
Notification of results and invitation to National Awards Ceremony.
The Pope Benedict XVI CARITAS AWARD is administered by the Scottish Catholic Education Service on behalf of the Bishops of Scotland with the generous support of the Knights of St Columba.
75 Craigpark • Glasgow G31 2HD • Tel: 0141 556 4727 • Fax: 0141 551 8467 email: mail@sces.uk.com • www.sces.uk.com
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If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed … Dear young people: do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Pope Benedict XVI, Homily,
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24 April 2005, quoted in Verbum Domini, (104)
When will this happen?
T
he CARITAS AWARD is designed to help you reflect on how your relationship with God and with others has an impact on your beliefs and actions. It may be the beginning of a more mature response to faith at both a personal level and within your community. While the award will gather evidence over your final year of school, it is intended to be a bridge to your future faith journey. The award will recognise your actions which demonstrate a commitment to "Caritas" in your life - the love of God which you express in loving service of those in need, in your parish and elsewhere. Hopefully it will encourage you to consider how you can sustain a commitment to use your talents and to commit your time to address the needs of others as you continue your journey of faith into your adult life. For now, the achievement of the award will provide you with public recognition of the faith learning, witness and reflection which you will have completed by the time you leave school.
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And once these things begin to matter to you, you are well on the way to becoming saints.
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Pope Benedict XVI, Twickenham, 17th September 2010