January is Poverty Awareness Month. This blurb from catholicsocialteaching.org.uk is fitting
for this month to remind us of what we hold dear as Catholic-Christians: The basis for the theme of
Human Dignity, the bedrock of Catholic Social Teaching, is that humans were created in the image
and likeness of God. Regardless of any factors or reasons we can think of, individuals have an
inherent and immeasurable worth and dignity; each human life is considered sacred. This theme is
about our radical equality before God that leads us to think no less of somebody because they are
from a different place or culture, because they believe something different to you, or because of
their work or employment situation.
We opted this week to use this poem that Raven in 7th grade wrote recently. Not only is the
theme fitting to talking abut poverty, how the poem came about is worth noting. After she was not
able to find the poem she had written for language arts class, which I wanted to use, she offered to
write another poem for these reflections. She wrote it during the rainy day lunch we had last week.
When she said I’ll have it for you before the bell rings I didn’t take her literally, but sure enough by
time the bell rang I had this poem in hand. Her talents and kindness are a blessing.
for this month to remind us of what we hold dear as Catholic-Christians: The basis for the theme of
Human Dignity, the bedrock of Catholic Social Teaching, is that humans were created in the image
and likeness of God. Regardless of any factors or reasons we can think of, individuals have an
inherent and immeasurable worth and dignity; each human life is considered sacred. This theme is
about our radical equality before God that leads us to think no less of somebody because they are
from a different place or culture, because they believe something different to you, or because of
their work or employment situation.
We opted this week to use this poem that Raven in 7th grade wrote recently. Not only is the
theme fitting to talking abut poverty, how the poem came about is worth noting. After she was not
able to find the poem she had written for language arts class, which I wanted to use, she offered to
write another poem for these reflections. She wrote it during the rainy day lunch we had last week.
When she said I’ll have it for you before the bell rings I didn’t take her literally, but sure enough by
time the bell rang I had this poem in hand. Her talents and kindness are a blessing.
Radical Community Care
Poem by Raven
Under the Bridge in the City
Under the bridge in the city,/I sat there…./Listening to sounds in the air/As people
walked by…/I became very shy/Sitting in the shade/Being so afraid/ people thinking
different of me/Wishing that I could be free/Having no home is tough/Even when things
get rough/But I have God on my side/Even when I cried./Life is complicated/But I just
know to always keep my head up.
Trust, doing things outside of our comfort zone, being stretched, we’ve all been there. When I
first saw pictures of the Grand Canyon Skywalk, as fascinating as I thought it was, I also knew that
it would be out of my comfort zone to walk on it if I am ever there. The 7th graders found the
skywalk fascinating also and some knew that if they were to walk out on the skywalk they, too,
would “need to trust in God to keep me safe.” Here are some more thoughts from 7th grade: “The
glass is like God invisibly holding us out of evil and sins reach.”; “Sometimes Jesus asks things of
us, even when it might be crazy. But, if we trust in him, he will support us and give us the strength
to do something. And when we do it, we see something beautiful.”; “The support of the building is
our faith. If our faith isn’t strong the foundation breaks. But if it is strong then you can walk beyond
your boundaries.”; “It reminds me that God has his protection around us.”; “Jesus/God pushes you
to do things out of your comfort zone.”; “This reminds me of God’s wonders of the world. It seems
impossible, but there is a way to make it work.”
Grand Canyon Skywalk (scroll down to third picture for the video)
https://www.canyontours.com/guides/the-grand-canyon-skywalk/
first saw pictures of the Grand Canyon Skywalk, as fascinating as I thought it was, I also knew that
it would be out of my comfort zone to walk on it if I am ever there. The 7th graders found the
skywalk fascinating also and some knew that if they were to walk out on the skywalk they, too,
would “need to trust in God to keep me safe.” Here are some more thoughts from 7th grade: “The
glass is like God invisibly holding us out of evil and sins reach.”; “Sometimes Jesus asks things of
us, even when it might be crazy. But, if we trust in him, he will support us and give us the strength
to do something. And when we do it, we see something beautiful.”; “The support of the building is
our faith. If our faith isn’t strong the foundation breaks. But if it is strong then you can walk beyond
your boundaries.”; “It reminds me that God has his protection around us.”; “Jesus/God pushes you
to do things out of your comfort zone.”; “This reminds me of God’s wonders of the world. It seems
impossible, but there is a way to make it work.”
Grand Canyon Skywalk (scroll down to third picture for the video)
https://www.canyontours.com/guides/the-grand-canyon-skywalk/
God Bless,
Mrs. Anne Alhadef
Campus Minister
5th Grade / Jr. High Teacher’s Aide
Mrs. Anne Alhadef
Campus Minister
5th Grade / Jr. High Teacher’s Aide