Service & Social Justice

“Actions Not Words”

A central tenet of the Holy Child philosophy is reverence for the uniqueness and dignity of every person, whether they’re a classmate or a stranger across the globe. The motto Cornelia Connelly gave both her congregation and her schools—Actions Not Words—reminds us that we are called to show our respect for others’ worth as a child of God with more than words of kindness; we are called to acts of compassion and justice.

Through service encounters and other meaningful experiences, Holy Child Schools help students cultivate leadership and a sense of personal accountability, encouraging them to stand by their values in ways that are authentic to who they are.

Social Justice & Catholic Social Teaching

Holy Child Schools embrace the call to build a more just society in the tradition of Catholic social teaching—key themes of which include the dignity of the human person; the importance of community and participation in society; human rights and responsibilities; the primacy of the needs of the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work and the rights of workers; global solidarity; and care for the earth.

Service

Service is ingrained in the Holy Child experience as we recognize the dignity of each and every person we meet. Our age-appropriate approach to service seeks to understand the roots of social injustice while facilitating encounters with the people we serve—building relationships and transforming students’ perspectives on the world.

Our schools foster longstanding partnerships with change-making organizations in our communities, often connecting grades with a particular partner for an entire year to foster deeper engagement. The social issues behind our service experiences are fully integrated across the curriculum. Together, we share a commitment to putting love into action.

The Network at Work

There are countless examples of service and social justice initiatives across the Holy Child Network, including opportunities for students from multiple schools to come together for a shared experience around a common purpose. Each year rising eighth graders from five of our schools gather for a day of friendship, faith, service, and inspiration as they grow into the servant leaders who will one day shape the world. Students from all four of our high schools assemble every summer in New York for five days of service and learning, forging connections with others who share the joy of the Holy Child philosophy. And individual schools live out their reverence for the dignity of each person through service and commitments like Mayfield Junior’s participation in Partnership for Success, a summer enrichment program empowering underserved Pasadena Unified School District students.

“Give me, O Lord, a love full of action.” —Cornelia Connelly