Scoil Mhuire Convent Primary School and the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon were ablaze with young people on Monday January 21st as Roscommon town and its six schools –CBS Roscommon, Roscommon Community College, Scoil Muire Gan Smal, Gaelscoil De Hide, Scoil Mhuire Convent Primary School and Abbey National School – hosted the national launch of Catholic Schools Week. The week begins next Sunday, January 27th.
This was the first time the national launch came west of the Shannon and also the first time that the launch involved more than one school in a parish.
Proceedings got underway with a beautiful Mass at 10 am. Bishop Christopher Jones (Elphin diocese)
…
Scoil Mhuire Convent Primary School and the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon were ablaze with young people on Monday January 21st as Roscommon town and its six schools –CBS Roscommon, Roscommon Community College, Scoil Muire Gan Smal, Gaelscoil De Hide, Scoil Mhuire Convent Primary School and Abbey National School – hosted the national launch of Catholic Schools Week. The week begins next Sunday, January 27th.
This was the first time the national launch came west of the Shannon and also the first time that the launch involved more than one school in a parish.
Proceedings got underway with a beautiful Mass at 10 am. Bishop Christopher Jones (Elphin diocese) presided and an encouraging and illuminating homily was given by Bishop Brendan Kelly (Achonry). Bishop Leo O’Reilly (Kilmore) was also present and all three bishops complimented the young people, their teachers, parents and principals for their active and reverential participation in the Mass.
Another delightful aspect was the contribution of a combined choir from Roscommon’s six schools, directed by Scoil Muire Gan Smal’s excellent music teacher, Ms Siofra Cox. Pupils also participated in the procession, readings, prayer of the faithful and communion reflection, supported by Ms Bridgeen Regan, Parish Catechist and their teachers. All in all it was a most uplifting and encouraging occasion, and invited guests were lavish in their praise of the pupils, their teachers and principals and Ms. Regan.
However the pupils were to continue to impress beyond their years. Following the Mass, twelve pupils – two from each school – welcomed the distinguished guests, staff, fellow pupils and parishioners to Scoil Mhuire Convent Primary School with an excellent array of beautifully performed traditional music pieces. Then, following a cuppa for the distinguished guests, one pupil from each school spoke to the gathering about their experience of being in school today.
Taken all together, their contributions merged to demonstrate the tremendous care and dedication that goes into pupils’ holistic formation today, and how they themselves recognise themselves as spiritual beings of diverse religious traditions who are called to live in mutual respect and care of one another. Once again all were impressed with both the content of their presentations and each pupil’s excellent delivery.
A keynote address followed. This was delivered by Prof. Daire Keogh, President, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Prof. Keogh spoke on the character of Catholic Education and the importance of homes, parishes and schools facing up to the contemporary challenges. He also commended the great work being done in Roscommon’s schools, primary and secondary.
The launch concluded with a lovely lunch in The Abbey Hotel in which the pupils from the six schools also participated.
Afterwards Bishop Jones remarked “This launch has been a lovely experience and we can all take heart at the excellent work that is on-going in Roscommon’s six schools and throughout Ireland. We are truly blessed in our teachers and principals, Boards of Management and all who seek the best for our children.”
Bishop Leo O’Reilly also spoke and commended all those involved in organising Catholic Schools Week, led by Msgr. Jim Cassin, Executive Secretary of the Irish Bishop’s Council for Education, who in turn thanked all who have assisted with the development of resources which school communities can use during Catholic Schools Week.
Roscommon People
25 January 2013
Read more http://roscommonpeople.ie/itemdetail.asp?itemID=20569
