This week in our school community: 18 October 2024

Camino Chaplaincy Training Day

 

  

On Wednesday of this week the students and Lay Chaplain of Downside School, alongside a group of our students and myself, led a day dedicated to training and encouraging those involved with Chaplaincy in our Camino primary schools. Hosted by Downside School, between us we led a carousel of workshops on ‘Prayer Spaces’, the Rosary and Lectio Divina to encourage the Chaplaincy groups to be leaders of faith, with a purpose and mission, back in their respective schools.

The day began with Mass in the Basilica of St Gregory the Great (Abbey Church), celebrated by Fr Michael Patey, with just over 100 students doing their best to fill the huge place of worship with their angelic voices. On the feast day of St Margaret Mary Alacoque, we heard about her strong personal relationship with Jesus and were encouraged to have this at the heart of who we are. Every school contributed to welcoming, reading and writing the bidding prayers or the offertory to ensure a joyous and inclusive celebration of Mass.

After lunch, our willing Year 8 student volunteers, who are instrumental in Chaplaincy at St Gregory’s, assisted the Lay Chaplain in exploring the significance of colours, statues, religious artefacts and scripture for the creation of reflective and prayerful spaces. Each of the seven primary schools who attended broke into groups to come up with a prayer space based on a particular theme given to them. They had a selection of items from our well-stocked travelling sacristy to choose from, resulting in some prayer corners worthy of any school reception area or classroom. It is hoped that all the students can go back to their schools and take the lead in ensuring the liturgical year is prayerfully captured all around their communities.

Mr Robinson

Lay Chaplain