Joyful Balance - The Four Pillars
By Jim Barbieri
Reflective Choices to Transforming Actions
Upon reflecting on the Headmaster ’ s theme for this school year , Joyful Balance , I immediately thought of certain ideas expressed in the Religion Department ’ s philosophy statement , which my colleagues and I drafted some years ago under the leadership of the late Ray Feerick . One aspect of that statement is that students learn by doing , and we made an analogy to how students learn what music is by listening to music , and ultimately in performing it : While religious education is essential to the program , the experience of membership in a community of faith is at its heart . Growth along the way should be intellectual , social , and spiritual and implies making reflective choices that become transforming actions so that doing good becomes the real meaning of being good .
Service projects , therefore , are an important aspect of the school ’ s spirituality pillar , as it gets to the heart of what it means to be a Christian , to live one ’ s creed . “ Doing good ” is also at the core of most religions and spiritual or life philosophies , and resonates with our boys , whatever their individual family ’ s faith tradition may be . The many service projects and initiatives that Saint David ’ s students participate in are joyful for them , as they are opportunities to work together with classmates to do some good for others in the local or broader community . Many students over the years have said that they couldn ’ t wait to be in eighth grade so they could be the ones leading the schoolwide Thanksgiving Food Drive each November .
As our students move through the religion program in Upper School , they have more opportunities to engage in activities that allow them to develop their talents , such as singing at Mass and at our annual Advent Service of Lessons and Carols , or to explore topics of interest when choosing a research topic for the Agents for the Good essay and Chapel Talk project . For that project , a seventh-grade student who loves baseball might choose to write about the humanitarian efforts of Roberto Clemente , while a boy who is interested in science might choose to research how Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine . Both topics are examples of people who used their talents or fame to benefit others , who exemplify the meaning of the parable of Salt and Light in Matthew ’ s Gospel . When boys can make the connection between the teachings of Christianity and real life , we hope they are on their way to discovering the true joy that the faith tradition of the school represents and internalizing the idea , as stated in the mission statement , that the education they receive here should always be “ compelling , joyful , and designed to serve self , others and God .” •
“ Doing good is also at the core of most religions and spiritual or life philosophies , and resonates with our boys , whatever their faith tradition may be .”
Jim Barbieri is Religion Curriculum Chair at Saint David ’ s School .
Winter 2023 • 19