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How Faith in Action shapes our community

How Faith in Action shapes our community featured image

Blog by Izzy Clarke, Head of Preparatory School

At Loughborough Amherst School, “Faith in Action” stands as one of our four pillars. But what does this phrase truly mean, and how does it shape our community?

 

Beyond Words

Faith in action transcends words or even, dare I say it, education. For me, it’s about recognising our fellow human beings and responding to them with compassion, wherever they may be on their journey through life. It means living out our School’s values every single day—in our classrooms, our homes, and our wider community. This principle lies at the very heart of what it means to be an Amherst pupil. Plato is attributed  to have said, ‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Which, I believe, is something that all people can and should aspire to.

 

Essence of Faith

While faith is rooted in believing in God and trusting His love and guidance, it cannot remain solely in our hearts. It must be something that we actively live out. For some, especially those of us who are more introverted, this can feel challenging.  Standing up and being counted is not something that always comes naturally to people and less so when grappling with big ideas and questions.  However, as a Catholic school, it’s crucial that we openly discuss and share our faith and call people into action where we see injustice. I do not hide my faith, one that has been strengthened by working in Catholic schools, it is something of which I am proud.  I do not consider myself to be part of some special or secret club – this is open to everyone. In an increasingly secular world, I almost consider faith as an act of rebellion.

Faith in Action means taking our beliefs, what we hear, and what we learn, wherever this takes place, Church, School or somewhere else, and putting them into practice. At Amherst, we focus on the core virtues of courage, love, and wisdom.  While attending Mass and saying prayers are vital for spiritual growth, embodying the Gospel values of love, compassion, service, and justice in our daily lives is equally as important. At the end of attending any Mass we hear words such as, “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life”  –  a clear and direct instruction.

 

Belief into Action

We don’t want to be people who just talk about helping others as a “good thing to do”—we want to actively engage in it. We don’t want to be people who merely believe in kindness and forgiveness; we want to demonstrate these qualities in our interactions with those around us. As staff members in a Catholic school, we are called to reflect love in our interactions, decisions, and contributions to the world.

This manifests in various ways:

  • Supporting each other daily
  • Treating everyone with respect and recognising the dignity of every person
  • Creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued
  • Ensuring no one is left out or overlooked

When we do this, we reflect Christ’s love and help make our School a more compassionate place.

 

 Embracing the Challenge

Living out these actions isn’t always easy; as humans we are, rather naturally, self-centred in order to preserve ourselves. Focusing on action challenges us to grow in empathy and selflessness, to think less about our own needs and more about others’. Through action, we become more aware of the world around us and how we can make a positive difference.

Many of us find that helping others provides a deep sense of purpose and fulfilment. As social creatures, we need each other, and serving others contributes significantly to our wellbeing.

 

Beyond the School Walls

Faith in Action extends beyond our School through service and outreach. Whether it’s charity work, environmental stewardship, or advocating for justice, we’re reminded that we’re all part of one human family with a responsibility to care for one another.

Whilst not the purpose of them, our actions, no matter how small, can inspire others to pass on that kindness. Last year, when leading the whole school in prayer, one year group shared a powerful video of this which was a Thai Life Insurance advert (I would urge you to search it in a search engine) to see what difference actions can make.  When we practise forgiveness, generosity, and compassion, we set an example for others to follow. Our individual efforts contribute to building a better, more loving society—a powerful legacy for any Amherst alumna.

We’ve seen this principle in action through various school initiatives:

  • Last year, our entire School participated in an environmental project to encourage stewardship of God’s creation, resulting in student artwork being displayed in the Houses of Parliament.
  • We were also delighted to present Rainbows Children’s Hospice with a cheque for over £5500 pounds through fundraising initiatives.
  • So far, this year, we’ve organised food collections for a local food bank.

Throughout these projects, we’ve prioritised listening to our pupils’ perspectives and ideas and will continue to do so.

Living out Faith in Action allows us to transform both ourselves and the world around us, working towards it being the happy, equitable and just place that we would all like it to be.   As Mahatma Gandhi wisely said, we can “be the change we wish to see in the world.” We hope that our Faith in Action pillar inspires all those who are connected to our community to, in the words of Loughborough Amherst School’s vision, ‘shine a light and make the world a better place,’ whilst they are in the safety of our four walls and beyond.