What is Catholic Social Teaching?
Catholic social teaching (CST) is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by the Catholic faith. It is the moral compass, guiding Catholics on how to live out their faith in the world. Jesus showed us how to be human and we look to His example of leadership as we strive to create His Kingdom on Earth.
Catholic Social Teaching at St. George's Taunton
As well as ongoing charity work throughout the year, we encounter social teaching across the curriculum. We are also working towards gaining the Live Simply Award, taking part in school, local and global initiatives that teach us how to live simply, live in solidarity and sustainably and so responding to Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’. Please see our Live Simply Award page for a diary of our efforts and how we have committed to the LiveSimply journey, and are reaching out as stewards of creation to protect God’s beautiful planet, and our most vulnerable sisters and brothers.
Option for the poor – Some People need Extra Help
‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:35-40
At St George's we show a preferential option for the poor and vulnerable by:
fundraising for charitable causes
giving to the Foodbankand Open Door
remembering people who are poor in spirit or health
thinking of the needs of others
The Common Good– Taking Part in our Communities
You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to them what is theirs." St Ambrose (340-397 AD)
At St George's we show we are part of a community by:
working together as a family
working for the common good
participating and engaging in our community and parish
Solidarity – We are One Big Family
Blessed Pope Paul VI taught that "If you want peace, work for justice". The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers.
At St George’s we show solidarity by:
learning about our global family
making connections and creating bonds between people
praying for others
Stewardship – Caring for God’s Creation and Gifts
The ecological crisis is also a summons to profound interior conversion…Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience. Pope Francis - Laudato Si
At St George;s we show we care for creation by:
taking responsibility for our environment
making environmentally responsible choices
learning about the world
working for the Live Simply Award
Human Dignity – Everyone is Special
St Paul tells us that each person is a work of art, created by God and chosen for a unique purpose. Ephesians 2:10
At St George's we recognise the human dignity of others by:
` being respectful
treating people equally
celebrating our unique gifts and talents and valuing pupil voice through our Lunch Bunch meetings
valuing everyone in and outside of our school community
The dignity of Work – Everyone’s work has value
Do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour. (James 3:17)
At St George's we recognise the dignity of work by:
respecting all people who work in our school
learning about the importance of everyone being paid fairly
learning about fair trade and responsible choices in what we buy
supporting wellbeing and workers' rights
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We have chosen to base our Key Stage Prayer and Liturgy sessions on Catholic Social Teaching principles , Gospel Values and Brtitish Values. Each week teachers cover a concept or profile an inspirational Catholic whose life exemplifies Catholic Social Teaching in action. We set our children the Go and Grow Mission of living out the principles explained during Prayer and Liturgy.
We have had cake sales in aid of Macmillan Cancer Research.
Pupils are given the opportunity to share their ideas through our Lunch Bunch meetimgs and Parents and invited to express their opinions through parent questionnaires and at our parent coffee mornings after whole school masses.
The staff and governors have hosted a charity events to raise money for MND and to show their solidarity to those suffering from the condition.
Our SLT organise parent drop in cafes to offer a friendly ear and advice to parents who might need to connect.
Class 4 plan Children in Need events every yea. The children choose how to fundraise and organise this event.
In the weeks running up to Remembrance Day, we sell poppies in aid of The Royal British Legion.
We wear yellow and donate to support St Margaret's Hospice in solidarity with members of our school community.
We have three separate collections for Harvest and gather a very generous hoard of donations to take to Open Door each year.
We take part in Odd Socks Day to show solidarity against bullying. Teachers link the message of Solidarity to the Anti Bullying resources through assemblies and SCARF lessons.
During Advent we collect for both Cafod and Emmaus as well as our local Open Door Project.
The staff create a Christmas Hamper and Gift Bank for families in need.
We sang for the elderly and took them cards and decorations made by the School Chaplains.
We sing in the town Library and share the Gospel Message within our community during Advent.
Our subsidiarity Lunch Bunch board in the hall is a great record of our Pupil Voice. After listening to the voices of our pupils we now have a beautiful prayer garden and new atlases and globes in classrooms.
We made Live Simply Award pledges.
We support Fair Trade . Class 6 learn about Fair Trade and lead a Fair Trade Mass and stall at the Summer Fair.
In September we celebrate the International Peace Day and focus on Little Way Week as we move into October.
In November we remember those in need on the World Day of the Poor .
We celebrated our Jubilee Year efforts with a celebration on the 21st November.
We put giving and sharing at the heart of our Advent celebrations . We collected money for Emmaus and The Children's Hospice at each of our nativity performances ; we bought seeds to plant in our local area ; and we made Christmas decorations and cards to sell to raise money for CAFOD and to give to the elderly in our local area.
Following Laudato Si principles , Little Superheroes spent their time recycling , sorting the library and picking up litter.
Our Lower Key Stage Two Chaplains meet at Chaplaincy Club to make items for sale to raise money for Emmaus and CAFOD.
We contiue our role as stewards of creation at lunchtimes where our Chaplains help to manage the recycling stations. Class 5 continue to undertake litter pilgtimages around the school and the local area.
Autumn 2025
So far, we have collected for Open Door as part of our Harvest Festival and Live Simply Award actions. All children were invited to dress in autumn mufti colours and donations from the event were given to CAFOD.
In November , we are collecting for the Royal British Legion and we will be taking part in Children in Need as we do every November.
This Autumn we raised : £153 for CAFOD through our Advent non school uniform fundraiser; £197 through our Children In Need Bake Sale; £66 for The Hopsice through the KS 1 Nativity Play and Class Five's Carol Singing at Taunton Library. We also managed to raise £279.74 for the Royal British Legion.
On top of this, we filled a car full to the brim with Open Door Harvest donations and we managed to collect every item on the list for the Christmas Open Door Collection.
Finally, a whole sack of donated gifts was presented to a family in need this Christmas : organised by the PFSA.
Thank you to everyone for your charity so far this year.
Over 30 children volunteered to attend the lunchtime Mass and serve mince pies and cream to members of the Parish on Thursday 11th December. Thank you to those children who gave up their time to bring joy to others this Christmas.
A group of children met to compose a letter to our local MP this term. They would like to share their concerns about local issues and also dicuss what MPs are doing to challenge World Debt. Hopefully they will hear back soon and be able to have a face to face meeting in the spring.
