Chaplaincy News - Mount St Joseph School · during 2017 including the Manchester Jewish Museum, St Mary’s R.C. Church the Hidden Gem and the Zakariyya Mosque. Whilst visiting these

“A community of Learners, Believers and Friends”

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Introduction

Welcome to the very first issue of the Mount St Joseph Chaplaincy News. We hope that you find this an

insightful and enjoyable read. If you have any questions or comments, then please do not hesitate to

contact me.

The school chaplaincy was established over two years ago with the aim of ensuring that all students were

able to make a contribution to the ethos of the school. We firmly believe that through the work and the

activities of the school chaplains we are able to fulfil the mission of the school in being “A community of

Learners, Believers and Friends”.

The school chaplaincy team consists of members from different year groups with upper school ensuring that they lead and pass

on the skills to the lower school chaplains. The chaplains meet on a regular basis to plan, prepare and evaluate the activities that

they have organised.

Our school chaplains are: Year 9 students: Cameron Boothwell, Neya Karadia, Nerielle Oberio, Evelin Chako, Stephen Murphy,

Bethany Booth, Leah Bainbridge, Daniel Preston, Jonathan Ndongala, Charlotte Smith, Lana Rowley. Year 10 students: Milva

Opara, Majesty Erhabor, Kodou Njie, Diya Siby, Ann-Mariya George and Lakshmi Biju.

The chaplains are involved in a variety events; in school, in our feeder primary schools with other secondary school chaplains and

with chaplains from across the Salford Diocese.

Regards

Mr M Haughton, Mount St Joseph School Chaplain. ([email protected])

Schoenstatt Retreats Over the course of the school year our R.E. department run numerous educational visits to a number

of places of worship. One of these takes place at the Schoenstatt Shrine in Kearsley. All Year 7 forms

have had the opportunity to visit the Shrine and take part in a variety of activities that are designed to

bring them closer together and to work as a form.

With the help of Father Reginald all Year 7 forms have enjoyed the experience and ensured that they

have strengthened their bonds together as a form.

Religious Education Trips

Our Religious Education department have organised trips to various places of religious importance for Year Groups 7 - 10 to visit

during 2017 including the Manchester Jewish Museum, St Mary’s R.C. Church the Hidden Gem and the Zakariyya Mosque. Whilst

visiting these different places students will develop an awareness of the different faith communities in Bolton and Greater

Manchester.

Spring Term 2A 2017

Chaplaincy News

www.msj.bolton.sch.uk [email protected] 01204 391800

www.facebook.com/MountStJosephBolton @MSJBolton

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Charity Appeals Our Chaplaincy links with our local primary schools continues to grow in strength. In November and

December our Chaplains visited St Ethelbert’s several times to discuss and plan out a joint charity

appeal for The Destitution Project, located in the heart of the town at the Victoria Hall. The project

aims to give those who have nothing a warm meal every day. The tins of food we donate are of vital

importance to the charity. Our Chaplains made some posters which were displayed around the

school to encourage people to donate.

We also raised a total of £500 for the McMillan Cancer Fund after running a staff and students Coffee Morning. This was extremely

successful and we are very proud of the amount of money raised that improved on the amount raised in previous years.

The school also took part in the ‘Save the Children Christmas Jumper Appeal’, the money raised from this event will go directly to

help the more vulnerable in our local and global community.

Mass of Mercy Four of our pupil Chaplains went to Salford Cathedral on Friday 25th November to a Mass

to mark the end of the Year of Mercy. Schools from across the Diocese of Salford attended

to mark the end of this very special year.

Bishop John Arnold commented that although it is the end of the Year of Mercy it should

always be continuing in all our actions within school communities. The school also

celebrated the Year of Mercy in school when we received the Door of Mercy earlier in the

school year.

Light-Fever

November saw the Chaplaincy team launch a brand new event. In the Catholic Church

November is a time when we think about those who have died, loved ones who we can no

longer see but carry in our hearts. Our Light-Fever event ran from Monday 21st November

- Fri 25th November. The Chaplains offered the pupils and staff the opportunity to visit the

Chapel at break and lunchtime, light a candle for a loved one and dedicate the name of the

person on a prayer flower. Over 300 candles were lit during the week with many pupils

making multiple visits.

“Eternal rest give unto them or Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest

in peace” Amen.

Las Posadas We received the Las Posadas statues which had been touring the Catholic Schools in Bolton on

November 29th from St Gregory’s Primary School. The statues formed part of our Year 7 assembly then

spent time in several departments where pupils participated in various activities based around Mary

and Joseph. On Wednesday 30th November Mr Haughton and two of our Year 9 Chaplains delivered

the statues to St William of York Primary and took part in a very serene and reflective assembly.