School Chaplains Association of Ireland Cumann na Séiplíneach Scoile Newsletter Spring 2011

Diary of My Life

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Each day is a blank page in the Diary of Your Life. The pen is in your hand, but the lines will not all be written the way you choose, some will come from the world and the circumstances that surround you.

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The secret of your life is in making your story as beautiful as it can be. Write the diary of your days and fill the pages with words that come from the heart. As the pages take you through time, you will discover paths that add to your happiness and your sorrows, but if you can be aware of a Greater

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Hand guiding yours as you write there will always be hope in your tomorrows. Follow your dreams. Work hard. Be Kind. Remember goodness will reward. Smiles will pay you back. Focus on the things you have not on what you lack. Realise that PEOPLE are the TREASURES in your life and HAPPINESS is your real WEALTH. Your life is like a coin you can spend it anyway you wish but you can only spend it ONCE.

The Executive 2011 Name/Position

School

Mobile

Email

Áine Moran, Chairperson

St. Aidan’s Community School, Brookfield

0863055899

[email protected]

Mark Donnelly, Secretary

Rathoath College, Barlath Hse, Slanemore, Mullingar Co W’meath

0857367452

[email protected]

Lucinda Dillon, Treasurer

Vocational School, Dromin Road, Nenagh

0863114153

[email protected]

Eoghan Keogh, Website

Belvedere College, Dublin 1

0857381063

Sr. Mercedes Coen, Diary & Newsletter

St Patrick’s High School, Keady, Co Armagh BT60 3TH

00447976240645 [email protected]

Olive Delahunty Membership & Newsletter

St. Catherine’s College, Armagh BT60 4BG

0044 7866805986 [email protected] 04837524132

Louise Mulligan Regional Co-ordinator

St Louis SecSchool, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan

0863540966

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[email protected]

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[email protected]

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Standarised Holidays 2011/2012



Eire

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31st Oct –4th Nov

Close Thursday 22nd Dec Re-open Monday 9th Jan



13th – 17th Feb Monday 20th Feb



17th March



Close Friday 30th March – Re-open Monday 16th April

N.Ireland

Term 1 Midterm

Christmas

31st Oct –4th Nov Close Thursday 22nd Dec Re-open Wednesday 4th Jan

Term 2 Midterm

Bank Holiday Easter

Thursday 16th, Friday 15th & 17th March Closing Thursday 5th April Re-open Monday 16th April

Term 3

7th May

Bank Holiday

Monday 7th May Monday 30th May

School Chaplains’ Association Annual Conference Wednesday 23rd – Friday 25th November 2011

Theme: Called to Serve Heritage Hotel,The Town Centre, Portlaoise Ph. 057 86 78588 (Eire) [email protected]

Ph. 00353 57 86 78588 (NI) www.theheritagehotel.com

All accommodation must be booked by delegates themselves. Rates are as follows: Per room per night

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Or 2 nights B&B & 1 Evening Meal – Single €159

Single Room B&B €75

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2 nights B&B & 1 Evening Meal – Double €119 per person sharing

Double/Twin Room B&B €55 p.p.sharing

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Conference TIMETABLE

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2.30 - 3.30

CLUSTER Groups

3.30 - 4.00

FREE TIME

Meal for Executive

4.00 - 6.00

AGM & Open Forum

New Chaplains’ Meeting

8.00 till LATE Conference Dinner & Entertainment

WEDNESDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 3.00 - 4.00 6.00pm 8.00 - 9.00

Executive Meeting

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8.00 - 9.00pm Registration 9.10pm 9.30pm

Evening Prayer

FRIDAY 25TH NOVEMBER

Welcome Reception

7.30 - 9.15

BREAKFAST

9.20 - 10.40 Morning Prayer THURSDAY 24th NOVEMBER

9.45 - 10.45 Workshop 1

07.30 - 8.45 BREAKFAST

10.45 - 11.15 MORNING BREAK

08.00 - 8.45 Registration

11.15 - 12.15 Workshop 2

09.00 - 9.20 Morning Prayer

12.15 - 12.30 Preparation for Eucharist

09.30 - 10.45 Session 1: Keynote Speaker: Professor John Sullivan

12.30 - 1.30 Celebration of the Eucharist

10.45 - 11.15 MORNING BREAK

1.30 - 2.00

Evaluations/Closing/ Farewell



Distribution of Attendance Certificates

2.00 - 3.00

Executive Lunch

3.15

Meeting & Greeting of New Executive

11.15 - 12.45 Session 2: Professor John Sullivan 12.45 - 1.00 Questions 1.00 - 2.30

LUNCH

SCA CONFERENCE 2011 23rd - 25th November at The Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise

Theme: Called to Serve KEYNOTE SPEAKER: John Sullivan Professor of Christian Education at Liverpool Hope University  SESSION 2:

SESSION 1:

Chaplains as Practical Theologians. What kind of theology are you working from as a Chaplain?  (a keynote presentation, with opportunity afterwards for questions/dialogue)

Building Links and Promoting Collaboration. Young people/Families; Church; Education.  (an interactive session, with John providing short inputs, prompts for paired reflection and small group discussion and facilitating some sharing)

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JOHN SULLIVAN John Sullivan is Professor of Christian Education at Liverpool Hope University, where he has been working since March 2002. After more than twenty years’ professional experience in secondary schools and tertiary colleges as teacher and senior manager, John moved into higher education in 1994, providing in-service training and teaching Master’s courses in Christian educational leadership. He has been a Pastoral Head of Year and Head of Department, Deputy Head of an 11- 18 comprehensive school, Vice Principal of a sixth form college and Headteacher of a joint Catholic-Anglican secondary school. He has also been a Chief Inspector in a London Local Education Authority, with oversight of 100 schools and colleges and an educational management consultant, working with many different educational and church institutions and groups. For five years he directed a Master’s programme in Catholic School Leadership while at St Mary’s College, Twickenham, winning an award from the USA National Catholic Educational Association in 2001 for “an outstanding contribution to Catholic teacher formation and development.” Author of Catholic Schools in Contention (Veritas, 2000), of Catholic Education: Distinctive and Inclusive (Kluwer [now Springer] Academic Press, 2001), co-editor and contributor to The Idea of a Christian University, (Paternoster, 2005), and co-editor and contributor to Dancing on the Edge: Chaplaincy, Church & Higher Education (Matthew James, 2007), John has had more than 65 chapters and articles published (in the UK, USA, Europe and Australia) on aspects of religion and

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education. His latest two books are Learning the Language of Faith (Chelmsford: Matthew James Publishing, 2010) and Communicating Faith (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2011). He now teaches (through inservice programmes, Master’s courses, and supervision of doctoral students) in the areas of Christian educational leadership, formation for ministry, Catholic Studies and in the interconnections between theology and education. He is frequently invited as keynote speaker at local, national and international conferences on aspects of mission into practice in Christian education. He has a special interest in exploring the match between purposes, contexts and approaches at all levels of Christian education and also in analysing the factors than inhibit and enhance the effective communication of faith.

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In addition to his (Liverpool, 1971) postgraduate certificate in education, John has a BA in History & Politics (Hull, 1970), advanced diplomas in Theology (Liverpool, 1974) and in the History & Philosophy of Education (London, 1977) and two research degrees: MLitt in Religious Studies (Lancaster, 1981) and PhD in Catholic philosophy of education (London, 1998). John has been married to Jean for 39 years. They have four children (38, 36, 35 and 23) and four grandchildren (14, 10, 3 years and the youngest is six months old). He can be contacted at Arts & Humanities Deanery, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool, L16 9JD, UK. His work email is [email protected]

FORTHCOMING

The Catholic University of America Press

Communicating Faith Edited by John Sullivan “A landmark publication . . . those who have the responsibility of communicating religious faith face considerable challenges. Here is

Enriches appreciation of the diverse ways Christian faith is communicated

the book they have been waiting for.”— Gerald Grace, Institute of Education, University of London “The strength of this collection is

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the variety of voices and approaches, all united in the one task age is comprehensive and international, the approaches are academic and pastoral, and the outcomes are innovative and inspiring.”—Dermot A. Lane, President, Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin City University “Words around „The Word‟ must excite the imagination as well as emphasizes the central place of

critical analysis in a study about

communicating faith, the fact that

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it is ultimately a person who is

communicated is never lost. Sullivan impressively captures all the dimensions of the mysterious

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Communicating faith has always been an essential component of Christian life. Whether it is Jesus communicating faith through the parables, popes through letters, church leaders through catechisms, or parents through prayer and everyday living, relating faith is as important today as ever. This book enriches appreciation of the many ways that Christian faith is communicated. Contributors draw upon their substantial academic and pastoral experience to highlight key features of the contexts where faith is communicated. These include the home, parish life, schools, universities, adult education, literature, the arts, and new communications media. Offering perspectives from clergy, religious, lay people, theologians, and practitioners, the book presents a Catholic yet ecumenical approach. It offers new theoretical reflection and conceptual tools for analyzing and evaluating central features of the tasks inherent in communicating faith, supported by many first-hand examples drawn from several different countries.

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inform the mind. While this book

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December 2010 Paperback $34.95, £28.95, €33.00 ISBN 978-0-8132-1796-3

of education for faith. The cover-

work called „communicating

CATHOLIC U NIVERSITY OF A MERICA PRESS Order at www.eurospanbookstore.com theologian, and pastor, Diocese of More Advance Praise forOnline Communicating Faith faith.‟”—Daniel O‟Leary, author, Leeds

c/o Eurospan, 3 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8LU, UK tel: (0207) 240-0856

“Sullivan knows theology and education, and is a long-time seeker of wise connections between the two. This collection should be of interest not only to Catholic educators in various settings, but to all concerned

with how Faith people learn the life of faith.”—David I. Smith, Director, or Communicating FaithPraise for Communicating More Advance Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvin College “Sullivan knows theology and education, and is a long-time seeker of

“The book is filled with gems of insight about communicating faith,

wise connections between the two. This collection should be of interest

helpful guidance for those equally passionate about the endeavor, and

not only to Catholic educators in various settings, but to all concerned

well-articulated analysis of the many challenges it entails today.”

with how people learn the life of faith.”—David I. Smith, Director,

—Joseph Stoutzenberger, Professor of Religious Studies, Holy Family

“Sullivan knows theology and education, and is a long-time seeker of

wise connections between the two. This collection should be of interest not only to Catholic educators in various settings, but to all concerned

how people learn the life of faith.”—David I. Smith, Director, Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvinwith College University

Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning, Calvin College “The book is filled with gems of insight about communicating faith, helpful guidance for those equally passionate about the endeavor, “Theand book is filled with gems of insight about communicating faith,

WORKSHOPS SCA CONFERENCE 2011 1. Meditative Dance: Facilitator: Sr Barbara Perry chf ‘We are the Dance of the Devine’ As we dance in circles to inspiring music, a sense of the sacred, of beauty, harmony and holistic worship may be experienced. As well as offering moments of inner stillness and peace(meditation) dancing circles are inclusive and enjoyable. Dance Meditation transcends religious and gender boundaries. No previous dance experience required. 2. Finding Rest, Renewal and Refreshment in our busy lives. Facilitator: Mrs Anne Loughman Anne, chaplain in St. Colmcille’s Community School. married to Mike with four children and two grandchildren In Mark’s gospel Jesus invites us to” Come away and rest awhile” “He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul”.Psalm 23. In John’s Gospel Jesus says to the Samaritan woman: “ If you only knew the gift that I am offering...” Jesus invitation is to each one of us to come away from the busyness of our lives and allow ourselves to find rest, renewal and refreshment in quiet meditation. 3. The Eucharistic Congress. Facilitator: Colette Furlong Colette is the Pastoral development officer for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress. Colette supports the development of resources for and implementation of the pastoral programme nationwide. The workshop will offer an insight into the timing and aims of the forth coming Eucharistic Congress, and will highlight the need for the faith developing journey that precedes it. Finally, it will present the Pastoral Preparation Programme as a creative and interactive resource for chaplains, supporting the work of faith development among students of all age groups and experience.

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4. Understanding the needs of teenagers/young people in parental separation. Facilitator: Glynis Good This workshop will look at the way chaplains can help young people to cope during the chaos, pain and struggle of parental separation. Glynis will use what she calls the “Zacchaeus Principle” (Luke’s Gospel) to explain what impact separation has on young people and the consequences they face? Her aim is to help chaplains understand what is most needed at this difficult time in a young person’s life and how best to provide a safe place for them to talk, be heard and believed. 5. Six Senses in Meditation. Facilitator: Fr Conall O’Cuinn SJ Fr Conall will lead the participants into an experiential exploration of the six senses followed by an application to the contemplation of a Gospel passage. The exercise will move us from the head into the heart, and back to the head again, as we conclude with a reflection on how this technique might be used in the classroom.

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Prayer for Preparation to Study Lord, I know that you are with me and love me. Give me peace of mind as I prepare for this time of study. Help me to focus on my books and notes, keep me from all distractions so that I will make the best use of this time that is available to me. Give me insight that I might understand what I am studying, and help me to remember it when the time comes. Above all, I thank you for the ability to be able to study and for the many gifts and talents you have given me. Help me always to use them in such a way that they honour you and do justice to myself. Amen

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6. “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person [Jesus Christ], which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction” (Deus Caritas Est, n.1) Facilitator: Trocaire This workshop offers chaplains a space to come together to share their own experiences of justice and peace initiatives in their own schools. Trócaire offers chaplains a chance to reflect on why this link between God’s love and the love we are called to share with one another is so vitally important in the work of chaplains Finally, we will take this opportunity to share with you Trócaire’s main resources that are designed to assist you in our work

Prayer before an Examination Dear Lord, as I take this exam, I thank you that my value is not based on my performance, but on your great love for me. Come into my heart so that we can walk through this time together. Help me, not only with this test, but the many tests of life that are sure to come my way. As I take this exam, bring back to my mind everything I studied and be gracious with what I have overlooked. Help me to remain focussed and calm, confident in the facts and in my ability, and firm in the knowledge that no matter what happens today you are there with me. Amen

Trasna

A Creed To Live By



Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special. Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your hear. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless. Don’t let your life slip through your fingers. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life. Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over ......... until the moment your stop trying. Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other. Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave. Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love, the fastest way to lose love is to hold too tightly, and the best way to keep love is to give it wings. Don’t dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope; to be without hope is to be without purpose. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been but also where you’re going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured, each step of the way.

The pilgrims paused on the ancient stones in the mountain gap. Behind them stretched the roadway they had travelled. Ahead, mist hid the track. Unspoken the question hovered: Why go on? Is life not short enough? Why seek to pierce its mystery? Why venture further on strange paths, risking all? Surely, that is a gamble for fools or lovers. Why not return quietly by the known road? Why be a pilgrim still? A voice they knew called to them saying This is Trasna, the crossing place. Choose! Go back if you must, You will find your way easily by yesterday’s road, You can pitch your tent by yesterday’s fires. There may be life in the embers yet. If that is not your deep desire, stand still, lay down your load. Take your life firmly in your two hands, (gently.. you are trusted with something precious) While you search your heart’s yearnings: What am I seeking? What is my quest? When your star rises deep within, trust to its leading. Then you will find light for your steps. This is Trasna, - Choose! This is Trasna, - Come

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After a while you learn the subtle difference Between holding a hand and chaining a soul, And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning And company doesn’t mean security. And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts And presents aren’t promises And you begin to accept your defeats With you head up and your eyes open And with the grace of an adult, vNot the grief of a child. And you learn to build all your roads on today

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Learning Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for your plans. After a while you learn that even sunshine Burns if you get too much. So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul - instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you will learn that you really can endure, That you really are special. And that you really do have worth. So live to learn and know yourself. In doing so, you will learn to live.

The Parable of the Shell “If I have a pattern for every shell I toss upon the beach, I have a pattern for your life too. I really do, no matter how it looks, or seems or feels to you. Look at any shell, the fluted white one, the spiralling colour-banded one, the long thin spindled one, all so different, yet, each with a perfect pattern. As you hold a shell in your hand, I the Divine Designer hold you deep in my hand, I want you to see if I have a pattern for every shell scattered on the sands I also have a pattern for you. You did not choose the time of your birth, your family or you country. You did not choose your form, abilities, limitations, these I choose. But you are choosing your heavenly pattern, as you use the gifts and talents that I have given you.”

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He waits while I look again at the shell and wonder … Will I trust His Pattern? When so often I cannot understand His design, in the random, the nonsensical, the frustrating and disappointing things that happen in my life. Will I believe that though it all He is fulfilling His purpose in me? As I continue to look at the shell I say Lord, I believe there is a pattern in the NOW of my life Yes! You are preparing me for the glory of eternity.

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