Introduction to Responsibility Qualities

In today’s (May 10, 2017) Gospel we encounter Jesus referred to as being light and hear him proclaim that he came not to condemn the world but to save it. The message of being light and choosing to do good in the world, is one that is repeated often throughout scripture.

As people of the 21st century, the call to be the light, and to do good is obviously one of great significance. In our individual lives and society as a whole we face many challenges, pain, suffering, and different types of brokenness. At the same time, there is much to celebrate, there are countless examples of people being the light and doing good, people making important choices such as reaching out to a friend in need of support, deciding not to forward a mean or insulting message, and giving of ourselves to help others, i.e., yesterday’s Inside Ride event is one such example of light and goodness and even joy coming together in the pursuit of bringing light for people facing great darkness.

The words “responsibility and accountability” are often used without much of a meaning given to them. You as students are probably very used to being told by parents and teachers to “be responsible and accountable.

As students in a Catholic School System you are expected to be “responsible citizens”, but we often don’t take much time to reflect on exactly what it means to be responsible. In essence it is about how we respond to the call to be light and to do good, knowing that our actions and decisions have consequences for ourselves and others. While in the Gospel, Jesus gives us the choice of being the light or not, He also reminds us, that there are always natural consequences for the decisions that we make.

This accountability also means that we appreciate, that at times, others might have more of a greater perspective on a situation than we do, and that there is such a thing as legitimate authority, people in positions of specific responsibilities and accountability. We all have responsibilities and level of accountability. As principal of the school, I am responsible for the education, safety, and well-being of over 1500 people in this building, the teachers and support staff all have professional and legal responsibilities related to their duties in education that give them a position of authority and accountability, and as students you have many responsibilities and expectations that you are accountable for.

In conclusion, let me remind all of us of some of the responsibilities. We ought to:

(a) act morally and legally as people formed in Catholic traditions.

(b) accept accountability for our own actions.

(d) promote the sacredness of life.

(e) witness Catholic social teaching by promoting equality, democracy, and solidarity for a just, peaceful and compassionate society.

(f) respect and affirm the diversity and interdependence of the world’s peoples and cultures.

(g) respect and understand the history, cultural heritage and pluralism of today’s contemporary society.

(h) exercise the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.

(i) respect the environment and uses resources wisely.

(j) contribute to the common good.