1. Catholic Schools Week 2015

2. Pope Francis says to Young People: “The Church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you.” World Youth Day, Rio 2013

3. What is Catholic Schools Week?  For the last five years we have celebrated Catholic Schools Week at the end of January.  This time offers schools an opportunity to reflect on their identity; “What does it mean for me if I am a student in a Catholic School today?” Our school is a Catholic School; a place where we answer the Call to Serve

4. # Thoughts for Each Day

5. Monday 26 th January I am just one of many in my school community. There are many voices, many personalities, many people. But my voice is also important. My personality is unique and contributes to my school community in a distinctive way. Without me, our entire school community would be different. I am grateful for the ways in which I am different from everyone else. I thank God for the blessed imprint I leave on this place of learning. Help me to positively influence those around me through my special characteristics that make me who I am. Through God present in me, I pray that those who meet me will always feel at peace in my company. Self

6. Tuesday 27 th January We experience Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist. This then gives us strength to bring this experience to our lives outside of the church building. We must ask ourselves: have we shown kindness towards others? Have we stopped people from gossiping? Have we challenged bullying behaviour? Have we kept our promises? Have we reached out to people who have been excluded by others? Have we offered words of welcome to new members of our school community? By doing these difficult things, we live out the experience of the Eucharist in our daily lives.Eucharist

7. Wednesday 28 th January Some Christians think that religion is a very private affair, just between the individual and God. However, when Jesus told a story about the reign of God and the people who would enter into the kingdom at the end of the world (Mt 25:31-46), he said people’s entry would be based on only one thing: the extent to which they recognised him in the poor, the hungry, the sick, the homeless and the prisoner, and what they did to help him. Our religious beliefs must be lived through our actions. In our Catholic schools the Good News of Jesus’ love must guide all that we do, to help us as individuals and as a community to respond to the needs of others, knowing that in doing so we are both responding to Jesus himself and building the Kingdom of God on earth. Reign of God

8. Thursday 29 th January When someone calls your name, you stop, you look and you listen to hear what they have to say. You consider their words and see do they resonate with your thoughts and feelings. This conversation is a two-way thing. When we listen to God we open up a conversation around who we are and where our place in the world might be – who and where God might be calling us to be. This is a unique conversation that God is inviting each of us to have. Today, let us be grateful for the gift from God of our true uniqueness and pray for the openness to search for our place in the world. Vocation

9. Friday 30 th January Today, we celebrate the Good News of the Gospel. Let us live the joy of the Gospel in all that we do. Help us Lord to be inspired by evangelisers gone before us and those who live today to be Good News. May we learn from their example and be a light for others, today and every day.Evangelisation

11. Imelda May “I have a strong faith, a lot of my friends don’t, it’s funny that way… but they’ll come to me when something’s wrong and ask me, “Will you say a few prayers for ‘such- and-such’?”… I like that I am able to do that for them.” In interview with Gay Byrne; The Meaning of Life, Nov 3rd 2013

12. Ger Brennan “I endeavour to pray everyday and I find so much peace in the stillness. I believe I have been blessed with faith and it is a gift that I am very grateful for.” In interview with Fr. Brian Dempsey for The Sunday World, September 2013

13. So what does it mean to YOU to celebrate your faith during this special week?

14. What can you do to serve this Catholic Schools Week? Form a Choir/Music Group Create a Sacred Space Create a piece of Art to display in the Church Welcome people to the Church Read at the Mass Carry forward a symbol that represents your work Invite the community to celebrate your achievement Prepare and invite people for a cup of tea in the Parish Centre Prepare the Mass Missalette / Prayer Cards to mark the occasion Speak at the Mass about how you have prepared for the event Perhaps you could put up a Display to show how your school/parish has taken part in acts of Charity?

15. We wish you every blessing this Catholic Schools Week