Chaplaincy in Moyne Community School
Care for the Spiritual & Emotional
Concerns of the
School Community with
Empathy, Kindness, Compassion and Hope
The 1998 Education Act states that educators should; ‘Promote the moral, spiritual, social and personal development of students.
Our Mission Statement
Moyne Community School offers a holistic education, upholding the Christian values and traditions of the communities from which the school evolved. We are committed to enabling students and staff to develop their full potential within the school’s formal and informal curriculum, in a friendly, safe and caring environment’
Moyne Community School embraces a holistic vision of education and Chaplaincy plays a pivotal role.
Moyne Community School was founded in 1973. It became one of the first community schools in the country when the Latin School in Moyne (St. Mary’s Apostolic School) and Ballinamuck Vocational School amalgamated.
Our first Principal was Fr.Philip McGee. He became Principal on the 1st August 1973, previously being President of St. Mary’s and the last of a long line of hedge-school masters and priests to preside over the Latin School. With the help of a dedicated staff, including Fr. Frank Gray the first Chaplain, he was the great inspiration behind the growth and development of Moyne Community School, which became a reality in September 1973 serving the students of North Longford, South Leitrim and West Cavan.
Our Mission Statement
Moyne Community School offers a holistic education, upholding the Christian values and traditions of the communities from which the school evolved. We are committed to enabling students and staff to develop their full potential within the school’s formal and informal curriculum, in a friendly, safe and caring environment’
Moyne Community School embraces a holistic vision of education and Chaplaincy plays a pivotal role.
Moyne Community School was founded in 1973. It became one of the first community schools in the country when the Latin School in Moyne (St. Mary’s Apostolic School) and Ballinamuck Vocational School amalgamated.
Our first Principal was Fr.Philip McGee. He became Principal on the 1st August 1973, previously being President of St. Mary’s and the last of a long line of hedge-school masters and priests to preside over the Latin School. With the help of a dedicated staff, including Fr. Frank Gray the first Chaplain, he was the great inspiration behind the growth and development of Moyne Community School, which became a reality in September 1973 serving the students of North Longford, South Leitrim and West Cavan.
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Moyne Community School is mlti-denominational and co-educational under the trusteeship of the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois and LWETB. The majority of students belong to the Roman Catholic faith yet the spiritual needs of students and staff of other faiths and none are supported.
The school community has full time Chaplaincy services. The Chaplain is mandated by the trustees to provide care and support for the spiritual, emotional and wellbeing concerns of all members of the school community. |
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The Chaplain embodies the ethos of the school community as stated in the school’s mission statement, more specifically underpinning, holding and championing the ethos of this interdenominational school.
The vision and purpose of school Chaplaincy is to be a supportive faith presence within the school community. The Chaplain is concerned with the pastoral and spiritual wellbeing of the students, teachers, staff and parents in a school community. Through her work, the school Chaplain aims to promote a sense of community as well as supporting the personal development of the student. I do not work in isolation but in collaboration as part of a team. |
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It is very much a ministry of presence, being authentic, genuine, kind, hopeful and actively listening to what is being said with empathy and sincerity. Many of the issues or concerns that present on any given day are taken care of within the pastoral support system and process. To ensure this happens, the school Chaplain works closely in conjunction with school management, care teams, all staff and with the RE department
Personal relationship, genuine personal presence is at the core of what a compassionate Chaplain must be. In particular, the school Chaplain endeavors to be present to those who find themselves at threshold times in their lives. Chaplaincy services are primarily student based and follow through to home and family life particularly with regard to illness, bereavement and loss. |
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The Chaplain responds to the spiritual, pastoral and wellbeing needs of the school community under her care respecting the freedom and or the religious and personal conviction of each individual.
The school Chaplaincy services endeavor to meet people authentically at the point of their need. School Chaplaincy primarily involves journeying with students, staff and the families of this school community in a spirit of freedom, equality and compassion during difficult times in their lives when they share their joy, struggles, anxieties and ambition and come to an awareness of their own strength which can build and sustain their self-esteem and resilience in the present and for their future lives. Supporting the school community may also mean referring individuals to outside support agencies where necessary. |
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The Chaplain also witnesses to spiritual needs by inviting students, staff and parents into conversation with one another and with the wider community. Holistic education is facilitated in an atmosphere of care, respect and joy, committed to the development and to the advancement of the full potential of each member of the school. The role of the school Chaplain is wide and varied, and can involve teaching religious education, meeting students on an individual basis, organising liturgies and prayers, planning and participating in activities which relate to the well-being and development of the school community.
Recognising the place of the school in the context of the wider educational environment is one of the central tasks of the school Chaplain, to create a bridge between school, home and parish. The Chaplain helps to mediate the school ethos to parents and is available to them in relation to the well-being of their children and meets with the parents of the students at particular times in the school year, such as the Open Evenings for first years, Parent–Teacher Meetings, Opening of the Year School Mass, Graduation mass, parent education programmes e.g. during Wellbeing Week, and at other key times as well as being available for phone calls, e-mails, appointments and home visits. |
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The Chaplain works to create and maintain links between school and local parishes. This involves bringing about social, pastoral and liturgical contact between the activities of the school and the activities of the various parishes. This necessitates getting to know the parish clergy and involving them in the life of the school community e.g. the John Paul II Awards, Youth Helpers on the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes Opening of the Year Mass, Graduation Mass, commissioning of Youth Eucharist Ministers.
The School Chaplain, in consultation with the Principal, sustains contact between the school and the wider community, for example, organising visits to hospitals and nursing homes, she seeks to link the school with outside developments in community education e.g. St. Vincent de Paul, Concern, Self Help, Aware, Pieta House.
I am privileged and blessed to be the first lay Chaplain of Moyne Community School, following in the footsteps of truly amazing, committed people within ministry.
I have journeyed with the community since 2006 and continue to do so in a spirit of inclusivity, compassion and hope.
Karen Flanagan
The School Chaplain, in consultation with the Principal, sustains contact between the school and the wider community, for example, organising visits to hospitals and nursing homes, she seeks to link the school with outside developments in community education e.g. St. Vincent de Paul, Concern, Self Help, Aware, Pieta House.
I am privileged and blessed to be the first lay Chaplain of Moyne Community School, following in the footsteps of truly amazing, committed people within ministry.
I have journeyed with the community since 2006 and continue to do so in a spirit of inclusivity, compassion and hope.
Karen Flanagan
