Talent Night... preparing for the big show!
HEARTBEAT
ST. PAUL SECONDARY SCHOOL’S
Co-op Education
Experiencing Your Credits
ACTNow
Food Drives and Other Events
Pathway Planning
Introducing myBlueprint
Fall Athletics
Extra Curricular and Varsity Sports
Chaplain’s Corner
Prayers of the Heart
English Outings
Theatre Visits & Excursions
Looking Ahead... Dates to remember
St. Paul Secondary School
AUTUMN ISSUE, 2013
815 Atwater Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5E 1L8
Phone: 905-278-3994
Web: dpcdsb.org/PAULS
Fax: 905-278-1163
Trustees
B. Iannicca, Mississauga Ward 7 - 905-270-0536, bruno.iannicca@dpcdsb.org
M. Pascucci,Mississauga Wards 1 & 3, Chair of the Board - (P) 905-302-3096, (F) 905-890-0888,
mario.pascucci@dpcdsb.org
Superintendent
Mr. C. Blanchard
Principal
Ms. C. Murphy
Vice-Principal
Mr. A. Iarossi
Chaplain
Ms. M. Gillis
Student Services/ARD
Mr. B. Bonnah
Guidance Counsellor A - K, ELL
Ms. E. Wasiuk
Guidance Counsellor L - Z, SHSM
Mr. J. Multari
Youth Care Worker
Ms. V. Williams
St. Dominic Parish Pastor
Fr. Philip Jones
Heartbeat Editor
Mr. T. Brugmans
Magazine Layout & Design
Mr. T. Brugmans
Cover Photo
V. Galli
Principal’sMessage
As you read through this edition of the St. Paul Heartbeat, it will become clear to you that we have had a tremendously busy and successful start up to the 2013-14 school year. That’s no surprise to me.
When I left St. Paul Secondary School ten years ago as the department head of theology, family studies and moderns, I left a vibrant
community with amazing kids, a dedicated innovative staff, and a
supportive parent community that I raved about at every placement
I had as an administrator. Coming home as the principal, I see that all
the good things that make St. Paul such a great place to be, continue,
because our students are involved and dedicated in their pursuits.
We are blessed to have Father Phil as
our school pastor. His genuine love for
young people is a grace for our school,
and the joy with which he celebrated
our opening school mass was a wonderful witness to what our faith can
mean for our students. I am so grateful to have his leadership in ensuring
your child has the best experience in a
Catholic school.
Our students live their faith in the way
they support community events such
as the Terry Fox Run, where over a
thousand dollars was collected and
donated to help fight the scourge that
cancer is in our lives. My admiration
to the members of our ACT NOW club
for their work on our Terry Fox event
and our Thanksgiving Food Drive, and
their leadership in completing our annual memorial peace garden to honor
our beloved deceased.
Our girls basketball team and our boys
volleyball team have had amazing
seasons thus far, and our cross country team and girls’ flag football have
shown in every engagement they have
taken part in, what it means to play
with heart.
It was a pleasure to see so many students succeed at our Annual Awards
Breakfast, and I am looking forward
to reading the report cards being sent
home November 9. I am sure that they
will capture the energy your child puts
into their education and this building,
and Mr. Iarossi and I look forward to
supporting each student in achieving
their best with the amazing staff that is
the St. Paul community.
›››Chaplaincy
Our
Living
Faith
Welcome to Semester One 2013 at St. Paul Secondary School! This is
an exciting time for students. We hope that this year you will have the
chance to meet new people and form new friendships! You will be able
to find new interests and maybe even join teams, clubs and find new
opportunities to share your gifts, here in your home St. Paul Catholic
Secondary School.
We had the opportunity to experience
Grade 9 Orientation, the Opening School
Liturgy, a Thanksgiving Food drive, Terry
Fox run for the cure and the Academic
Awards ceremony! We have completed
Grade 10 retreats and have given many
hours of service to Dr. Simone’s CFFC!
The motto of St. Paul CSS School is
Everything with Heart. The Latin phrase
for this motto is Omnia Cum Corde. You
will see this motto on the walls of the front
hall and in the Chapel. It is our task and
mission during High School years, to find
ways that we can really live this motto out
in our daily life. Each of us can live out
this motto in the ordinary events of daily
life, in our family, in class, in the care we
show to friends, team mates, in our interactions with the world each day!
As members of the St. Paul community let
us strive to be persons who
• Find ways to show heart in all we do!
•
Be persons who have good hearts!
•
Be persons who respect the hearts and
feelings of others.
•
Be person who build up people, ones
who are great and loyal friends.
•
Be persons who speak from the heart,
ones who are honest and truthful.
•
Be persons who show the kind of
heart Jesus would show to all we
encounter each day. Be ones who welcome God into our heart and life each
day.
•
Be persons who put heart, mind and
energy into being a successful people.
•
Be persons who are able to open our
heart to the needs of others and espe-
•
cially to the poor and disadvantaged in
our neighborhood and world.
We are proud of the person God has created us to be.
Be persons who are proud of who we
are, of our family, our culture.
Omnia Cum Corde!
›››PIP Students
Planning For Independence
Planning for
Independence Class
Gives Thanks
Our Planning for
Independence Program continued their
Thanksgiving tradition of sharing a meal
together this fall. Our
students participated in cooking a full
Thanksgiving dinner,
complete with a turkey, mashed potatoes,
real gravy and veggies.
This year, students also
decorated the tables
with centerpieces they
created in art class.
After a morning of
culinary activities and
setting the tables,
we sat together and
talked about all the
things we are thankful
for. This semester, students have also enjoyed their time in the
chapel where we
often meet Ms. Gillis, our acting chaplain, who leads the songs of praise and prayer
time. Students are offered the opportunity to go to the front and offer special intentions
for the important people in their lives.
Our students always pray for Mr. Finamore and always, always give thanks to all their
friends in the school that visit our class, give high-five’s in the hallway and spend time
with them in the cafeteria.
Thanks be to God for you St. Paul- you truly are a school with heart.
›››PIP Students
Planning For Independence
Creative Arts for Enjoyment and Expression
This semester our Planning for Independence Program has taken their artwork to a whole
new level. Blessed with teachers that are artists themselves and love getting messy, Ms. Petrauskas and Ms. Karam are working with our students to develop their creative talents and
help them express themselves using different artistic media.
They began the semester with beautiful mandalas that decorate the passageway in our classroom and students worked together to create an incredible Tree of Life which will stay up all
year. Students will continue to add artwork to the tree according to each season and celebration. They continue to explore their creativity and challenge their fine motor skills with their
current clay project, molding a decorative sun.
Emily painting her mandala with Mrs. Karam.
Krzysztof painting his clay sun.
Mrs. Petrauskas teaching Samantha to mold clay.
Jonny learning to marble paint.
›››English
Grammar
Department
Welcomes
We would like re-welcome to the English
Department Mr. K. Martins. Mr. Martins is
very excited to be back at St. Paul and we
are pleased that he has joined the English
Department until the return of Ms. Sudac.
Mr. Martins keen interest in drama and
theatre was inspired by his starring role
in his Grade 4 production of Oliver at
Blessed John XXIII.
Writing and
Speech Contests
All members of the English Department
try to keep students informed of the
many writing, essay and public speaking
contests which are available to students. If
you have an interest in this area, see Mr.
Kay in the English Department. We have
an Info Board near Room 212 and shortly
there will be information on the upcoming OECTA Young Authors Awards with
categories in short story, poem, nonfiction
and plays. Further information, policies,
procedures and entry forms are available
from Mr. Kay.
Events & Excursions
Mr. Zitnansky’s ELL class, along with
the school settlement worker Mr. Enrique
Huang recently went on a walking tour of
Toronto. Stops included Union Station, the
Royal York, the St. Laurence Market, St.
James Cathedral and Toronto’s first Post
Office. All students returned with a better
sense of historic Toronto.
This semester will once again be a very
busy one for opportunities to appreciate theatre in the Greater Toronto Area
and beyond for St. Paul
students. By the time this
newsletter is at press,
the students of Mrs.
Bentivoglio will have
ventured to Stratford to
see the musical Tommy.
Deprived of sight, hearing and speech by the
Literature
shock of what he has witnessed as a child,
young Tommy Walker seems lost to life
– until he reveals an uncanny talent for
the game of pinball. When his faculties
are suddenly restored, Tommy is hailed
as a living miracle – but will the fans who
turn to him for enlightenment want to hear
what he has to say?
Ms. Di Carlo and Ms. Alilovic’s classes
saw Macbeth performed by the Classical
Theatre Project in Toronto on November
6. Also, Ms. Vono and Ms. Di Carlo’s
grade 11 classes
will be attending the Classical
Theatre Project’s
version of Hamlet
performed on
November 16. The
Classical Theatre
Project is Canada’s only classical
repertory company dedicated
to performing for
student audiences
Members of the English Department attempt to select performances that will help
the experience of literature come alive.
Please know that with all trips we try to
keep the curriculum our priority, along
with fair costs and a safe and enjoyable
experience. Please support your son or
daughter’s participation in these educational excursions.
Speaking
The OSSLT/EQAO –
Literacy Preparation
The St. Paul Literacy Committee is
co-chaired by Mrs. Bentivoglio and Ms.
Vono and it is comprised of teachers from
the school. The Committee will develop
strategies for the OSSLT test which will be
taking place on March 27, 2014.
All of our Grade 9 and 10 teachers are
committed to making sure that their
courses support the OSSLT initiative and
that the students are prepared for the test.
The OSSLT is a large-scale assessment
written by all Grade 10 students in Ontario
public and separate schools. The OSSLT
has been in place since 2000. Its purpose
is to assess the reading and writing skills
attained by all students who have completed the Grade 9 curriculum. The test is
set by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), an arms-length
agency of the Ontario Ministry of Education. It is important to reduce the anxiety
that many students feel going in to the
test.
Parents and students are encouraged to
visit the website of Education Quality and
Accountability Office (EQAO); it is a useful website and it provides strategies and
samples in order to help students prepare
for the test. [www.eqao.com]
York University
Student Teachers
This year, we welcome York University
Student Teacher Ms. Macias who will be
working with her Mentor Teacher Mrs.
Bentivoglio in the English Department.
Student teachers from York University are
scheduled to be in the classroom every
Wednesday and will be observing and
teaching as the semester carries on. Each
student teacher will have a practicum
block of teaching which will be announced
as developed. We welcome all of the York
University Student Teachers to the St. Paul
community and wish them every success.
›››Athletics
Welcome
Back
Discipline, Dedication, Determination
to another exciting
year of Wolverine Athletics! Sports at St.
Paul are in full gear
with the Cross Country team, Girls Flag
Football, Varsity Girls
Basketball and Varsity
Boys Volleyball winding down and ready to
enter the playoff races.
The gym this year has
been packed with student support, cheering on our Wolverine
teams. It is exciting
to see such pride and
support for our teams.
Junior and Senior Boys
Hockey team tryouts
have been taking
place getting ready for
a thrilling season. Boys
Basketball tryouts are
starting to get under
way and Girls Volleyball tryouts are taking
place shortly.
Get involved in Wolverine Athletics, tryout for teams and get involved. Let’s show
some school spirit and Wolverine pride!
Intramurals
This year the students have taken a great
interest in being a part of the St. Paul
athletic council and one of their goals was
to incorporate more buy-outs to support
St. Paul Athletics and also raise money for
a good cause.
The athletic council ran an intramural
dodgeball competition after school to determine the student champions. On Monday October 28, the teachers competed
against the student champions in a friendly
match of dodgeball to raise money for a
St. Paul school mascot and for the Sick
Kids Foundation.
The students of St. Paul have come
together to help raise awareness and also
play a positive role in supporting the St.
Paul Community.
We hope to increase school participation this year by running more intramural
programs so that all students will have the
opportunity to get active and get involved.
Boys Volleyball
The Varsity Boys Volleyball team is once
again off to another amazing year. At the
time of this writing, the boys are undefeated in league play with a perfect 9-0 record
with three matches remaining against Applewood,
Glenforest and
Cawthra.
The team
has qualified as a
top four
team for
the ‘AAA’
OFSAA
play downs securing the second seed.
They will play Joan of Arc at home in the
semi-finals with the winner advancing to
the ‘AAA’ championships for the right to
represent ROPSSAA at the 2013 OFSAA
CHAMPIONSHIPS being held in London
this year from November 21 – 23.
The team travelled to Georgetown earlier
in October for the Annual Christ the King
tournament and successfully qualified for
the championship round of playoffs only
to run out of gas and lose to Notre Dame
from Burlington in 3 sets. The team also
played at the Applewood Invitational tournament in October, finishing in a 3-way tie
for first place after round robin play. Due
to point differential, the Wolverines had to
settle on playing for the bronze medal and
easily winning it over St. Thomas Aquinas
from Brampton.
The Wolverines are also entered in the
Rick Hansen tournament which will include the top teams from all over Ontario
including Eden from St. Catherines (the
5-time defending OFSAA Gold Medalists), Regiopolis-Notre-Dame from Kingston, St. Mike’s College, Upper Canada
College and Mississauga S.S. The team is
hoping to prove themselves against very
tough competition.
Cross Country Team
The St. Paul Cross Country team has had
an outstanding season. Their consistent
dedication, motivation and commitment
to team work and doing the best that they
can has shone through at every meet. They
practice regularly, and with morning and
afternoon practices including circuits; this
is no easy feat. They have worked together
to motivate one another and have stayed
strong and unified as a team that does
everything with heart. St. Paul would like
to thank them and congratulate all their
efforts this season.
Girls Basketball
The Varsity Girls basketball team is hav-
ing an historically successful season thus
far. The team opened the season by capturing a bronze medal in their pre-season
tournament in Guelph, Ontario.
St. Paul then started the season by winning
their first 3 games before heading off to
one the largest basketball tournaments in
Ottawa, Ontario. In our nation’s capital,
the girls performed exceptionally well by
winning their first 5 games and capturing
a silver medal. The highest achievement
ever for a Wolverines basketball team at
this tournament. St. Paul currently has
a 4-1 record and will participated in the
Phillip Pocock invitational tournament the
weekend of October 25 before preparing
for the playoffs.
We wish the girls luck as they prepare to
finish off an outstanding season. The team
members include: Meaghan Forestell,
Emily Ulewicz, Jahnae Gyles, Destiny
Giardino,
Margot Hall,
Rama Afara,
›››Athletics
Brianne Cuff, Monica Russell, Lanita Ramos, Sofia Da Cruz and Grace Gyles.
Girls Flag Football
The St. Paul Cross Country team has had
an outstanding season. Their consistent
dedication, motivation and commitment to
team work and doing the best that they can
has shone through at every meet.
They practice regularly, and with morning
and afternoon practices including circuits;
this is no easy feat. They have worked
together to motivate one another and have
stayed strong and unified as a team that
does everything with heart.
St. Paul would like to
thank them and congratulate all their efforts
this season.
Talent Night
2 0 1 3
Talent Night is ramping up for another year of this annual variety show.
October 22 was busy as we auditioned close to 30 acts for this year’s show. Vocalists, rock bands, dancers and acoustic performers
are busy honing their acts as they prepare for the show.
Behind the scenes, posters are being put up, tickets designed, lights are being set and film crews are developing short movies and
animations to support the show. Backstage and video crews have been practicing at their stations in order to bring you a well polished, professional show. Our MC’s are hard at work preparing their own brand of entertainment to string all of the acts together.
Talent Night will be on stage on Friday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. Parents, families and friends are all welcome. Tickets for this one
night only show can be purchased in the cafeteria in advance ($10.00) or at the door ($12.00).
Please be aware that Talent Night has traditionally sold out - tickets are rarely available at the door. Get yours early if you want to
witness what has come to be one of the school’s most anticipated event of the year!
›››Guidance Files
Student Services • ARD • Counseling
The St. Paul Grade 9 Orientation Program includes a program called Get Ready. This five day
orientation program is designed to support students through the transition to high school.
The orientation culminated with a welcome celebration for the 60 students who participated. Students had an opportunity to meet our principal, Ms. Murphy; our vice principal,
Mr. Iarossi; our Chaplain, Ms. Gillis; our Guidance counselors, Ms. Wasiuk (Guidance Counselor
– A-K), and Mr. Multari (Guidance Counselor L-Z); Ms. Williams (Child Youth Worker) and Mr.
Isabella (Student Success Teacher). Many other staff members and senior students gave generously of their time to welcome our new students in grade nine to life at St. Paul. On behalf
of all of us in Student Services, we extend our warmest welcome to all new members of the
St. Paul community!
College/University
Applications
Mark your Calendars. Again this year, the
St. Paul College and University Fair is being held in the cafeteria. This year’s event
is being held on the evening of on November 21 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. All students
and parents are welcome.
Confirmed participants include: Brock U.,
Trent U., Guelph-Humber, the University
of Western Ontario, King’s University
College, York U., Laurier, Ottawa, Humber College, St. Clair College, Ryerson
University, the University of Windsor, the
Canadian Forces, and Sheridan College.
Application Deadlines
The deadline for college application is
February 1, 2014; the deadline for university application is January 15, 2014.
Students are strongly encouraged to apply
early because the on-line websites get very
busy in the final days before the deadline.
University applicants must see Ms. Wasiuk for a PIN in order to apply.
Please Note
Students enrolled in Night School courses
during Semester One or Two or other
recognized Ontario Ministry of Education
Private Schools, must bring a copy of their
transcript to the guidance counselor in
order for the course to be entered into their
college /university application files.
Also, students are encouraged to apply for
scholarships, bursaries and OSAP (student
loans) listed on the sheets given during the
Grade 12 presentations held in October.
Homework Help in Math
Grade 7,8,9 & 10 students can access free
homework assistance in math at www.
homeworkhelp.ilc.org. This site is supported by qualified teachers and is available in
the evening in real time.
Registration for 2014-15
It’s hard to believe as we’ve just started a
new school year, however, we’re already
beginning the initial planning for 20142015. In order to facilitate our planning,
the registration process for next year will
begin in December. All students in Grades
9, 10, 11 and 12 will make their course
selections using the St. Paul website with
the support of a guidance counselor. The
process is as follows; Parents and students
are encouraged to:
1) review the courses they need/want to
take on the school website (attention to
SHSM requirements as appropriate).
2) select their courses and options on the
site using the secure password provided
by their counselor.
3) submit their course selections on-line.
4) print a copy of the course selection
verification.
5) ensure parents sign the course selection
verification.
6) return the signed course selection along
with the school activity fee to the Student Services office by the due date.
Students will be provided with an online demonstration as well as designated
computer time for those students who do
not have internet access at home. Activity
Fees may be paid by debit /credit card.
All options/courses are filled on a first
come/ first served basis so to ensure options are available, it is very important to
submit course selections early!
Mark your Calendars!
A Guidance and Career Education Q and
A: Transition Planning Workshop for
Parents and Students in GRADE 10 on
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 6:30 – 8:00
p.m.
Again this year, members of our Guidance and Career Education Department are
hosting an informal Q and A style event at
the school. The focus for the evening is the
transition from grade 10 to grade 11/12.
Information will be available regarding
course selection, pathways to post-secondary, applying for our Specialist High Skills
Majors, and Literacy Test Preparation.
All parents/guardians and students are
welcome, but the focus of the event will
be transition planning from grade 10 to 11
and to post-secondary. We hope to see you
there!
›››Bits & Bites
Omnia Cum Corde
Looking Ahead
Please take note of the following dates to
help you plan out your calendar.
Mid Term Report Cards..........November 8
Parent Council Meeting........November 19
Talent Night..........................November 29
Grade 8 Open House............... December 9
PA Day.................................. December 20
Christmas Break................ Dec. 23 - Jan. 3
EQAO Math Test...................... January 16
Cooperative Education
Program Update
Pathway and
Transition Planning
The semester for the coop students began
with a three week in class where students
worked through several topics in preparation for their placement experiences.
St. Paul and the Dufferin-Peel CDSB are
pleased to provide an exciting education
planning resource available immediately
to your students at school or from home.
After a successful period of time, all of
the students are now working hard at their
placements and getting a true experiential
learning experience.
Feedback from the employers has been
very positive and the co-op teachers Mr.
Guidance Q & A........................ January 21
Semester 1 Exams...............January 22 -28
Second Semester Begins........... January 31
With direct access from home, now you
can also get more informed and involved
with your child’s education. Log in and
learn about courses, graduation requirements and the endless options available
to your son/daughter. From their Profile,
your child will be able to set goals, save
high school and post-secondary plans,
create post-secondary program short lists,
investigate occupations of interest, record
extra-curricular activities and more.
ACT NOW
ACT NOW (A Chance To Notice Our
World) is the student social justice committee at St. Paul.
ACT NOW is dedicated to promoting
awareness on social justice issues, fund
raising for those in need in the community,
and above all, being the hands and feet of
Jesus Christ.
In late September, ACT NOW organized
a Terry Fox Walk, and dress down day for
all students and staff. As a school community, St. Paul raised $1000 for The Terry
Fox Foundation. It was a beautiful day for
a walk, and a special way of remembering
a Canadian hero. In October, ACT NOW
held its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
for St. Dominic’s Parish. Thank you to all
homeroom classes that participated in the
event, but especially to Mr. Zitnansky’s,
Ms. Alilovic’s, Mrs. Vono’s, and Mrs.
Bentivoglio’s homeroom classes, as well
as the PIP class, for all being extra generous this year.
ACT NOW looks forward to many other
events this semester, such as the Halloween Candy Drive for Jamaica, the Tulip
for a Loved One in November, and the
annual Christmas Raffle in December.
The myBlueprint Education Planner
(www.myBlueprint.ca/dpcdsb) lets your
child create an engaging and interactive
Education Plan and provides a wealth
of information about post-secondary
pathway planning. Students and parents
can build customized high school course
plans, instantly identify the post-secondary
options that are available to them and
explore valuable information about apprenticeships, college programs, university
programs and workplace opportunities
across Canada.
myBlueprint helps ensure you can assist
your child in making the most informed
decision about their education. We
encourage you to get started today and
explore the website with them.
Costigan & Mrs. Lehecka are very proud
of the dedication and work ethic shown by
each of the students.
Please contact a member of the Guidance
and Career Education Department for
more information.
Please come out and support these hard
working students when they showcase
their experiences in our café on December
2 at the Showcase Event.
Finally, any students interested in co-op
for next semester, please note that Dual
Credit and centralized placement applications will be available in early November.
If you have any questions please see Mr.
Costigan or Ms. Lehecka for details.
St.Paul’s Not For Profit Specialist High Skills Major
Students attend a Leadership Course at the Witz Education Centre, an Industry Leader in Management and
Executive Training.
She’s Published
Grade 12 student Emma Kendrick
achieved quite an accomplishment when
her article Remembering Little Rock was
published in the October 6 issue of the
Catholic Register.
We’ve reprinted her article here for you to
read. Congratulations Emma!
Remembering Little Rock
By Emma Kendrick
Youth Speak News
It is easy to
believe that
our North
American
communities have
always been
founded on
acceptance
and equal
opportunities for all,
but it is a
mistake to
believe that we are no longer deeply tied
to a dark past. Because of individuals who
continue to fight against injustice, our
communities continue to grow, allowing
us to value those who have shaped our
indentity in moments of despair.
September marks the anniversary of a
group of nine African-American high
school students whose actions did exactly
that in 1957.
These nine students became known as
“The Little Rock Nine” as their presence
at an all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas, sparked demonstrations and riots
within the community, drawing national
and international attention. The United
States Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in
the Brown vs. Board of Education case
took a clear stance against the segregation
of public schools. However, as the Little
Rock Nine made their way to school of
September 4, 1957, they did not find any
source of welcome. They faced a mob of
segregationists and the Arkansas Na-
tional Guard, ordered by Governor Orval
Faubus, who prevented them from entering the school. For weeks the students
remained barred from the high school. Finally on September 24, President Dwight
D. Eisenhower sent 1, 200 members of
the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division
to escort the Little Rock Nine to their
first day of class. Throughout the year the
military maintained a presence on campus.
Such a presence was unable to prevent
the sorrow and violence that so deeply affected the young students.
I found the peaceful attitude the students
displayed in face of an immense amount
of hate most inspiring. Jesus said, “For
the mouth speaks what the heart is full of”
(Matthew 12:34), meaning that peaceful
actions begin with a loving heart. The
Little Rock Nine easily could have held
resentment and anger, but they remained
focussed on peaceful living. Moving
towards a better community, we are called
to first fill our hearts with God’s love so
that our actions and words will reflect that
change.
Many in the Little Rock community saw
the actions of the students as radical and
inappropriate. It was a tense time for everyone living in Little Rock, but the nine
›››Bits & Bites
African-American students responded in
a non-violent way, hoping to change the
traditions that burdened their society.
Jesus’ ministry teaches us that we must
never stop seeking justice. Jesus, in His
day, was also viewed as a radical reformer.
His teachings called for political, social,
economic and spiritual change. He did
not conform to what was socially acceptable but presented a new way of living.
This way of living encouraged people to
create communities of belonging. We too
are invited to question the structure of our
society and be ready with open hearts to
respond to issues of injustice.