Inquiry Questions:
What does it mean to serve someone?
Serving others - Do I make a difference? (P)
How is serving others different to helping them? (S)
KEY: (P) = Primary activity | (S) = Secondary activity
1. “These days there is a lot of poverty in the world, and that is a scandal when we have so many riches and resources to give to everyone. We all have to think about how we can become a little poorer.”
What is Pope Francis suggesting to us? How can we become a little poorer?
2. Use the Frayer Concept Model to explore a definition of service.
1. Reflect on the scripture in the Head component. What is your mission, how are you called to serve? Give examples of how you can do this every day.
2. Cardinal Marengo of Mongolia says, ‘Be an apostle where you are'. How can I be an ‘apostle’ where I am? What does this look like? Consider your response and record it in your journal.
1. Write a pledge about your mission and how you will serve. Put it somewhere you see it each day and reflect at the end of each day, 'Did I live out my pledge'.
2. Dramatise the parable of the Good Samaritan. How could this story be told in a modern context?
Scripture Link
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” - 1 Peter 4:10
This verse encourages believers to use their God-given gifts to serve others, highlighting the importance of stewardship and community support. It teaches us that by faithfully administering our talents and resources, we can contribute to the well-being of others and honour God through our actions.
Catholic Social Teaching
1. Common Good - A true community is one where the common good is reached when we work together to better the wellbeing of all people in our community and the wider world.
2. Human Dignity - God made each person, so every life is important and should be protected.
3. Subsidiarity - God made us to be part of communities, families and countries, so all people can share and help each other. No one community should have dominance over another or interfere in their lives.
Additional Activities: primary
📚 READ...
Read page 7 in Mission Today. Identify how the Catholic Church is being of service in Mongolia.
...and be inspired!
📺 WATCH...
Watch and reflect on this clip of Pope Francis. How is he living the story of Jesus through his actions?
...and be moved!
🎧 LISTEN TO...
Listen to ‘Kindness Makes us Strong’ by Sophie Beer. How do you show kindness to strengthen your family and community? Can we measure kindness? How do our faces show kindness? Does everyone show kindness in a different way? Discuss these questions with your family and friends.
...and reflect!
Additional Activities: secondary
📚 READ...
Read the article ‘Volunteering and Its Surprising Benefits’. What causes or issues am I passionate about, and how can I contribute to them through volunteering?
...and be inspired!
📺 WATCH...
Watch the TEDx talk ‘Unexpected outcomes of volunteering.’ Identify ways this already happens in your community. What other things could you do?
...and be moved!
🎧 LISTEN TO...
Listen to the song ‘We are the World’ by U.S.A for Africa. What are the messages from the songs?
