Chaplaincy

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Welcome to Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy is the work in our school to provide spiritual support and leadership for all members of the community, including student, staff and home, where required. In May 2006 Rt Rev. Patrick O'Donoghue, bishop of Lancaster, launched a consultation document regarding the future growth of chaplaincy in our schools. In this document he stated that ‘Chaplaincy is an essential element in the faith and pastoral mission of our Catholic schools.' Sharing this vision, in September 2006 our appointed our first ever full-time lay-chaplain, Mr David Skillen, who co-ordinates the activities of a growing team of chaplains and volunteers.

Foundational in the work of chaplaincy in our school are worship, pastoral support, and spiritual leadership. It is from within these key areas of chaplaincy provision that the many and varied activities and functions emerge.

Chaplaincy team

We have three regular chaplains and a growing number of other staff and members of the local community, such as parish catechists, who volunteer some of their time and are involved in chaplaincy work in our school.

You can contact us at the school by telephone on (01946) 852680 ext 227 or by e-mailing chaplaincy@st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk

Mr David Skillen

Dave is our full-time employed lay-chaplain. He is located within school where he organises and co-ordinates all our school's chaplaincy activities.

Fr Matthew Carney OSB

Fr Matthew is currently parish priest at St Begh's Church in Whitehaven and he is one of our two regular priest chaplains at our school. He is a Benedictine monk of Belmont Abbey .

Fr Andrew Dawson

Fr Andrew is currently serving at St Mary's Cleator. He is the second of our priest-chaplains assisting the lay-chaplain in his work.

Worship

Chaplaincy exists to assist our whole school community, as a Catholic Christian school community, to grow in relationship with God. This takes place primarily through prayer and worship, both whole school and individually. activities (click to go top list lower down)

Pastoral support

Chaplaincy exists to provide the loving and consoling presence of Christ in our school and our team of chaplains are available to support both the whole school in times of great difficulty as well as provide a listening ear to staff and pupils on an individual basis.

Spiritual leadership

Chaplaincy exists to help to guide the school towards reaching its fullest potential as a Catholic Christian school; this includes not only providing a presence, essential though this is, but also bearing witness to the place of Christ in an modern education system which can often be so demanding that Christ and the fullness of a Catholic Christian philosophy of education can be muted.

Activities

Amongst the many and varied chaplaincy activities are the following:

Regular voluntary mass in the school chapel
Thursday lunchtime prayer group (1pm)
Liturgical music group (in collaboration with Performing Arts Dept.)
Liturgical dance and drama (in collaboration with Performing Arts Dept.)
Stations of the cross (Lent)
The Holy Rosary (October)
Year group masses
Staff masses
Advent and Lenten Reconciliation Services
Christmas Carol Service
Chaplaincy assemblies
Youth SVP
Sacramental Preparation - Confirmation and other on request in support of the local Catholic parishes.
Collaboration with the Religious Education Dept. and others as requested.
Participation in local and diocesan youth and educational events, ie. Joint schools' worship and activity days, and the annual secondary schools' mass in Lancaster.
Pastoral support for pupil and staff alike.
Leadership in support of the school's governing body and the senior management.
Termly whole school masses
Fairtrade work
Masses and other liturgies of welcome