21/03/2024Chaplaincy
At St. James the Chaplaincy exists to support students during their time at school. Our school Chaplain works closely with our pastoral team to offer support to students as they journey through the joys and challenges of school life.
Our chaplain works closely with the Assistant Headteacher in Charge of Catholic life to provide opportunities for prayer, reflection and charity to enable each member of our community to fulfil our mission: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” – John 10:10
Chaplaincy Activities
Charity Leaders
Charity Leaders is an extracurricular club where students are able to come and work alongside the Chaplain in the planning and delivery of a range of activities which benefit and serve our school community. Our charity leaders support in the planning and delivery of Liturgical Assemblies, caring for our Peace Garden and coming up with innovative ideas for fundraising.
Chapel as a place of prayer
The Chapel is a place for students and staff to come, to pray and to reflect. Each week staff join together to pray as part of “staff prayers”, during the month of October and May there is the opportunity to gather as a community to pray the rosary and during Lent we gather to pray the Stations of the Cross. The Chapel is always open for students and staff to come and pray.
Support
The Chaplain is available to students and staff to provide a listening ear during challenging times.
LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS
Retreats And Liturgies
The final blessing of the mass commands us to “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life”. As Catholics, our faith does not stop on Sunday. It permeates everything we say and do. This sections looks at how the liturgies, retreats and prayer days empower us to live this final blessing and glorify the Lord by our life.
Retreats
Retreats enable pupils to take a step back from life and organise priorities. The days take place at both our local RAF museum and local parish, St Margaret Clitherows. Our Chaplain and members of the RE department run the activities and workshops based on the following themes. All retreats end with mass celebrated by Fr Brian.
Year 7: “Belonging” Students examine the commission to love each other. The parable of the Good Samaritan forms the basis of the day. Students also look at the life of St James and link this to their own lives.
Year 8: “Forgiveness” – Using the parable of the Prodigal Son, students look at the concept of forgiveness in relation to the love of God. This retreat takes place during lent so links in with the school reconciliation program.
Year 9: “Discipleship and the Work of CAFOD” – We explore the responsibility of being a Christian in the world today. At the end of the day students are commissioned to “be the person God intends you to be and set the world of fire” (Catherine of Siena)
Year 10: “Made in the Image and Likeness of God” Year 10 have a day of reflection, taking part in three workshops which will help to build self-image, confidence and to recognise their value as a special part of God's creation.
Year 11: “Trusting in God (based on Matthew 6: 25-34)” The retreat will support students in learning to cope with worry and trusting in God.
Sixth Form: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”. This retreat is designed to challenge pupils to think of themselves as missionary disciples, as they embark on their life ahead of them.
Other Chaplaincy Events:
Throughout the year, students are encouraged to take part in additional diocesan events taking place throughout the UK. These include:
Flame
Dominican Pilgrimage to Walsingham
