STRIKING THE FLINT
Educating For Hope
An Invitation
The fourth Catalyst we welcome and invite you, our Sion schools communities, into a journey of reflection, nourishment, sharing and growth around why we are called to educate for hope.
The Catalysts have a rhythm of inviting, preparing through centering, the catalyst stimulus, some reflecting and an opportunity to respond.
In this catalyst of Striking the Flint the theme of hope is explored and deepened even more. Throughout all of these catalyst sessions, we have had the opportunity to gather together all the elements needed for educating for hope: from gathering the kindling, to preparing the fire bed, ensuring that we have the elements ready to ignite that fire. And finally now some of the key elements that will allow us to strike that flint and truly ignite hope in our own education setting are revealed. In this catalyst, we are challenged to move forward and fan the flames of hope in all Sion education settings…..to think about the clear ways in which we will educate for hope …. bringing hope to life … starting with ourselves.
Our Hope
Student Voices
Our journey begins by centering on our students…. our reason for being Sion Schools.
The voices of our students are our inspiration as they share with us their hopes.
Centering
Take a minute or two to centre into the catalyst theme, focusing or meditating on the quotes.
For I will be a wall of fire all round it, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within it.
Zechariah 2:5
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you; and through the rivers,
they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2
Let your speech always be gracious,
seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how
you ought to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6
I am the Lord your God,
who leads you in the way
you should go.
Isaiah 48:17
Know this, my beloved brothers and sisters:
let every person be quick to hear,
slow to speak, slow to anger;
James 1:19
Be doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
For if any are hearers of the word and not doers,
they are like those who look at themselves in the mirror;
for they look at themselves and,
on going away,
forget what they were.
James 1:22- 24
The Christian mission has only one focus:
to change individuals’ lives
so they can change the world.
Pope Francis
Catalyst
Hope Matters!
Educating for Hope through Dialogue
Rachel Colla, Hope Researcher and Sessional Lecturer, University of Melbourne
This Catalyst hopes to spark our thinking around how we can build our own practice of
dialogue and self-reflection to really build hope in Sion education settings.
TRANSCRIPTS: English French Spanish Portuguese
Rachel Colla is a hope researcher and sessional lecturer in undergraduate and postgraduate subjects in wellbeing and performance with the University of Melbourne. She is also a practitioner who partners with schools to bring hope to life in the essential work that educators do.
Reflecting
The focus for this catalyst reflection comes from the final words of Rachel Colla
who invites us to reflect on the wisdom of Joan McArthur - Blair.
Centre yourself, then let the words flow around and through you for a few minutes
and allow whatever thoughts or feelings emerge from the experience.
For you,
I named this fire hope.
Let it light up your world,
let it rise up
To scorch the binds that hold you.
Let it rise,
I call out to you.
Let it burn,
let it burn.
I give you hope.
