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Finding God in All Things Archive
NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS IN A DIGITAL AGE
Before we issue summer a speeding ticket, please entertain one more message to the community inspired by Pope Leo’s recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, released on May 25. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a main topic of the encyclical, Pope Leo writes about human dignity, subsidiarity, the dignity of work, the impact of war, unity with Christ and the opportunity to build a “civilization of love,” among other topics. If I may beg your pardon and narrow a summary of the encyclical down to a few words, it is about relationships: with technology, with others and, ultimately, with God. Pope Leo’s teaching in Magnifica Humanitas invites us to reflect on relationships at Regis Jesuit. How are we navigating the signs of the times, particularly AI and our students’ use of technology, and how does technology impact the relationships between students and between students and teachers?
The encyclical is timely for several reasons, including our current experience with our students and their use of technology inside and outside of school. While we observed an increase in face-to-face interactions on campus under our new cell phone policy, which led to more engagement and relationship-building among students, we continue to find instances of academic dishonesty and inappropriate communication on social media platforms. Students have commented that the ease of AI tempts them to “skip the intermediate stages” of learning, working and demonstrating personal proficiency in classes, so that they may more quickly finish homework, projects and even exams. One of our standards and benchmarks as a Catholic, Jesuit school is, “Curriculum and instruction equip students to become proficient and ethical users of technology.” (11.5) We will continue to educate our students on ethical uses of technology, such as AI, and will continue to set clear academic and disciplinary expectations. Our faculty is dedicated to accompanying teenagers as whole persons who will make mistakes, learn and grow within a community that wants to hear each student’s individual voice, not simply the voice of a large language model. Additionally, we will continue the process of educating students on the ethical uses of social media. Pope Leo writes:
“The first contribution we can make toward a more humane civilization is to be mindful of our words. ‘Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world.’ [188] Words have enormous power, something we experience in our daily interactions; for example, spoken words can change our mood for better or for worse. ‘Peace begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others and speak about others. In this sense, the way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.’ [189] We must all, therefore, examine our conscience regarding the words we use, the prejudices we have and the explicit or implicit aggression that lies within them. We have a real opportunity to contribute to the common good each time we speak the truth, offer wise advice, support those in need of comfort, denounce injustice and give a voice to the voiceless. (214)
STEP 1: Document the Content
- Take a screenshot or screen recording before reporting
- Capture the account name and the content
- Save with the date/time if possible
- Stories disappear after 24 hours, so this step is critical
- Open the Story
- Tap the three dots (⋯) in the top right
- Tap Report
- Select "Bullying or harassment"
- Choose "Someone I know" or "A group of people"
- Follow prompts and submit
- Repeat for EACH harmful Story
- Open the post or Reel
- Tap the three dots (⋯)
- Tap Report
- Select “Bullying or harassment”
- Follow prompts and submit
- Go to the account profile
- Tap the three dots (⋯)
- Tap Report
- Select "Report account"
- Choose "Bullying or harassment"
- Indicate this is repeated behavior
- Adults (coaches/parents) should report (not students)
- Do NOT engage with or respond to the account
- Do NOT share or amplify the content
- Multiple individual reports are encouraged
Consider additional action if content includes:
- Threats or intimidation
- Targeting minors repeatedly
- Hate speech or sexualized content
Notify the school administration so appropriate next steps can be taken.
We strive to “disarm” the harmful words and images so that students and adults may flourish in respectful, compassionate relationships marked by honoring the dignity of each person. Our approach to technology and AI aims to support healthy relationships in our community.
Pope Leo points to partnerships—a unified effort—in schools to form students and guide them in appropriate uses of technology such as AI:
“The Church’s Social Doctrine invites families, schools, Christian communities and public institutions to form a renewed educational alliance. This takes shape when fundamental principles are translated into educational goals, including teaching students a sense of moderation and limits; recognition of the rights of others and of future generations to enjoy the goods that are either provided for us or made available by human ingenuity; freedom and responsibility; and a sense of transcendence and the common good. Schools are not called to follow the pace of the digital world, but to offer that which the digital sphere by itself cannot provide, namely, a shared time for learning and developing trustworthy relationships. (147)
We are grateful for your partnership in creating time and space for learning and developing trustworthy relationships. As we prepare for the 2026-27 school year, we will continue to pray that the Holy Spirit inspires grace-filled connections at Regis Jesuit and beyond. May the Spirit allow us to share our unique gifts and joy, honoring one another. Approaching our 150th anniversary as a school, the Holy Spirit continues to remind us that relationships with ourselves, others and God are at the heart of Regis Jesuit’s mission and vision. We look forward to the ways Jesus invites us into relationship this coming year.
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