The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a document commissioned by Pope John Paul II in the 1990s, that summarizes all of the Church’s Teachings. This verse is saying that because humans are made in the image of God, we therefore must respect and honor all the human body and human life. Essentially, no matter who the person is, what they have done, what they think, what they look like, no matter what, they deserve a certain minimum amount of dignity because they are human. Living on the street, not being able to afford a roof over your head, is not human dignity. All humans at the minimum level deserve a stable and secure home. Even more so, Teachers are hardworking, dedicated and incredibly important members of our community, they most definitely deserve a secure place to call home. Unfortunately, the current state of housing and teacher pay in California makes this an impossibility for many teachers, which is unjust, and must be changed.

You’ve probably heard of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—at the start of prayers, but there’s another way to think about it: as the Lover, the Beloved, and the Love between them. This kind of love is called agape, which means totally selfless love, where someone gives without expecting anything in return. For example, parents who drive you to practices or games even when they’re tired are showing agape. The Bible says “God is love,” and it uses the word agape—so if God is agape, we’re called to love like that too. That means helping others, feeding the hungry, and caring for people who don’t have homes. This connects to the Kingdom of God, which isn’t a place you can see but is shown through actions of love. Jesus lived this way by helping the sick and poor, and we can do the same. We even see agape today in teachers who work hard to help students learn, even though they often aren’t paid much and struggle with high housing costs. Because of their selfless love, we should make sure they—and others who give so much—have the support and housing they need. Living with agape brings us closer to God and helps build a better world. 

The Beatitudes are like a guide from Jesus to help people find true happiness—not through money or stuff, but by living with love and purpose. The second Beatitude says, “Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, since they’ll eat all they want,” which connects directly to the housing crisis for teachers. It reminds us that people who fight for what's right, like teachers who dedicate their lives to helping students, deserve support and recognition. Many teachers, like Adam’s mom, struggle to afford housing in California even though they work hard every day. Some, like Etoria Cheeks, even end up in shelters. This Beatitude offers hope and comfort, showing that their efforts matter. The principle of solidarity also applies here, because teachers can’t solve this problem alone—they need people to stand with them. When students, families, and communities come together to raise awareness and push for change, we can help teachers find safe, affordable places to live. Supporting them is one way we can live out Jesus’ message and fight for justice. If you’ve paid attention lately in class, you may have noticed your teachers wearing a small bright red patch right on their upper chest, right above their heart. This act of solidarity at Serra is just one of many examples of teachers uniting together to fight for common good. If any of their efforts resonated with you, we urge you to join them in their cause by writing letters to the school board, posting on social media, or even just talking with your friends and family about how important teachers are.