About once a week, all the students in this class go off campus to do some experiential learning and/or solidarity-based service. In order to help students process what they've experienced and move toward a greater and deeper faith that does justice, students must write a "Processing Process" reflection. In 300 words or more, students must undertake the following process to help them sort through their experience and integrate it with our coursework, which is rooted in Catholic Social Justice and the ways God calls us to live out our baptismal and personal vocations:
1. Step One: See - inventory the things you experienced
a. who is involved? who is being hurt or neglected? who is benefiting?
b. where is this happening? is it unique to a particular place or more universal?
c. are there any obvious or apparent reasons why this is happening?
2. Step Two: Analyze - examine your experience from many angles
a. Economic: who owns? who has the money? who is dependent?
b. Political: who decides? who picks the deciders? who’s included/excluded in this process?
c. Social: who is left out? who is included? what relationships are involved?
d. History: how does the past affect the present? is there a cycle or structure hanging over the situation?
e. Cultural: how do the beliefs, values, and/or influences of the community affect behavior and decisions?
3. Step Three: Reflect - incorporate Scripture and Tradition
a. Scripture: what Bible stories remind you of this situation? what Bible stories could provide insight, lessons, or counterexamples? are there any people in the Bible with similar stories? with similar characteristics?
b. Tradition: what theme(s) of CST are relevant here? how do they call us to respond?
4. Step Four: Synthesize - connect your faith, your life experience, and your emotional reactions
b. Political: who decides? who picks the deciders? who’s included/excluded in this process?
c. Social: who is left out? who is included? what relationships are involved?
d. History: how does the past affect the present? is there a cycle or structure hanging over the situation?
e. Cultural: how do the beliefs, values, and/or influences of the community affect behavior and decisions?
3. Step Three: Reflect - incorporate Scripture and Tradition
a. Scripture: what Bible stories remind you of this situation? what Bible stories could provide insight, lessons, or counterexamples? are there any people in the Bible with similar stories? with similar characteristics?
b. Tradition: what theme(s) of CST are relevant here? how do they call us to respond?
4. Step Four: Synthesize - connect your faith, your life experience, and your emotional reactions
a. How do you feel about this?
b. Have you ever been in a similar position?
c. Do you feel implicated in marginalizing these people? do you identify with the marginalized people?
d. Do you feel called to respond in faith? would Christ expect you to act?
e. What do you think should be happening to respond?
5. Step Five: Act
b. Have you ever been in a similar position?
c. Do you feel implicated in marginalizing these people? do you identify with the marginalized people?
d. Do you feel called to respond in faith? would Christ expect you to act?
e. What do you think should be happening to respond?
5. Step Five: Act
a. How might we bridge the gap between the social reality and what we hope for?
b. What can we reasonably attempt to do?
c. Who can help/be involved with us? who can advocate for the marginalized with us?
b. What can we reasonably attempt to do?
c. Who can help/be involved with us? who can advocate for the marginalized with us?
Each week, I will post a few of exemplary reflections from our students to share their thoughts on our service experiences. I will head the posts with a short description of what our field trip entailed and leave the rest to them. Enjoy!
