ATLANTA—The Christ the King School’s “CKS Serves” program was recognized this past spring with a 2017 Innovations in Catholic Education award. The prize was awarded to the school as the winner of the “Total Community Involvement” category, announced at the annual National Catholic Educational Association convention in St. Louis, Missouri.

CKS Serves grew out of Pope Francis’ call to be the face of mercy in the world. To embrace this calling at school, at home, and in the community, CKS parents developed a specific Year of Mercy program that incorporated service projects in the greater Atlanta area.

The program was organized around the Corporal Works of Mercy. Each month of the Year of Mercy, CKS provided a guide on living out a specific Corporal Work of Mercy. The program included opportunities to serve the community that were organized and led by CKS Serves, ideas for families to serve on their own, and a specific prayer to say with the family.

School leaders believe the program was so successful that it should be a permanent part of the school’s activities.