Catholic Social Teaching 101 Video Series: Call to Family, Community, and Participation

"Family is really the first school of communications," says CatholicMom.com's Lisa Hendey at the start of Call to Family, Community, and Participation, the second installment of CST 101, a series of videos from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services.  "It's really the first place where we first learn to love, to be loved, to give of ourselves, so that we're prepared to go out into the community and serve other people."

Lisa, along with Msgr. Ray East of the Archdiocese of Washington and Jonathan Reyes of the USCCB, lays out for us the beautiful and simple understanding of society, that families are the most basic foundational unit of society, that we are called to find family in each other, that we are all called to participate and contribute our best to society, for the benefit of all.

CST 101 is a collaborative 7-part video series presented by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services on Catholic social teaching.

We're not supposed to be bystanders or mere observers, but instead, we're supposed to get in there and live, and listen, and love the people that God has placed around us.
— Msgr. Ray East

The videos bring the themes of Catholic social teaching (too often called the "best-kept secret of the Church") to life and inspire us to put our faith into action.

Some suggested uses include adult faith formation, incorporating into high school theology classes, sharing with parents of religious education students, integrating into lay ministry formation and using them to prepare groups for service trips. Or simply for our own reflection, to better understand how we and our families exist in society along with our fellow creatures among God's creation, living and moving and bearing God's word.

Featured in these videos is the wonderful artwork of Bro. Mickey O'Neill McGrath, OSFS, along with contributions from some of the most respected figures in contemporary Catholic thought:

The videos are being released on a rolling basis, and all 7 will be released by the spring of 2016 with an accompanying discussion guide. The second video, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, appears below.

We hope you enjoy, share, and discuss this installment, along with the whole series to follow.  It'll change the way you see your relationships.

[embed width="560" height="315"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giQgWakrgQs[/embed]

Click CC for Spanish subtitles.

Already introduced is Life and Dignity of the Human Person.  Installments to follow include:

• Care for God’s Creation;
• Rights and Responsibilities; 
• Option for the Poor and Vulnerable; 
• The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers; and 
• Solidarity.  

Please share with your communities, and watch this space for each installment to follow.

See all the Catholic Social Teaching 101 posts here.

Copyright 2016 Catholic Relief Services.