For our AC+ subscribers: This retreat resource guide can help students to see themselves as the social justice heroes of the next generation, and consider ways that they may be able to take social justice action within their own lives.
1. Retreat/formation day session: Social justice hero’s journey
Intro: A session might start with students undertaking the ‘Do you have the X factor?’ quiz, with a leader reading out each questions and students moving to a marked location along the back wall of the room that corresponds to their answer. At the end, ask students to gather in the corner that they spent the most time in and tell each group their result.
Input for reflection: Play the ‘Social justice hero’s journey game.’ You can play in small groups using this board, play in rounds with reflection time in between, play by visiting stations around the room or play in teams.
Small groups discussion: Have students gather in their group and share 1) how they felt about the game; was it fair? 2) which cards impacted them the most 2) their idea of what social justice might look like for the people who live these experiences every day. A leader might share articles (such as those found in ‘My first social justice experience,’ see below). Allow some time for students to reflect on steps they can take to bring social justice into other’s their lives.
Concluding prayer web: Back in the main group, sit in a circle. Ask students to think of a group of people who they’d like to pray for. Pick up the ball of wool and begin by sharing your own prayer. Wait a few seconds and then, holding on to the end of the yarn, unroll several feet of it and pass or throw the ball to a student in the circle. As you do so, ask him or her to share his or her prayer. Have the student share their prayer, wrap the yarn once around either wrist and then pass the ball to another student. Repeat the process and continue passing the ball of yarn until all students have had a chance to share their prayers and the ball of yarn returns to you. Conclude the prayer by praying the Lord’s Prayer together.
Quiz: Do you have the X factor?
Social justice hero’s journey
Resources for the social justice hero’s journey
Resource: Social justice hero game board
Resource: Useful links for social justice
My first social justice experience
2. Retreat/formation day session: Click here to join in
Intro: Have everyone sit on a chair in a circle. Have one extra chair in the circle. One person to be in. This person has to try and sit on the empty chair. Everyone else has to work together to try and stop the person from sitting down by moving across to the empty chair. You can only move across one chair at a time. Have a leader share about how one person’s action can make a big impact. You can share the article ‘Click here to join in’ below as an example.
Input for reflection: In groups, develop a proposal for a 'Catholic Think Tank'. A think tank is a group of people with similar views who come together to discuss and develop proposals for tackling issues that they think are important in society. You can share some articles below to get students started. Discuss and consider:
a) What is the overarching mission statement for your group?
b) What are the social issues your group would be most concerned with?
c) How would your group go about developing responses to those issues - ie. Whose viewpoints will you consider? Which groups in society will you be trying to engage with and mobilise? How will you go about creating change (you might want to read up what a 'theory of change' is and look at some examples)? Why do you think your approach will be effective?
Alternative input for reflection: Show students the article ‘A saintly social justice mash-up,’ and ‘A social justice playlist.’ In teams, have students develop their own social justice song or rap. Share social justice experience articles to help students get started (see articles below). Gather teams together and have a social justice rap battle.
Small group discussion: Have each student talk about something they heard from another group or group member that resonated with them, or to share an experience about social justice from their life.
Prayer: You could finish the session by praying the Lord’s prayer for the social justice group you focused on and by asking God to be with those in need.
Click here to join in
A social justice playlist
A saintly social justice mash-up
The politics of Jesus
Justice together: solidarity and unions
Explorations: social justice and the margins
Some social justice experience articles:
Social Justice: Orange Sky Laundry’s first shower
Editorial: Mercy in social justice
Interview: 'A family that does justice'
The work of justice
Justice at the intersection
Mercy in the heart of justice
Justice from faith
3. Retreat/formation day session: Dreaming of reconciliation
Intro: Start the session with an Acknowledgement of Country, recognising the traditional owners of the land you’re meeting on, and paying respects to elders past, present and emerging. Then have students read Sherry Balcombe’s article, ‘A song yet to be heard – Dreaming of a reconciled Australia’. You might ask students to take turns reading the article aloud one paragraph at a time.
Input for reflection: Connecting with the land – Students are handed one of the reflections below and asked to take a walk, find a quiet place in nature, and spend 25 minutes reading and reflecting on their own connection to the land. Students are asked to take note of how what happens within them as they sit quietly in nature. What feelings arise ? What memories are evoked? How might God be communicating with them in this space? Spend the last five minutes or so journaling about these experiences.
Small group discussion: Have students gather in their group and share their experiences on their time in nature. How did they feel sitting quietly by themselves? Was there something spiritual about the experience? Once they’ve each had a chance to share, ask them to consider their experience in light of the stories of Peter Smith and Evelyn Parkin. Why might First Nations people have such a deep spiritual connection to the land? How might they feel about how we, as settlers, view and use the land? How do you now feel about how we, as settlers, view and use the land?
Concluding prayer: Students gather quietly in the main group and listen to the song ‘Wiyathul’ by Dr G Yunupingu. You might introduce the song by reading the last two paragraphs of the ‘Sneaky Jesus’ song article below. After the song is played, students then share their own brief prayer for reconciliation. Finish with an ‘Our Father’ prayer.
A song yet to be heard – Dreaming of a reconciled Australia
Experiencing the sacred as an Indigenous man
The Creator Spirit and me
Sneaky Jesus Song: 'Wiyathul' by Dr G Yunupingu