September 7-13 is Social Justice Week in Aotearoa New Zealand – and Caritas has produced a number of resources to help empower communities to build peace together (“Let’s Build Peace Together” is this year’s theme).
The resources can be accessed here:
https://www.caritas.org.nz/schools/social-justice-week
Resources available
Among the resources available are many materials for schools, including learning activities, stories, liturgy, peacebuilding blueprints, posters to display, stickers, and a Pilgrims of Hope Peace Passport. An overview of the resources is here:
Peacebuilding Blueprints
Peacebuilding Blueprints are a new way this year’s theme is brought to life. They are a structured, week-long resource guiding students through five key aspects of peace.
The resource has been tailored for three learning levels: Lower Primary (Years 1–4), Upper Primary (Years 5–8), and Seniors (Years 9–13). Each daily blueprint includes:
- RE Curriculum Connections
- Peace Focus Overview
- Key Messages
- Scripture
- Catholic Social Teaching focus
- Caritas Case Studies
- See–Judge–Act Reflection
- Faith in Action follow-up activities
- Pilgrims of Hope Peace Passport engagement
Peacebuilding Blueprint – Years 1-4:
Peacebuilding Blueprint – Years 5-8:
Peacebuilding Blueprint – Years 9-13:
Video resources
A number of video resources are also available. As with the other resources, they can be accessed at the below link:
https://www.caritas.org.nz/schools/social-justice-week
An example of one of the resources is the New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) version of the Jubilee Prayer:
Social Justice Week 2025 statement
New Zealand’s Catholic bishops have also published their annual Social Justice Statement. The message builds on the week’s theme of “Let’s Build Peace Together”. The bishops make the case that building peace “is the vocation of every Christian”. You can read the statement below:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
Matthew 5:9
