Solidarity is the feeling of unity and support for others. It is essential for building a just and compassionate society. In the Catholic faith, we are called to be in solidarity with the poor and the marginalized and with those who are suffering, both physically and emotionally. Even if we have not met them, our faith creates an obligation in us to support our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We invite everyone in our school community to lead parts of our prayer throughout the week and staff are encouraged to award achievements points for this!
Day 1 – Head
On the first day of our prayer we will be reflecting on The Word of God to help us to understand our theme.
We begin our prayer this morning with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
This week our scripture is from St Paul’s first letter to the people of Corinth. St Paul established the Church in Corinth but they became divided and separated into different groups. In his letters, Paul explains why they must remain united in Christ.
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Reflecting on the scripture and out theme of solidarity discuss these questions and share your thoughts in the comments box:
Where in society can you see examples of this scripture being lived out – where all people are respected as being in union with one another and with Christ?
Where in society do we fail to live up to the words of St Paul and only certain people are respected?
In your opinion, what’s the most important thing to do differently so we can live together in union?
We ask God to be with us throughout our day as we make the sign of the cross,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Day 2 – Heart
On the second day of the week we focus on our hearts. How can the scripture that we looked at yesterday impact our lives, and the lives of others? What themes can we draw from the scripture?
We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Yesterday we heard the following line in our scripture:
‘Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.‘
1 Corinthians 12: 27 ESVUK
Saint Mother Teresa often spoke about “Jesus in his most distressing disguise.” She said that whether she was in Church, on the street, in the hospital or in the pews that she could recognise Jesus in the people that she met. When someone was hungry she recognised them as ‘hungry Jesus’ or when they were thirsty as ‘thirsty Jesus’. Being so ready to see God in others meant that she was always in solidarity with those who were in the most need and that she could tirelessly approach her work with positivity and joy.
Another Teresa, St Teresa of Avila wrote a beautiful prayer that helps us to understand how we too can be recognised as Jesus. As we pray this prayer today we pray that our hearts will be opened to recognise Jesus in other people and to answer the call upon each of us to be the face, hands, eyes of Jesus to those that we encounter in our life.
Let us pray,
We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Day 3 – Hands
On the final day of the week we try to put into action the things we have learnt and reflected on previously in the week, hence the hands link!
We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Friday 4th October is this year’s Harvest CAFOD family fast day – an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world and to offer some of what we have to those who may have nothing.
Today, think about how you can actively contribute to stand in solidarity with those in need around the world. Can you donate to CAFOD’s fast day? Can you campaign to protect the rights of others? Can you donate clothing or food to those in need in our local community?
Share your ideas on how we can stand in solidarity as part of The Trinity School community, with those in need all around the world.
Friday this week also marks the final day of the season of creation.
CAFOD will lead our final prayer this week and we ask God to help us as we complete our solidarity action and to inspire the leaders of all countries to be the catalysts of change that we desperately need to turn the climate crisis around.
Let us pray,
We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
We discussed the theme of solidarity and in particular the following question: Where in society can you see examples of this scripture being lived out – where all people are respected as being in union with one another and with Christ?
Our responses:
– Church
– School
– Scouts
– DofE
In charity shops we see the scripture in 1st Corinthians being lived out because the rich donate these items and the money raised is used to help the poor- one part of the body helping another part of the body.
1. Church and school
2. when we dont get along with people, when talking about service workers
3. Go out of your way to understand each other, take time out of the day and have a conversation with the person next to you, communicate and listen to each other, to find common ground and interests
We work together in a church ,in a school, in a team ,sports day ,at home , pro clubs and foot ball team. We don’t work as a community during conflict , under stress , discrimination . The most important things we do differently is pray.
Where in society do we fail to live up to the words of St Paul and only certain people are respected?
– Conflict in the world (war etc.) where people are persecuted
– Schools (bullying)
We discussed how we can stand in solidarity as a school to support CAFOD. Here are some ideas:
– Donate to a food bank.
– Donate money, e.g. donation box in form.
– Donate clothes, especially warm clothes like scarves.
– Raise money for charity – e.g. sponsored walk.
– Raise money through a non-uniform day at school.
– Advocate for CAFOD, e.g. through social media or flyers.
– Not wasting resources we already have.
– Prayers.
We fail to respect certain groups in society for example we ignore homeless people in the street, some people in this country see immigration as a problem, the world is still racist and sexist and homophobic and transphobic, once we are equal we will have succeeded