Faith Groups

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What faith initiatives are happening in our schools?

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The following are examples of the great faith initiatives that are taking place in our Irish schools:

  • Altar Serving - churches that are in close proximity to schools often encourage children from the local school who have made their First Holy Communion to participate in altar serving. Children then serve at school Masses, local funeral Masses and weekend Masses.

  • Adoration e.g. Children of the Eucharist, see more here. This group visits primary schools all across the country and introduces the teacher and pupils to the Eucharistic presence through Adoration. Training of volunteers takes place to keep this initiative going in schools.

  • Catholic Schools Week is celebrated each year, starting the last Sunday in January, in every Catholic school around the country. Through a series of resources created by the Catholic Schools Partnership, pupils learn about what it means to be part of a Catholic school. Fore more click here.

  • Laudate festival - during Catholic Schools Week, the Laudate festival takes place. It is an intergenerational celebration of Catholic hymns which connects the school to the parish liturgical events and weekly celebrations. Fore more click here.

  • Sacramental preparation takes place in conjunction with the local parish and other initiatives e.g. Faith Friends at Confirmation, Do this in memory and You shall be my witnesses programmes. Parents are often trained up to assist in the preparation of pupils for the Sacraments.

  • Emmanuel concerts - each year over 2,500 secondary students in 66 schools across Dublin gather together in March in the Helix to share and present four nights of Liturgical Music. See here for more.

  • Ember Programme - this is a faith leadership programme for students at senior level in secondary schools. The students are trained to become faith leaders in their schools.

  • Weekly prayer meetings/Legion of Mary/Divine Mercy prayer group in some schools. Click here for more.

  • NET Ministry (youth ministry) - these young people visit schools (primary and secondary) and provide retreats and RE classes. See here for more.

  • Annual trip to Knock for Donal Walsh’s anniversary - Donal Walsh was an inspirational young man full of life and faith. Each year on his anniversary thousands of secondary school students attend a day of talks about faith, friendship and Donal’s legacy in Knock. Click here for more.

  • John Paul II awards - a faith achievement award that hundreds of 16-18 year olds in secondary schools participate in every year - see here for more.

  • Youth Alpha, a programme for students to grapple with the answers to the big questions of life is run in transition year. Click here for more.

  • School retreats - these are run by various organisations e.g. Holy Family Mission, The Hub in Knock etc

  • Religious orders visit local schools to talk about their vocation and faith. They often run youth clubs and summer camps in the locality. Click here for more.

  • Resilience and mental health programmes from a faith perspective e.g. The Backpack Programme (this programme has an Imprimatur from Bishop Leo O'Reilly). Click here for more.

  • Social justice/outreach programmes in many secondary schools to the local community e.g. the Belvedere secondary school annual ‘sleepout’ to raise money for charity. See here for more.

  • Juvenile/Young person Pioneer programme - the Pioneer Association visits students and encourages them to promise to abstain from alcohol until 18 and drugs for life. See here for more.

  • Pilgrimages to Lourdes - many secondary school students participate in helping to bring sick or disabled people to Lourdes in conjunction with their local Diocese. Click here for more.

  • Nua series - this is a follow on programme for schools who have completed an Alpha youth programme. Click here for more.

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Virtual pilgrimage to Lough Derg (for ages 15+)

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Have you ever been to Lough Derg before?

Well Lough Derg is coming to you...

A DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER – A ‘VIRTUAL PILGRIMAGE’: Bishop McKeown is inviting people (anyone aged 15+) to join him on Friday 1st May on a ‘virtual pilgrimage’, to fast and pray, asking God to free us from this pandemic and to support those who are fighting it; to comfort those who have been afflicted with this pandemic; and to ask God for the wisdom to know how to live now and in the aftermath of the pandemic. It is proposed that the time of prayer and penance at home will take its shape from core elements of the 3-day Lough Derg pilgrimage. Each person is invited to participate in whatever parts of the penitential ‘virtual pilgrimage’ that they feel able to adopt. If anyone is suffering from weakness or ill health, they should not overexert themselves. At the heart of the full Lough Derg pilgrimage are the following elements: Fasting: To join spiritually with the Bishop on this ‘virtual pilgrimage’ people are invited, if they are physically able, to adopt the Lough Derg-style Fast from 12.00 midnight on Thursday night until after 7.00am on Saturday morning. The Lough Derg Fast consists of water or black tea or coffee (sugar is permitted) with dry bread, toast and oatcakes at one time during the day. ‘Pilgrims’ can drink water, tea or coffee anytime. Praying the Lough Derg Stations: Throughout the first day, participants on Lough Derg would normally pray three ‘Stations’ outside. However, in this case, participants are invited to pray three Stations at home during the course of the day. They can join through webcam with Bishop McKeown in praying these three Stations. Details of the Station prayers will be made available later The Night Vigil: During the Night Vigil, four Stations are prayed. Bishop McKeown proposes to stay in the Cathedral during Friday night and lead the four Stations on the webcam – at 12 midnight, 1.30am, 3am and 4,30am. The Vigil will end with the special ‘Mass in time of a Pandemic’, as proposed by Pope Francis, at 6.00am. on Saturday May 2nd.