‘Le Chéile’ – Issue 23
Issue 23, May 2015, of the biannual journal, 'Le Chéile', has just been published and circulated to schools in the North. The journal, a publication of St Mary's University College, aims to celebrate and promote the vision of Catholic education locally:
• By identifying, exploring and promoting ways in which this vision can be lived in Catholic schools.
• By seeking to empower teachers with a renewed and revitalised sense of the spiritual and vocational
nature of teaching.
• By aiming to encourage and inform practitioners in Catholic education locally.
This edition’s editorial is entitled: ‘Valuing St Mary’s’
It reads as follows: Faith-based institutions, such as schools, charities and hospitals can find themselves in the line of fire from politicians and the media these days. Many who work in them often are puzzled and saddened that their respective institution’s particular ethos is not more respected and valued for the worthwhile, distinctive contribution it makes in a pluralist society to serving the common good, especially in its work among the poor and our new communities. Seven weeks of visiting schools in Co. Down and Belfast recently to see our student teachers on their placements meant that I had the opportunity to talk with dozens of principals and teachers about their work and general experience of life today. As ever, I was struck by their commitment to their pupils and students, and their determination to ensure that our schools are both academically and pastorally excellent. In addition, I was heartened to hear again, and with renewed vigour, how much individuals value their connection with St Mary’s University College, especially the supply of suitably formed new teachers who are committed to upholding and developing the distinctive ethos of our Catholic schools. I saw with new eyes the strength of the esprit de corps that unites past St Mary’s students with the continuing work of the College both now and in the years ahead.
Yet it is true that Catholic schools here are often targets of a lazy assumption, even prejudice, that they are inherently sectarian, with the implication that they contribute to the political and social tensions which have so marked Northern Ireland society historically. This is indeed unfair: Catholic schools welcome all pupils in Northern Ireland, irrespective of their religious or political identities, as they do across these islands. They can have no truck with sectarianism and have made an outstanding contribution over many years of The Troubles to ensuring safety and sanity in the lives of countless young people who might otherwise have been drawn into conflict.
Catholic education is called to work tirelessly to develop all that is good about the human person: to educate the mind, the body and the spirit. Its commitment to good religious education supports the work of reconciliation in our divided society, not least in the ways in which it ensures that its pupils have a grounding in Scripture and thus in the shared Christian culture which links both Catholic and Protestant. Catholic schooling’s commitment to holistic education goes a long way to explain why so many children in Catholic schools internationally are not themselves Catholic. Parents from other religious traditions chose Catholic schools because of their sensitivity to the transcendent dimension of life, their record of academic excellence and their wish to educate the whole person.
In this issue various authors highlight the comprehensiveness of the vison of Catholic education locally:
• Mary Lappin offers schools advice on how to deepen our spiritual accompaniment of bereaved pupils.
• Dr Louise Long underlines the importance of ensuring that our schools are graced with collaborative, nurturing and visionary styles of leadership.
• John Jones reflects on the need for schools to foster the general well-being of pupils.
• Martin Whyte gives an insight into the values and activities that incarnate the Catholic ethos which enlivens his school.
• Elaine Mahon introduces the new religious education series for primary schools, Grow in Love.
• Seán Skeffington welcomes the news that soon to be beatified Archbishop Oscar Romero has been recognised as a martyr by the Catholic Church for the ways in which he stood with the poor.
• Rachael McErlane shows how her art reflects her faith journey.
• Sean McCullagh explains his return to education, underlining how teachers can influence former pupils for the good, years later.
• Dr Seán Mac Corraidh recalls a recent visit to St Gallen in Switzerland and his joy in seeing there the greatly treasured eight-century Irish Gospel Book of St Gall.
• Michéal Ó Máirtín writes a short account in Irish of the life and work of St Columbanus to mark this year of celebrations of the 1400th anniversary of the death of this notable Irishman in Bobbio, Italy.
• Finally, a lower sixth student reflects on her experience of an Alpha Youth faith development weekend, and a P6 pupil reviews a new children’s book on Pope Francis.
For further information please contact Rev Dr Niall Coll.