Strengthening the Resilience of Pupils through Catholic Religious Education in Poland: From Theory to Practice
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Terminological Explanations
3. Research Problem, Hypothesis, and Methodology
4. Resilience in the Curricular Assumptions of Religious Education
5. Practical Ways to Strengthen Pupils’ Resilience
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
1 | It is an educational initiative aimed at young people who want to help the most needy and initiate charitable and cultural activities in the school and local environment. School volunteering is based on unpaid, conscious, and voluntary action for the benefit of others, going beyond family and friendship ties. The aim of volunteering is to promote empathy, kindness, and selflessness among pupils in the activities they undertake and to organise their activities in the area of peer, social, and cultural assistance in a school setting as well as the local and wider environment, with the approval of the head teacher. For more information on this subject, see (Lerka 2017, pp. 22–27; Przygoda 2019, pp. 91–108). |
2 | It is a pupils’ organisation operating under the supervision of the head teachers in primary and secondary schools (high schools, technical high schools, and trade schools) in Poland. It is an organisational unit of diocesan Caritas. The primary task of the school groups of Caritas is to put into practice the commandment of love of one’s neighbour in relation to each person, irrespective of their world views, declared religious beliefs, nationality, or race. This finds tangible expression in the charitable, caring, and educational activities undertaken, which are integrally connected with the activities carried out by Caritas in the diocese and parish. Within the framework of the social activities defined above, pupils are sensitised to the various areas of human poverty and social exclusion and supported in developing their ability to identify social needs, respect the dignity of the human person, and help those in need. Most important are activities that aim to link pupils’ activities to understanding Christ’s teaching on Christian mercy and to forming social attitudes motivated by the commandment to love God and one’s neighbour. Alongside such activities, the integration of pupils belonging to school groups of Caritas through regular meetings and participation in out-of-school events is also envisaged, as well as the promotion of the idea of volunteering as a conscious, voluntary, and unpaid activity for the benefit of others. To this end, in addition to charitable and caring initiatives, efforts are made to enable pupils to work on themselves, to ensure all-round development, to achieve increasingly better results in their studies, to dialogue with others, to build bonds within the peer group, to discover the essence of responsibility for the Church and the Homeland, to develop a sense of co-responsibility, and to deepen their relationship with God. This is achieved not only through informative and educational meetings at school but also through concrete forms of social support in which the members of school groups of Caritas are involved in their immediate environment, school, neighbourhood, or parish. Just as important is the ongoing cooperation with the diocesan Caritas and Caritas teams in the parishes, the involvement in activities carried out by Caritas, and the collaboration with other voluntary youth organisations. For more information on this subject, see (Zellma 2010, pp. 4–13; cf. Przygoda 2019, pp. 91–108). |
3 | This is one form of pupil involvement in the Children’s Pontifical Mission Society. The missionary group’s activities are aimed at primary school pupils interested in missionary themes in grades one to eight. Their aim, among other things, is to sensitise pupils to the needs of those who do not yet know Christ and awaken in Catholic children a love of the missions and a sense of both spiritual and material solidarity with their peers around the world. Involvement in various missionary initiatives teaches children openness and selflessness, as well as solidarity with those living on other continents. It also encourages them to learn about mission countries (history, geography, nature, faith, culture, and Church) or well-known missionaries and their work. It provides various opportunities for pupils to make contact with missionaries and to pray for missionaries. It contributes to integrating the peer group, developing talents and interests, and forming attitudes of openness and tolerance towards people of other races, religions, and cultures. For more information on this topic, see, for example, (Kostorz 2020, pp 108–19; Krajewska 2022, p. 101; Zellma 2017a, pp. 675–89). |
4 | This campaign is organised by Caritas. It aims to support children from needy (poor and large) families at the beginning of a new school year. A school starter kit includes a backpack or gym bag and school supplies. For more information on this, see, for example, (Zimnica-Kuzioła 2014, pp. 435–46; Zellma 2017a, pp. 675–78). |
5 | It is an annual nationwide charity event organised by the Catholic Caritas, the Evangelical Diakonia, and the Orthodox Eleos. During this campaign, money is raised for children from poor families by distributing Christmas Eve candles and encouraging people to send fundraising text messages, among other things. For more information on this issue, see, for example, (Zimnica-Kuzioła 2014, pp. 435–46; Podgórski 2011, pp. 193–96; Przygoda 2020). |
6 | It is one of the largest social campaigns in Poland. During this event, coins of small value are collected. The money collected is used to help children in foster families, family orphanages, and other forms of care organised by state institutions. |
7 | This is a nationwide social project organised by the Wiosna (Spring) Association. Its main aim is to provide material and mental help to families and individuals in difficult life situations. For more information on this, see, for example, (Krygier-Łączkowska 2017, pp. 67–86). |
8 | This charitable campaign is held in Catholic schools, where Christmas fairs, raffles, and other attractions are organised. The funds raised in this way are used to support families in need. For more information about this topic, see (Zimnica-Kuzioła 2014, pp. 435–46; Podgórski 2011, pp. 193–96; Przygoda 2020). |
9 | The campaign is held in the spirit of intergenerational solidarity, sensitising the younger generation to the needs of the elderly and their support through money collected in piggy banks and donations. Money is collected in specially prepared piggy banks in schools and parishes throughout Lent and the Week of Divine Mercy that follows it. This campaign is designed to foster attitudes and sensitivity in the youngest children. For more information on this, see (Zimnica-Kuzioła 2014, pp. 435–46; Podgórski 2011, pp. 193–96; Przygoda 2020). |
10 | An event in a school or parish commemorating all the saints strengthens social bonds and provides positive experiences. For more information on this, see (Zellma 2017b, pp. 199–216). |
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Zellma, A.; Mąkosa, P.M. Strengthening the Resilience of Pupils through Catholic Religious Education in Poland: From Theory to Practice. Religions 2024, 15, 1153. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101153
Zellma A, Mąkosa PM. Strengthening the Resilience of Pupils through Catholic Religious Education in Poland: From Theory to Practice. Religions. 2024; 15(10):1153. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101153
Chicago/Turabian StyleZellma, Anna, and Paweł Michał Mąkosa. 2024. "Strengthening the Resilience of Pupils through Catholic Religious Education in Poland: From Theory to Practice" Religions 15, no. 10: 1153. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101153
APA StyleZellma, A., & Mąkosa, P. M. (2024). Strengthening the Resilience of Pupils through Catholic Religious Education in Poland: From Theory to Practice. Religions, 15(10), 1153. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101153