About Us
In this section, you will get information about:
- Our Strategy and Vision
- The Oscar Romero Award Trust
- The life, words and actions of Blessed Oscar Romero; the source of inspiration for this Award.
Our Work
Supporting schools to embed the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching in their ethos and culture, so that all within the school can experience life to the full. It will also support schools find ways of being 'good news' to the local, national and global community in their own unique way.
Catholic Social Teaching
The foundation of Catholic Social Teaching is the teachings of Jesus about the commandments to love God and our neighbour. Following these commandments means transforming the world we live in or as Pope Francis says, living in such a way that ‘our faith can illumine life and society.’ This Award aims to support schools to do this.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” – Luke 4; 18 – 19
SEVEN Principles of Catholic Social Teaching
1. Human dignity
2. Solidarity
3. The common good
4. The option for the poor
5. Peace
6. Care for creation and environment
7. The dignity of work and participation
Who can participate?
All Catholic schools; primary, secondary and sixth form colleges in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland can take part.
Structure of the Award
The Award has THREE Strands;
- Strategic – Catholic Social Teaching informs the decisions the school/college makes.
- Curriculum – Catholic Social Teaching informs what is taught in the classroom.
- Practical – Catholic Social Teaching is put into action in the school/college activities.
The Award is available at THREE Levels:
Participator Level – the school promotes social justice through charitable work or support of charities as well having regard human dignity and justice in its policies and practices.
Developer Level – the school develops resources and starts embedding Catholic Social Teaching principles in its every-day life.
Innovator Level – the school works with others schools to promote Catholic Social Teaching and social justice is embedded in every aspect of the school’s life.
This is a process, a journey that a school community embarks on. It is not an event or a tick box exercise. It is a way of school examining its culture and ethos and seeing how they can align it more closely to the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. We expect that schools will take some time to move from one level to the next as they build these principles in their school life.
“Catholic education is based on the belief that the human and the divine are inseparable. In Catholic schools and colleges, management, organisation, academic and pastoral work, prayer and worship, all aim to prepare young people for their life as Christians in the community.”
[Bishops statement on Catholic education in England and Wales September 2014, p3]
Our challenges
How do we…
- Support young people to play an active role in bringing about God’s Kingdom?
- Inspire others to act justly?
- Celebrate our Catholic Faith and acknowledge the work we do to ensure that our world is a better place for all?
- Play a part in tackling poverty and injustice in all its manifestations?
- Connect with issues in our neighbourhood, the wider community and beyond?
- Capitalise on young peoples’ enthusiasm to create centres of evangelisation in action?
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10; 10
“Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which to look out Christ's compassion to the world Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good; Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.”
Teresa of Avilla