Group case discussion.
The training seminar “Principles and Values of Catholic Schools” was held successfully on 16 and 23 October by the Catholic Diocese of Macau. The seminar aimed to foster a better understanding in student counsellors serving at local Catholic Schools regarding the principles, core values, and the ethics the Schools respect and follow. Invited speakers for the three sessions of the seminar include Dr Francis Chan Nai-Kwok, Associate Professor of Caritas Institute of Higher Education and Co-Director of the Centre for Religious, Spiritual and Moral Education (CRSME) in Hong Kong; Dr Peter Ho Man-Hong, Assistant Executive Secretary of the Diocesan Pastoral Commission For Marriage and the Family; and Dr Gerald Wu Kam-Yuen, Principal of the Colégio Diocesano de São José (no 5) Macao. Each session was attended by more than 70 participants.
The first two sessions on the same day commenced with a welcoming address given by Dom Stephen Lee Bun-sang, Bishop of Macau who explained to the counsellors for students of Catholic Schools the requirement in understanding of the principles and ethical values. The seminar continued with Dr Francis Chan providing a detailed introduction on the characteristics of religious and moral education that inform students about Jesus, form students’ character and transform students’ lives. He then went on to reveal the five core values Catholic Schools uphold and pass on to young people: Truth, Life, Love, Family, and Justice, followed by a brief elaboration of Catholic ethics and social teachings. This session was summarised with the missions and proper conducts of staff members of a Catholic School.
In the second session, Dr. Peter Ho gave an insightful explanation especially on the Catholic social teaching about marriage and family, starting with the marriage as the foundation of a family, he then covered the values, rights and responsibilities of a family, followed by the explanation of the values and pastoral principles of the Catholic Church concerning pro-life. He continued to compare and contrast the views towards human life from the perspectives of Christian Faith and secularism. To conclude this session, Dr. Ho discussed the ethical concerns of topics like birth control and reproductive technologies based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The speaker of the third session, Dr Gerald Wu, began his session by exploring the relationship between Catholic faith and counselling, so as to lead the participants to review and appreciate the code of ethics of the counselling profession. He then brought up four actual cases in which counselors were to face conflicts between their professional counselling values and Catholic values. After the facilitating discussion and interactions among the participants, altogether they converged on optimal solutions through conflict management without violating the principles they respect.
Some participants provided in their feedback that they would like to participate in similar training activities in the future. Among the topics of interest are addiction to electronics, family and youth problems from a Catholic perspective and sex education for the youth in alignment with Catholic values etc. This training seminar received the support of the six organisations providing student counselling service to Catholic Schools in Macao, including Caritas Macau, Young Men’s Christian Association of Macau, Gabinete Coordenador dos Serviços Sociais Sheng Kung Hui Macau, Bosco Youth Service Network, Associação de Juventude Lar Salesiano Dom Bosco, and Special Olympics Macau, altogether more than 90 student counsellors and staff members were sent from these organisations to attend the seminar.
For enquiries and further information please contact newman.macao@gmail.
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