Diversity within the School Setting
Catholic schools have tremendous opportunities to be the first to welcome members of different cultures. Of course, with each opportunity there is also a challenge. Sometimes the focus is on the challenge to the expense of the opportunity—
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What if I don’t understand their language? [a smile works wonders]
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How will our teaching staff and parents react? [mustn’t underestimate people or think for them]
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Will we need to make changes in our ways of doing things? [change is good if done well and to good purpose]
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Honor the diversity of your students including ethnic traditions and devotions meaningful to their families. A multicultural celebration involving members of a growing ethnicity or cultural group in your school community will be welcoming and promote unity within the school. Be sure to involve members of the new group and to keep the program simple.
Communities are made up of a mosaic of many kinds of families. Each family represents a unique model of what families are and each family contains the promise of what family can be. Work with parents for the good of their children. Together seek to solve any problems that may arise.
Encourage cultural discussions at faculty meetings.
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Share positive experiences in interacting with people of different ethnic or cultural groups.
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Discuss attitudes, behaviors, and activities that might encourage a spirit of unity.
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Analyze those attitudes, behaviors and activities that hinder a sense of unity, creating tension.
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ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Links
Family Time
Available in Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Polish
Justice for Immigrants: A Journey of Hope
Resources from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Catholic Social Teaching Themes
Guide to serving those in need through acts of justice
Books
Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Compendium is a perfect companion to the Bible, spiritual reading, or textbook. It has a four-part structure following the Catechism of the Catholic Church, with a section on common prayers and Catholic doctrinal formulas. It is in a question-and-answer format.
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).
ORDER NUMBER: 1-57455-720-3 English
Compendio: Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica
ORDER NUMBER: 1-57455-920-6 Spanish
Welcoming the Stranger Among Us– A Resource for Parishes
Available from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops at 1-800-235-8722 or www.usccb.org.
ORDER NUMBER: #5-407
Many Faces in God's House– A Catholic Vision for the Third Millennium
ORDER NUMBER: #5-421
A Catholic Call to Justice: An Activity Book for Raising Awareness of Social Justice Issues
ORDER NUMBER: #5-239
Today's Immigrants and Refugees: A Christian Understanding
ORDER NUMBER: #204-7
From Newcomers to Citizens: All Come Bearing Gifts
ORDER NUMBER: #5-363
The Bush Was Blazing But Not Consumed– Developing a Multicultural Community Through Dialogue and Liturgy
by Eric H.F. Law
Available through St. Louis: Chalice Press, 1996
Audio/Video
What Makes Us Catholic: Who Is Our Neighbor? Loving Beyond Borders (28 min.)
Tom Groome reveals how to reach out beyond all borders as true "Catholics."
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).
ORDER NUMBER: 1-4182-5341-3 CD
ORDER NUMBER: 1-4182-5332-4 DVD
Music
"Song of the Body of Christ"
BLEST ARE WE Music CD4
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).
ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36655-7
"We Are Many Parts"
BLEST ARE WE Music CD 3
ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36654-9
"We Are Called"
BLEST ARE WE Music CD 7-8
ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36394-9
BLEST ARE WE Song Book
Words and melody for children; contains music for levels 1-8
ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4
BLEST ARE WE Accompaniment Book
Contains accompaniment music for levels 1-8
ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2
"Canción del Cuerpo de Cristo"
BENDECIDOS Music CD 4
ORDER NUMBER: 1-57999-671-X
BENDECIDOS Song Book
Words and melody for children; contains music for levels 1-4
ORDER NUMBER: 1-57999-665-5
BENDECIDOS Accompaniment Book
Contains accompaniment music for levels 1-4
ORDER NUMBER: 1-57999-666-3
"Pan de Vida," "Pueblo de Dios," "Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo/ We are the Body of Christ," "We Are Called," "With Open Hands"
Gifts for a Lifetime CD
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).
ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36340-X
Gifts for a Lifetime Song Book
ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36103-2
Gifts for a Lifetime Accompaniment Book
ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36104-0
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