ICBE WORKSHOPCOLEGIO SANTO AMÉRICOA BENEDICTINE SCHOOL IN SÃO PAULO - BRAZIL

2016

COLEGIO SANTO AMÉRICOA BENEDICTINE SCHOOL IN SÃO PAULO - BRAZIL

Silvia De Tommaso – Strategic Advisor

2016 STRATEGIC PLAN

The Rule of St Benedict as the philosophic basis for an strategic plan:

• a pedagogic proposal for the 21st Century Challenges

• best practices for CSA in 2016

1931 Immigration from Hungary-Pannonhalma Monastery

1951Foundation of Colegio Santo Americo

1953 Foundation of Mosteiro São Geraldo

1963Beginning of Mosteiro São Geraldo Social Work in the surrounding community

Saint Benedict said: “Give meaning to Jesus´ Gospel”.

2013 Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope

Go out to the streets! Make noise!

“... we cannot passively and calmly wait in our church buildings anymore. We need to move from a pastoral ministry of mere conservation to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry“.

Pope Francis, Cathedral Rio de Janeiro to the youth, 25 July 2013

Evangelii Gaudim # 15.Quotes: Aparecida Document, 2007

2014

• A new generation of Monks – Latin origin

• Dom Francisco was elected Prior administrator

• A Young team of monks began to manage the school

Pope Francisco inspired us to move and reorganize the educational institutions (Evangelii Gaudium),Giving meaning to young people concerns, needs and problems.

Youth ministry, as traditionally organized, has also suffered the impact of social changes. Young people often fail to find responses to their concerns, needs, problems and hurts in the usual structures.

As adults, we find it hard to listen patiently to them, to appreciate their concerns and demands, and to speak to them in a language they can understand.

For the same reason, our efforts in the field of education do not produce the results expected. The rise and growth of associations and movements mostly made up of young people can be seen as the work of the Holy Spirit, who blazes new trails to meet their expectations and their search for a deep spirituality and a more real sense of belonging.

Evangelii Gaudim # 105.

2015

Inspired by the Pope, Dom Francisco spread the wordencouraging everybody to become 21st century Educators.

A joy ever new, a joy which is shared

“ The great danger in today’s world is the sadness in people´s heart for not finding the joy of the Gospel.Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.”

Speaking the language of the people to get to the heart of the world !

2016The Pastoral Department was created in ColegioSanto Americo

• Our pastoral mission is animated by the fire of the Spirit, so as to inflame who regularly take part in community worship.

• Our duty is to restore the joy of faith to people’s hearts and inspire them to a commitment to the Gospel

• Work more real sense of belonging

• Saint Benedict principles provide a framework of practical spirituality for all Christians in every age.

• The Benedictine welcome is warm and with a good sense of humor

• We are permanently in a state of mission

• We are incomplete in thoughts, always in development

• Spirituality and ordinary life are just two sides of the same coin

• People need affection, understanding and love

• Touching people´s heart with Saint Benedict´s

simplicity

• An evangelizing community gets involved

by word and act in people´s daily lives

“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them…no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord… The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms.” (Evangelii Gaudium #3)

“Listen, O my son, to the precepts of thy master, and incline the ear of thy heart, and cheerfully receive andfaithfully execute the admonitions of thy loving Father, that by the toil of obedience thou mayest return to Him from whom by the sloth of disobedience thou hast gone away”. (Prologue, RSB)

Principles of the Benedictine life: a basic framework of practical spirituality for all Christians in every age.

480 - 2016

Our students are 100% our future.

Treat them as Christ:“A virtuous, wise and patient Man, who never demands anything of His sons and daughters that is not for their best. He understands the weaknesses of human nature, and while He expects obedience, He never demands anything harsh or burdensome.” (RSB)

The youth: a great challenge

Pope Francis, Rio de Janeiro to the youth, July 2013

Humanistic Formation: Involving parents, teachers, coworkers and students in a common educational proposal and giving meaning to our words.

School in mission:monks + directors + teachers + Coworkers + parents

=Integrated Education

If parents and teachers are not references, students lack

orientation.

“To teach and to evangelize are to re give words”

How can you contribute to make a difference in your Family and in ColegioSanto Americo´sFamily?

2016BEST PRACTICESLaudato Si Reflection: teacher's training, living and giving (mind, heart and hands)

“The fruits of this tree will be generated by Santo Americo family”

The renewal of structures demanded by pastoral conversion can only be understood in this light:as part of an effort to make [everything] more mission-oriented, to make ordinary pastoral activity on every level more inclusive and open, to inspire in pastoral workers a constant desire to go forthand in this way to elicit a positive response from all those whom Jesus summons to friendship with himself.As John Paul II once said to the Bishops of Oceania:"All renewal in the Church must have mission as its goal if it is not to fall prey to a kind of ecclesial introversion".

The renewal of structures must have mission as its goal

Evangelii Gaudim # 27.

“Mind, heart and hands”Pope Francis, 24th Inter-American Congress of Catholic Education, SP-BR Jan 2016

Living the life Jesus lived

Teachers, mothers and monks acting out the Holly Easter week with students

Applying Saint Benedict´s Rule in the 21st century daily challenges .

Evangelizing students’ mothers

Colegio Santo Américo's highlight is :

Benedictine spirituality applied in the daily activities making

Jesus’ teaching as real as possible

A living church, a school in action =

The joy of the Gospel

Happy students