Pastoral Plan
2015-2016
PASTORAL PLAN
School Name:
School Mission Statement:
We at St. Benedict, in partnership with the parents and parish community, believe that each individual is a unique gift
from God. Together we foster our children's spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social and physical development in a
secure, warm and welcoming environment. Working as a team, we can be successful in developing the maximum
potential of each child, so he/she will acquire the values, beliefs and knowledge to become successful contributors in
our society.
School Motto: Pray and Work
Pastoral Plan Links to Strategic Plan/Catholic Board Learning Plan:
 Link: Strategic Plan 2014-2019 Strategic System Plan
 Link: Catholic Board Learning Plan CBLP 2013-2016
Our Parish: St. Timothy
Pastor: Rev. Sean Lee Lung
Parish website: www.sttimothyparish.com/
Message from the Pastor:
Our school is under the pastoral care of St. Timothy’s Parish. We encourage our families to register with
the parish, and to join us for mass; Saturdays at 5:00 pm and Sundays at 9:00 am, 11:00 am.
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Since taking on my assignment at St Timothy Church, I have been blessed by the Lord to have the gift of
invitation and welcome to the community at both the church and the school settings. All who have
fallen under my care have certainly witnessed and shown a responsiveness to God grace to me. As I
have grown in my own ministry and vocation as their priest, I have come to recognize like a father, that
no one child is identical to another. Each is unique in themselves and so each needs their own particular
attention in care. The practice of regular seasonal confessions along with Holy Mass interspersed
throughout the year have made me keenly aware of some of the spiritual needs and areas of growth in
my community at St Timothy Church. This relationship of parish, school and families is not a segregated
concept for me. The School(s) is the parish and the Parish is the family.
I would like to conclude in heartfelt gratitude for the true cooperation I've experienced with ALL the
principals and teaching staff at each of the elementary schools. I honestly believe that at the Catholic
elementary schools in Orangeville, it is the Spirit of Jesus that animates this communal Family to seek
the presence of God.
Sincerely,
Fr. Sean Lee Lung
Parish Priest of St Timothy Church
Message from the Catholic School Council:
Our Catholic School Council is an integral part of the school-parish-home connection at St. Benedict
School and is diligent about keeping our parent community informed regarding parish activities and
events, in an effort to promote involvement in our Parish. Through collaborative practices, we support
many faith-forming and community-building initiatives and events which develop the whole child and
contribute to improved student achievement and overall well-being. We value and depend on the
strong partnership that already exists among our parents, staff and parish. We look forward to
continually building on this and to continue to demonstrate our united commitment to Catholic
Education.
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Pastoral Plan
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Catholic Education Week Theme: Opening the Doors to Mercy
Throughout Catholic Education Week, we ask you to reflect on the significance of Catholic education’s
presence and contribution in our Church, and in our society.
May 1 – 6, 2016 is Catholic Education Week.
Highlight activities or events planned for the Week:
 Monday – Mercy that Welcomes – Welcome to Kindergarten Night
 Tuesday – Mercy that Loves - Activities within classrooms
 Wednesday – Mercy that Forgives
 Thursday – Mercy that Lives the Gospel – Liturgy – Crowning of Mary
 Friday – Mercy that Rejoices
Faith Formation:
Forming ourselves in our Catholic faith is a foundational element in helping each of us
understand and live in the example of Christ.
Faith formation is a process of journeying into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Through
prayer and reflection we come to know Jesus more profoundly and we are shaped as
Christians. In 2015-2016 we will continue to live out our call to be a Eucharistic community
by promoting and empowering youth to embrace a catholic worldview through community,
catholic prayer and sacramental life.
Liturgies to foster faith formation among staff
School-wide Virtue Assemblies and Liturgies
“Raven of the Month” program to celebrate and recognize Virtues in students
Masses with Pastor every month
Pilgrimage to Parish for “Eucharistic Miracles of the World” – grades 3-6 in January
Celebration of Mass at St. Timothy’s in April
Promotion of the Edge youth program and sacramental programs offered at the Parish
Sacramental Preparation for Grade 2, Grade 7 and Grade 8 students
Staff and students begin each day with prayers
Classrooms participate in prayer at lunch and dismissal
Daily Religious/Family Life instruction
Living and teaching our faith throughout daily interactions
Respect for self, others and the learning environment
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Sacramental Preparation:
As Catholic we understand sacraments to be "outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace."
Together in partnership with our parish, we support the preparation of God’s children in
receiving the sacraments.
Sacramental preparation is central to the faith formation of each and every student. At St.
Benedict, our grade two, grade seven and grade eight teachers work to support the parish team
at St. Timothy’s Church in preparing students for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy
Communion, and Confirmation. Dates and parent meetings will be provided through the
parish.
Event
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Holy Communion
Sacrament of Confirmation
Grade 2
November 26th 2015
April 23rd or 30th 2016
Grade 7 and 8
May 2016
Liturgical Celebrations:
The Liturgical calendar is marked by the gathering in community to celebrate the Eucharist and
share in prayer.
Celebration
Opening Liturgy
Thanksgiving Mass
Remembrance Day Liturgy
Blessing of the Christmas Tree
Advent Mass
Ash Wednesday Liturgy
Easter Mass
Closing Mass (all 3 schools)
Date
September 17, 2015
October 21, 2015
November 11, 2015
December 9, 2015
December 11, 2015
February 10th, 2016
April 5, 2016
June 7, 2016
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Social Justice / Outreach Activities / Charities:
Catholic Social Teachings of the Church root our actions in supporting human dignity and the
preferential option of the poor which calls us to serve the most vulnerable in the world.
Outreach Projects and Food Drives


Thanksgiving, Advent and Easter food drives
Giving Tree for the donation of mittens/hats/gift cards for those in need at school
and our school community
 ShareLife fundraising activities
 ShareLife/United Way Dress Down Days
 Operation Christmas Child
Recognizing Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations:
Framed by the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations (OCSGE), our graduates will be
effective communicators, reflective thinkers, lifelong learners, collaborative contributors, caring
family members, responsible citizens and discerning believers formed in the Catholic faith
community.
We are beginning to implement a program in conjunction with our Virtues celebrations that
highlights the OCSGE each month. We strive, as a school community, to live out the OCSGE
in our daily interactions.
Celebrating Virtues:
A virtue is a habit or established capacity to perform good actions according to a moral
standard. When we practice these virtues we strengthen them and thereby make the presence
of God more and more visible in the world around us.
At. St. Benedict, we have recognition awards (“Raven of the Month”) that celebrate and
recognize those students who have exemplified the Virtue of the month.
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Visible Signs of our Faith:
Through symbol and service, we are instruments of God’s love whose work within our
communities stands as a witness to our faith.
At St. Benedict, we strive to make each classroom a place of peace where Christ
is central to the teaching and activities that occur. We have a sacred space in
the front foyer and main office, and each classroom has a sacred space, with
crosses and bibles for all to use. A statue of St. Benedict is placed in the front
garden for all to see.
Resource List for Parents/Guardians:
 Religious Education Curriculum - Ontario Religious Education Curriculum
 Family Life Curriculum - Ontario Family Life Curriculum
 Fully Alive Program information - Ontario Bishops' information on Fully Alive
Resource List for Schools:
Board
 Vocations Units
We have Vocations units as part of the Grades 2, 5, and 8 curriculum. The goal of these
supplementary units is to deepen one’s understanding of God’s call – the “vocare” – to
various forms of life within the Church.
 History of the Parish
Through the resource book Our Story, Our Tradition, Our Journey, grade 7 students have
the opportunity to learn about the history of our parish.
 Enduring Gift Video
 Auditing Our Catholic Schools by John B. Kostoff
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 Living With Christ subscription
 Children’s Daily Prayer
 Merciful Like the Father – Liturgical Calendar 2015-2016
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2015-2016