To Hope and Back:
The Journey of the St. Louis

Exploring Catholic Virtues in ‘To Hope and Back’ is a collection of 10 lessons that explore the Catholic virtues of forgiveness, charity, compassion, courage, faithfulness, gratitude, hospitality, justice, love, and peacemaking. Each lesson will provide opportunities for students to engage in thoughtful discussion about the Catholic virtue being explored, diving into relevant scripture to deepen their understanding. Students will examine how this virtue is portrayed in the novel To Hope and Back, identifying specific passages that relate to the virtue. Through a reflective activity, students will connect the virtue to real-world situations, considering how it applies in their own lives. The lesson culminates with a consolidation of their learning, followed by a final reflection through prayer, offering students an opportunity to internalize the virtue and its significance in both their personal faith journey and broader community.

 

The novel To Hope and Back provides a rich context to examine these virtues, particularly through the story of the St. Louis and its passengers. Each virtue will be explored in relation to the challenges faced by the characters in the novel, highlighting how these values are interwoven and how they manifest in the choices and actions of individuals. 

 

By reflecting on the interconnectedness of these virtues in To Hope and Back, students will deepen their understanding of Catholic teachings while recognizing the importance of living these virtues in their own lives.

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Ana Rita Santos-Furtado - Educational Innovator

Bruno Pileggi - Educational Innovator