Religious Life Of The School P 12 Elaborations
Religious life of the school P-12 elaborations
Each of the four components of the Religious Life of the School P-12 has further been sub-divided into three elements with elaborations.
These elaborations can be used to critique current practice with a view to further enhancing the spiritual and faith development of students.
Elaborations of the Religious Life of the School P-12 align with the content descriptions of the Religion Curriculum P-12 and are coded accordingly.
Schools should ensure a range and balance of elaborations from across all four components are represented in the religious education curriculum.
Evangelisation and faith formation
Living the gospel
Living the gospel calls for openness that invites each person to experience a change of heart by engaging with the world as Jesus did. A school fosters this call in its individual members by creating an environment that encourages and invites them to discipleship and ministry.
- creating a Christ-centered environments EFG1
- embedding the gospel practices and processes EFG2
- celebrating the Good news EFG3
Elaborations - living the gospel
Spiritual formation
Spiritual formation in a Catholic school occurs within the context of the Catholic Christian faith tradition. Such formation is orientated to the spiritual growth of each individual and the spiritual flourishing of the school community. Spiritual formation is sensitive to the faith background and life journey of individuals within the community.
- planning formation for students EFF1
- responding to diversity EFF2
- seeking creative expresssions EFF3
Elaborations - spiritual formation
Witness to the wider community
Witness to the wider community calls Christians to give witness to the beliefs and values of the Catholic Christian tradition and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Catholic school, as part of the evangelising mission of the Church, witnesses to the wider community through its physical presence and authentic proclamation of the gospel in word and action.
- celebrating with others EFW1
- reaching out EFW2
- making connections EFW3
- communicating the message EFW4
Elaborations - witness to the wider community
Evangelisation and faith formation
Prayer and Worship
Christian prayer
Christian prayer raises the mind and heart to God or requests good things from God and contributes to the faith growth of individuals and the building of Christian community. Schools draw on the richness of the Catholic tradition, the wider Christian tradition and their own particular charism to nurture the prayer life of the school.
- drawing on the tradition PWP1
- nurturing prayer life PWP2
- providing a variety of experiences PWP3
Elaborations - Christian prayer
Celebrating liturgy and sacraments
Celebration of liturgy and sacraments are part of the formal, public prayer and worship of the Church. The Church encourages full, conscious and active participation in liturgy. Schools celebrate the Liturgy of the Church through celebration of the sacraments, Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Hours.
- developing skills in liturgy PWL 1
- promoting participation in liturgy PWL2
- celebrating sacraments PWL3
Elaborations - celebration of liturgy and sacraments
Ritualising everyday life
Ritualising everyday life occurs through rituals combining words, actions and symbols that make meaning of the mystery of life in the light of the gospel. Christians believe that all creation is good and is infused with the presence of God. School communities affirm the sacredness of everyday life by recognising and celebrating God in the created world, in relationships with others and in events and experiences.
- ritualising life events PWR1
- using prayer rituals in school PWR2
Elaborations - ritualising everyday life
Prayer and worship
Religious identity and culture
Ethos and charism
Ethos and charism of the school express the Catholic identity and the assumptions, beliefs and values that the school community shares. They are reflected in what is done, how it is done and who is doing it. A school communicates its distinctive identity through its religious values, culture, rituals and practices.
- embedding ethos and charism ICE1
- living vision and mission ICE2
- communicating the ethos and charism ICE3
Elaborations - ethos and charism
Authentic christian community
Authentic Christian community builds quality relationships modelled on the vision and values of Jesus. An authentic school community supports the dignity of each person, practises Christian hospitality and proclaims its values through word and action.
- respecting dignity and diversity ICC1
- building quality relationships ICC2
- practising christian hospitality ICC3
Sense of the sacred
Sense of the sacred uses the intellect, art, design and reflective spaces to engage the senses. It contributes to the religious identity and culture of a community. The aesthetic, social and physical environment is a powerful means through which a school community creates and values a sense of the sacred.
- creating a sense of the sacred ICS1
- enhancing the religious culture ICS2
- resourcing for a sense of the sacred ICS3
Elaborations - sense of the sacred
Religious identity and culture
Social justice and action
Justice in the school community
The school practises justice within its own community through policies, structures and practices that are consistent with the themes of Catholic social teaching. Respect for the dignity of the human person underlies Catholic social justice themes.
- respecting the dignity of all SJS1
- praying for justice SJS2
- building a just community SJS3
Elaborations - justice in the school community
Action for justice
Action for justice is integral to the Christian vocation. Action for justice, peace and ecological sustainability is based on the dream of Jesus to establish the Kingdom of God. School communities act for justice when they demonstrate a commitment to the poor and marginalised, actively work for peace and practise stewardship of the earth.
- applying Catholic social teaching SJA1
- caring for the environment SJA2
- Learning through service SJA3
Elaborations - action for justice
Reflection on action for justice
Reflection on action for justice requires critical reflection and prayerful discernment based upon the scriptures and Catholic social teaching. School communities consciously plan for
and implement these reflective elements into their justice initiatives through an action-reflection process.
- promoting critical discernment SJR1
- building a culture of reflection SJR2
Elaborations - reflection on action for justice
Social justice and action