Pope Benedict XVI CARITAS AWARD

Today we are going to find out about the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Award. Let us begin our time of prayer together: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

from the Bishops of Scotland

My dear young people, You are invited to participate in an exciting venture which marks the historic visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland. We would like to offer you the opportunity to become saints of the 21 st Century. Through your learning, reflection and witness we ask you to show the world what Pope Benedict meant when he said: “We were made for love.” with every blessing from, The Bishops of Scotland RSVP

The CARITAS AWARD has been established by the Bishops of Scotland as one way of keeping alive the legacy of Pope Benedict’s historic visit to our country in It encourages and promotes the ongoing faith journey of young people. It responds to the words of the Pope: “My dear young Catholics of Scotland...this is the challenge the Lord gives to you today: the Church now belongs to you!” What is the Pope Benedict XVI CARITAS AWARD?

The award takes the form of a medal and a certificate given by the Bishops to recognise the commitment and work of young people within their schools and parishes. It aims to help you discover and respond to “Caritas” - God’s love - through your learning, your reflection and your witness. It helps to highlight and connect the great work taking place in homes, schools and parishes across Scotland.

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“Dear young people: do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life.” Pope Benedict XVI, homily at Mass, 24 th April 2005, quoted in Verbum Domini, 30 th September 2010 (104)

Who can complete the award?

EVERYBODY

What do I have to do?

Over your time in school you have learned a huge amount and all of this shapes who you are. You will be helped to recall this learning and helped to reflect on how, as a person of faith, this affects your attitudes, choices and actions. Faith Learning

You will identify ways in which you can assist within your school for 20 hours and your parish or faith community for a further 20 hours. You will be asked to record and log these activities. You will be helped throughout the year to think about how your faith witness impacts on your learning and your reflection. Faith Learning

Faith Witness Faith Witness Activities

contributing to liturgy assisting in Church parish associations caring for vulnerable groups /individuals working in pilgrimage group organising fund-raising contributing to retreats school chaplaincy & liturgy offering peer support groups such as Pro Life, SSVP, FairTrade caring for vulnerable organising fund-raising Impact on parish/ faith community Impact on school community

Over the course of the year you will come together at 4 Gathering Points with other pupils in your school. These will help you to think about and begin to record how faith reflection impacts on your faith learning and your faith actions. They will also help you to see how your learning impacts upon your actions and your reflections. Faith Reflection

We are reflecting on how this gift from God comes with responsibilities and how we have been instructed to look after and contribute to the building of his Kingdom. In today’s ‘Gathering point’ we are looking at the fact that each one of us has been made in the image and likeness of God. We are thinking about how God made us, body, mind and soul and gave us a dignity and respect that he did not give to any other living thing on earth. Faith Reflection

Make me unselfish Without being blind

He’s all I got

Now I may have faith to make mountains fall

But if I lack love then I am nothin' at all

I can give away everything I possess...

But am without love then I have no happiness

I know I'm imperfect & not without sin

But now that I'm older all childish things end

It’ll be alright

I'll never be jealous And I won't be too proud

See what we now know is nothing

Throughout the year you will plan how to share your Caritas journey and the impact that this has had on you and others. This evidence will be shared in a creative and imaginative way e.g. the form of a journal, video diary, recorded interview, essay, blog. The “Gathering Points”, your witness log and your faith learning will all contribute to this piece of work which will capture and evidence your journey Faith Reflection

You will complete the award in your final year of school. You will be supported throughout the year: to identify activities to gather together in school to reflect and share to gather evidence to meet deadlines. All evidence will be submitted by the end of March Possible SQA Award When will I do this?

(The story of Charlie Tully & Elisha Scott) How will you reply to this invitation? I wish to speak of the love which God lavishes upon us and which we in turn must share with others. Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

Charlie Tully told the story of when he started as a young footballer in Belfast. On the first day he eagerly approached the boss, Mr. Elisha Scott, and asked “What do you want me to do?” Elisha answered, “See that goal down there? Go and paint it.” Dutifully Charlie did. He finished and asked “What will I do now?”. Mr. Scott replied, “See that other goal away down there? Go and paint that too.” Two hours later Charlie returned to say he’d completed the job. “Good”, said Elisha, “You’ll know where to aim for on Saturday now!”

You see, Charlie had God given talent and was great on the pitch, but he had a tendency to waste time, mess about and even show off on the park and sometimes that would mean missing his goal! Does that sound like you? Could the Caritas award be a way for you to remember what your goal is and help you to aim for it!? It is our job not only to know and love Jesus but to share that with others! “Love gives us the courage to keep living and working.” Pope Benedict XVI

CARITAS PRAYER Loving Father, almighty God, You so loved the world that you sent your son Jesus so that we might live through him. Help us to respond to your love. Grant us understanding of the loving ways of Jesus. Teach us to see others with his eyes and, through your Holy Spirit, guide us in our efforts to show love in our daily actions. Living Lord, you are love. Help us, whom you made in your image, to practise love in loving communion with others. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen