2. Our Language, Our Story Character Development Through the Virtues A Resource for Ontario Catholic Schools A Project of the Eastern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Cooperative In Cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of Education June, 2009

3. Our Language, Our Story Overview of Presentation: I. Why This Resource? II. Finding Common Ground III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops IV. Our Language, Our Story V. Exploring Our Language, Our Story

4. I. Why This Resource? The Call for Character Development programs in Ontario’s publicly funded elementary and secondary schools. Challenged us to draw on our deepest values: - which shape the character of all who teach and learn in our Catholic schools. - rooted in the language of Scripture and Tradition, the language of OUR STORY.

5. I. Why This Resource? The language of our story points to Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh – origin and fulfillment of our sacred story. All we say and do in Catholic schools is a means for supporting our students’ pilgrimage to fullness of life in Him.

6. I. Why This Resource? The Virtues: Points of reference from our story - Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, Love Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude … touchstones for this document’s contents.

7. II. Finding Common Ground Character Education Fall 2006: Formally mandated by Ontario’s Ministry of Education Release of discussion paper, Finding Common Ground: Character Development in OntarioSchools, K-12 through Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat

8. II. Finding Common Ground Finding Common Ground (2006) - Calls for character education programs based on shared values transcending diversities such as ethnicity and creed (hence the title, Finding Common Ground ). - Boards and their communities called … to identify universal character attributes … to infuse these into every subject area, school activity.

9. II. Finding Common Ground Character Development Finding Common Ground, 2008

10. II. Finding Common Ground Two key goals: improve student learning in cognitive, affective, attitudinal and behavioural domains prepare young people for civic engagement, global citizenship in an increasingly interdependent world

11. II. Finding Common Ground: Catholic Educational Community’s Initial Response Mixed Reactions: What we’ve always done … Catholic schools have always been about intentionally building character … – in every subject area and school activity – in Religious Education, Family Life, Sacramental Preparation, Retreats, Community Outreach Initiatives, Athletic Programs, and much more.

12. II. Finding Common Ground Catholic Educational Community’s Evolving Response Let’s Embrace this Initiative - to underscore our schools’ distinctive Catholic character Let’s Showcase our Successes - in ways that resonate with Finding Common Ground in language of our story

13. II. Finding Common Ground Catholic Educational Community’s Ongoing Response Resource Development Catholic school boards begin developing, sharing creative resources. (To them we are all grateful!) Resources incorporating … - Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Fruits of the Holy Spirit, - Cultivating biblical and related virtues

14. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops Character Development and the Virtuous Life: A Position Paper Fall, 2008: A formal response to Finding Common Ground.

15. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops Character Development and the Virtuous Life Clear Direction: - for producing Catholic character development resources to Catholic school boards, professional associations Reminder: - the virtuous life already at the heart of our language and story New Return: - to language of virtues - to distinguished, time-tested standing of virtues in our Catholic Tradition

16. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops Character Development and the Virtuous Life Character : “something that is constructed, something I choose more or less deliberately.” (P. 2.) Vs. Personality : something more permanent, who I am.

17. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops Character Development and the Virtuous Life Virtue Education as Character Education Character : - how I respond to life’s challenges, blessings or interact with others - has a definite moral aspect Personality : - more ethically neutral Applying the best of our faith heritage can help us become who God has called us to be, persons of virtue.

18. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops Character Development and the Virtuous Life The Virtues: Our Link to Character Development Because virtue is “ … a concept central to Catholic moral doctrine, [it] is key in linking the Character Development Initiative to the Catholic school education project.” (Character Development and the Virtuous Life, p. 5)

19. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops Character Development and the Virtuous Life The Virtues: Our Link to Character Development Language of Virtues - associated with character formation since time of Plato and Aristotle. - important part of Christian education, from fourth century onward - integral to Western civilization’s foundational values

20. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops The Bishops are saying to us: You are already doing this. The virtues are YOUR language and story. Reclaim them in your practice.

21. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops This Opportunity: A Gift Embrace it, Re-tell Our Story Call for character development in Ontario schools: A gift to Catholic education … Potential to help strengthen staff and students as followers of Christ … – an opportunity for us to re-tell our story as a people of faith – and bring new vitality into our province-wide system

22. III. Ontario’s Catholic Bishops This Opportunity: A Gift Embrace it, Re-tell Our Story Re-telling our story through the virtues: - allows us to proclaim our distinctiveness and importance to society - crucial in time of questioning importance of multiple publicly-funded education systems

23. IV. Our Language, Our Story Character Development Through the Virtues in Ontario Catholic Schools A Response to Finding Common Ground Made possible through: Funding from Ministry of Education Leadership by the Eastern Ontario Catholic Curriculum Cooperative.

24. IV. Our Language, Our Story Practical Tools & Strategies: - for integrating theological cardinal virtues into culture of our Catholic schools For Educators and Administrators: - to help foster Catholic character development across the broad curriculum

25. IV. Our Language, Our Story Character Development Through The Virtues What Are The Virtues? - good practices, which over time, become part of our character Practicing the Virtues - tempers our personalities, enables us to live and work peacefully with one another

26. IV. Our Language, Our Story Character Development Through The Virtues Why Education Through the Virtues? – to help Catholic educators fulfill mission to teach in light of the Catholic faith – to strengthen distinctive Catholic character of students, school communities – to help our young people grow as followers of Jesus and bring the transforming witness of His Gospel to the world

27. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues A. The Three Theological Virtues Faith, Hope, Love: God’s gift to us at Baptism. As we practice these virtues … - they become more prominent in our lives; - they guide our character as it develops over a lifetime of discipleship.

28. The language of our story speaks of Faith : - God’s gift to us at Baptism IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues A. The Three Theological Virtues Faith - A new way of seeing, a shared way of believing. - Christian faith transforms our minds with God’s self-understanding

29. A. The Three Theological Virtues Faith - A new way of seeing, a shared way of believing. Gives us a new way… The faith we share through Baptism into Christ’s body (the Church), leads us to believe, pray and worship. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues - of believing: what Christ has taught us in the Gospels, handed on to us through His Church - of seeing: God, ourselves, everything around us

30. Witnessed in love of God, in love of neighbour - made in God’s image. Visible in our Catholic schools whenever there is trust in God, belief, prayer, worship and the witness of love. A. The Three Theological Virtues Faith - A new way of seeing, a shared way of believing. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues

31. The language of our story speaks of hope. Christian Hope: - God’s gift at Baptism (unites us with risen Christ). - makes us able to trust to trust God’s promises, no matter what the obstacles A. The Three Theological Virtues Hope – Trusting God’s promises in prayer and work for justice. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues - desire for the happiness of the Kingdom and eternal life - keeps us from despair and presumption - expressed principally in prayer

32. A. The Three Theological Virtues Hope – Trusting God’s promises in prayer and work for justice. Hopeful people: Visible in our Catholic schools whenever we find prayer, trust in God’s faithfulness, and work for peace and justice. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues - live the Gospel with joy - work for peace and justice despite many obstacles - trust God’s plan will be fulfilled, even if not in their lifetime

33. A. The Three Theological Virtues Love - Loving God above all things, others as God loves them. The language of our story speaks of love. God’s gift to us at Baptism: Enables us - to love God above all things - to love others as God loves them. Great insight of St. Thérèse: we have been made by love for love. Gift of love directs and gives strength to our life of virtue. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues

34. Our model of love is Jesus, who laid down His life so that we might have life to the full (John. 10: 10). Our encounters with Jesus in His Gospel and the sacraments nurture us so that we can love as He has loved us. Visible in our Catholic schools wherever the kindness, service and self-giving of Jesus are found. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues A. The Three Theological Virtues Love - Loving God above all things, others as God loves them.

35. B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Prudence Justice Temperance Fortitude Practices on which all other virtues hinge (cardinal - hinge in Latin). These practices are learned and developed over time. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues

36. B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Prudence – Seeking, judging, acting with confidence and love Prudence (good sense) “the watchful eye of love.” Three steps: seeking the proper, most loving thing to do; judging what is the best choice; confidently acting. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues

37. “What is the right, most loving thing to do?” IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Prudence – Seeking, judging, acting with confidence and love In this way, practicing prudence unites us more closely with God and neighbour. 1. Considering others’ advice, looking to the Gospel, Church teaching to guide conscience. 2. Praying and thinking things through. 3. Confidently acting in truth and love.

38. Visible in our Catholic schools when we reflect as Jesus’ disciples and act in His love. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Prudence – Seeking, judging, acting with confidence and love

39. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Justice – Seeking the good, meeting obligations to God and neighbour The language of our story speaks about justice... - seeking what is good in every situation - living in right relationship with God and neighbour

40. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Justice – Seeking the good, meeting obligations to God and neighbour Fulfilling one’s obligations - to God in prayer and worship, - to neighbour in mercy and fairness. Visible in our Catholic schools whenever we see people striving to meet their obligations to God and neighbour.

41. A temperate person practices staying away from excesses. She or he strives to practice … - moderation in eating and drinking IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Temperance – Enjoying life’s pleasures in keeping with the Gospel - self-control in emotional expression - balance in living responsibly - forming chaste, healthy friendships - honesty about who they are (humility)

42. Practicing temperance frees us from slavery to unhealthy habits so that we can live a fully human life as God intended for us in Christ. Visible in our Catholic schools whenever moderation, chastity, balance, self- control and humble attitudes are practiced. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Temperance – Enjoying life’s pleasures in keeping with the Gospel

43. The language of our story speaks about fortitude. - practicing what is good and just when it is difficult or even dangerous. B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Fortitude – Practicing the good and just in challenging situations; patience with obstacles. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues

44. A person of fortitude practices patience when meeting obstacles while working to do what is right, even when others criticize or remain silent. Visible in our Catholic schools whenever we see persons defending truth and kindness in challenging situations. IV. Our Language, Our Story: Exploring the Seven Virtues B. The Four Cardinal Virtues Fortitude – Practicing the good and just in challenging situations; patience with obstacles.

45. V. Our Language, Our Story Exploring the Resource Web-based, six main sections: + Virtues and Themes - points of reference for this resource + Curriculum Connections - curriculum expectations linked to virtues & themes + Staff Development - prayers/activities linked to virtues & themes + Additional Resources - curriculum resources linked to virtues & themes + School Activities - prayers/activities linked to virtues & themes + Community Outreach - school outreach linked to virtues & themes

46. Available from two sources … V. Exploring Our Language, Our Story Via the internet at www.eoccc.orgwww.eoccc.org On CD ROM

47. Let’s go take a look …. www.eoccc.org V. Exploring Our Language, Our Story

48. I pray God's blessing upon all those involved in this project and hope that this resource will indeed help our students grow in a Spirit-filled life in which the Gospel truly shines forth. + Paul-André Durocher Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall Education Commission Chair, Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario (Our Language, Our Story, Introduction)