By Rick Lejano

Unifying neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God. That is the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ) infused into our mission at Carondelet High School in Concord, CA. This mission calls us to “serve the dear neighbor without distinction.” Founded in Le Puy, France, in 1650 within an Ignatian-Salesian climate, justice has always been at the forefront of the CSJ mission.

As a campus minister at a CSJ school, much of my role revolves around encouraging students to live out this charism in their day-to-day lives. As a community called to respond to the signs of the times, I often turn to EFJ resources, especially the Education for Justice Peace & Justice Calendar. I use it regularly with our Spiritual Life Council, a student leadership group involved in morning prayer, school-wide liturgies, and service and justice projects.

At Carondelet, morning prayer is read over the PA to the entire school community. It gives us an opportunity not only to pray, but also to educate our community and bring awareness to important issues and significant days within both the Church and the world. Many times, students and adults have shared, “I didn’t know it was _____ today,” or “I didn’t know there was a day for _____.”

The calendar’s linked resources help our leaders write informed and meaningful prayers, while also deepening their own understanding of the issues we are praying about. 

I’ve found that formation in justice and compassion often happens through these small, consistent practices. Sometimes a simple morning prayer or moment of reflection can slowly shape how students see the world and their place within it. I would encourage all educators to seek simple, consistent ways to integrate justice, reflection, and awareness into the life of your community. It doesn’t always have to be through a large-scale event or program. Sometimes it can be as simple as a morning prayer, highlighting an important day, or creating opportunities for students to learn more about the world around them. 

EFJ continues to be a place of hope and formation for our community by helping us connect our faith to the needs of the world, not only through education, but through reflection and action.