Catholic Education Week 2016: Opening Doors of Mercy
Introduction
Each year, the Catholic community of Ontario engages in a week-long celebration of the unique identity and distinctive contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week. This year’s celebration is entitled, “Catholic Education: Opening Doors of Mercy” and will be held during the week of May 1-6, 2016. The overall scriptural theme is taken from Matthew’s Gospel, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” –Matthew 5:7. We are hopeful that as the body of Christ, we, too, feel our hearts embracing mercy in our community.
The five sub-themes for Catholic Education: Opening Doors of Mercy are:
Monday: Mercy that Welcomes
La miséricorde qui accueille
Tuesday: Mercy that Loves
La miséricorde qui aime
Wednesday: Mercy that Forgives
La miséricorde qui pardonne
Thursday: Mercy that Lives the Gospel
La miséricorde qui vit l’Évangile
Friday: Mercy that Rejoices
La miséricorde qui rend grâce
The purpose of the Elementary School Resource Kit is to provide opportunities for students to engage in meaningful activities and reflections to deepen their awareness and understanding of both the gift and the responsibility of Catholic education. The Elementary Resource Kit contains:
· Eucharistic Celebration/Prayer Service for elementary school communities
· Prayer Services (in PowerPoint format) specific to each of the five sub-themes
· Lessons for primary, junior and intermediate divisions based on mentor texts that focus on each sub-theme (including curriculum links, scripture, black line masters, web links, etc.)
· Faith Play Day activities
· Notable quotations for reflection, organized by sub-themes
· A Living Rosary
For Day 5, one common book, A Chance to Shine, was chosen for the lessons in all divisions to allow for the possibility of a whole-school culminating celebration or activity to Catholic Education Week. A school may also decide to organize a Faith Play Day or a Living Rosary on any of the five days and suggested activities are provided.
Feel free to adapt any of the materials in this package to suit your school’s specific needs. Materials may be found on the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) website at: www.ocsta.on.ca. We encourage all our partners in Catholic education to reference the Secondary Resource Kit and past years’ kits for prayers and activities that can enrich the current Elementary Resource Kit.
Sincerely,
Catholic Education Week Resource Committee
Paul Beaudette
Janet Bentham
Sr. Pat Carter
Nancy Davie
Paul De Vuono
Amy LaFroy
Stephanie Maher
Cindy Morgan
Katharine Stevenson
Sebastien Lacroix, Conseiller aux communications, Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud
Catholic Education Week Partners Group
Neil MacCarthy, Archdiocese of Toronto, Director, Public Relations & Communications
Dan Smith, Archdiocese of Toronto, Liaison for Catholic Education
Kris Dmytrenko, Archdiocese of Toronto, Communications Coordinator
Carole Allen, Friends & Advocates for Catholic Education, Project Manager
Roger Lawler, Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, General Secretary
Luke Stocking, Catholic Development & Peace
Matthew Marin, Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, President
Natasha Iaboni, Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, Vice-President
Geoff Grant, Toronto CDSB, Faith Superintendent
Nick Milanetti, OCSTA, Executive Director
Sharon McMillan, OCSTA, Director of Communications
Brian O’Sullivan, OCSTA, Director of Catholic Education
CEW Song – Words and Music
Nancy Bodsworth, Dufferin-Peel CDSB