Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

The Salamanca Process handed down for our times

At Santa Sabina College, our commitment to social justice is deeply rooted in the principles of the Salamanca Process, a historical framework that emphasises witnessing, assessing, researching, preparation, action, reflection, and prayer. This model, inspired by the courageous actions of the Dominican friars in the early 16th century, is designed to foster a profound sense of empathy, responsibility, and active engagement among our students.

Sr Sheila Flynn, OP our Director of Formation at the College, presented to our parent and ex-student community on Monday evening 28 October. Her presentation was entitled ‘The Salamanca process handed down for our times’ and explored the synergy between the strong academic and service learning framework Santa Sabina College promotes for each student to reach her fullest potential and the ‘flip side’ of learning that has justice at the heart of service to those most vulnerable in our world through the Salamanca story, established by four Dominicans sent on mission to Hispaniola at the turn of the 15th century which provided the foundational framework of Human Rights as we know it today.

The Staff DEEP (Dominican Ethos Enrichment) Program will also provide an opportunity for all staff to hear Sr Sheila’s presentation on Thursday 31 October.  This will allow our staff body to come to a better understanding of how The Salamanca process is a work of ‘encounter and dialogue’ and will challenge all of us to think about how we live what we do, and why we do it. The challenge is, not just to think differently, but to act differently. If we can rise to this challenge then we can confidently challenge our students to do the same.

The Salamanca Model at Santa Sabina College is a modern embodiment of the historical Salamanca Process. By integrating service learning into our curriculum and encouraging both collaborative and individual actions, we aim to cultivate a generation of students who are not only aware of social injustices but are also equipped to take meaningful action against them. This model ensures that our students develop a holistic understanding of social justice, grounded in historical context and enriched by personal experience and reflection.

Through the Salamanca Model, we honour the legacy of the Dominican friars and their unwavering commitment to justice, compassion, and human dignity. Our students are inspired to follow in their footsteps, becoming voices for change in their communities and beyond.

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care