Building the Kingdom: Dignity of Work
At Saint Mary’s, we believe that every person has been given unique gifts by God, and we are called to use those gifts to serve others. Our Building the Kingdom theme for Spring Term—Dignity of Work—encourages our school community to recognise the value of all types of work and to honour the efforts of those who use their talents to build a better world. Every role matters, and together we create something greater than ourselves.
Spiritual Foundation
Our theme is deeply rooted in Scripture, reminding us that our work should reflect integrity, service, and purpose. As Deuteronomy 14:29 teaches:
"So that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."
This scripture calls us to recognise the blessings in our work and to approach it with care, diligence, and a sense of responsibility. It reminds us that our efforts, whether big or small, contribute to the well-being of our community and the building of God's Kingdom.
Whole-School Virtues
For the second half of the spring term, we focus on the Jesuit virtues of Attentive & Discerning:
- Attentive – We reflect on our experiences and the world around us, recognising where we can grow and how we can use our gifts for good.
- Discerning – We think carefully about the choices we make and the impact they have on ourselves and others, striving to live according to God's plan.
These virtues encourage our pupils to be thoughtful in their decisions, aware of their responsibilities, and mindful of how their actions shape the world.
Living Our Community Spirit
Our Dignity of Work theme challenges us to reflect not only on how we work but on how our choices impact others. This term, we will:
- Celebrate Careers Week, helping pupils explore their own God-given gifts and how they can be used in the future.
- Continue our commitment as a School of Sanctuary, recognising the importance of work in restoring dignity to refugees and those in need.
- Deepen our Lenten reflections, focusing on how we can be attentive to the needs of others and discerning in our actions to bring about change.