School Chaplaincy

School Chaplains are a faith presence in the school community, available to all students and staff. They accompany members of the school community on their journey through life. The Chaplain’s non-disciplinary role in the school enables them to develop a relationship of trust with the students, staff and parents. They will respond firstly to the spiritual and religious needs of the students and the whole school community respecting the denominational, religious and personal convictions of all.

The Chaplain is missioned by the Christian community to accompany and support young people so that they may have life and have it to the full (Jn. 10:10). They work in close co-operation with the Board of Management, Principal, RE department, teachers and pupils. The Chaplain participates in activities which relate to the well-being and development of the school community e.g. pastoral care meetings, student support team, school planning, evaluation and in-service.

The Chaplain ensures that the characteristic spirit of the school, reflecting the founding intention of the school and the school’s mission statement, finds practical expression in faith formation as well as pastoral, liturgical, paraliturgical and school outreach activities.

The School Chaplains exercise their pastoral role by:
• personal contact with individual students
• access to class and small groups
• provision of liturgical functions
• maintaining a lively interest in recreational, cultural and outreach activities
• responding to the day-to-day pastoral needs of the students

Hospital Chaplaincy

Some Sisters work as Hospital Chaplains. Those involved in this ministry seek to bring God’s compassionate presence to those who are ill and to those who are in the final stages of life’s journey. This ministry of accompaniment makes it a very privileged work of mercy. The Chaplain too experiences the breadth and the depth of God’s compassion through journeying with the patient and his or her family.

Click here to read an article by Sr. Pat O’Donovan on her work as a Hospital Chaplain.

Click here to read an article by Sr. Margaret O’Keeffe on her work as a Hospital Chaplain.

Prison Chaplaincy

The Ministry of Prison Chaplaincy finds its clear direction in the following passage and members of the chaplaincy service promote the mission of Jesus in this context.

The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
For he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And to the blind new sight,
To set the downtrodden free
To proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.
Lk 4:18 – 19

The call is:

• to offer pastoral care to the entire community of prisoners and staff in a respectful and non judgemental manner.
• to be people of faith, exercising a prophetic role in our stance for justice.
• to be a voice for those deprived of their freedom.
• to liaise with families of prisoners especially at times of bereavement and crisis.

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