Living the Decalogue at Holy Redeemer School, Marshall

by Paula Dudgeon

Listen, you people of God. Do you know it? Does your heart have room for Him or is it filled with the stuff of the world? (Excerpt from Holy Redeemer Schools Decalogue Decree)

The students and staff at Holy Redeemer School in Marshall have taken up the call to study, live and love the Ten Commandments. Each year a new commandment will be chosen as the focus for the year. This school year’s focus is on the 8th commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

Following an in-service last fall for teachers about the Decalogue, a committee was formed to ‘choose’ a commandment and design a program aimed at increasing our understanding of, and encouraging our striving to live the commandments. With the help of the 8th grade class, the 8th commandment was chosen. This commandment is very timely for students and adults, as we face great untruths in society and more practically, it allows for concrete practice in school among the students themselves and between staff and students.

Using John the Baptist as a model of truth and as an example of one who knew and shared the great truth, Advent was chosen as the Kick Off time. During the Kick Off, "John the Baptist" came proclaiming that Jesus was coming, Jesus, the truth was coming. Together students proclaimed the mantra, "I am the Light of the World" and heard the words of St. Matthew from Chapter 5 to let our light shine for all so that our deeds may proclaim our love. (Chapter 5: 14-16)

Following the lighting of the first Advent candle, students stood for the Decalogue Decree and declared their intentions: "I will seek the Truth. I will learn to know Jesus. I will follow His truth. I will tell the truth."During the rest of the school year bulletin boards, classroom discussions, activities and seasonal strivings will continue to help students understand this commandment, it’s affect on our daily lives and the choices we make and how we can better respond to living the Gospel through the Decalogue. Ultimately, students and staff want to come to better know Jesus who is the great truth of our lives.