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Activities in the Religion Department

 

Autumn 2005

Daisy Days - bulbs and pens sold at businesses around the town. €1300 made. 5th and 6th year students volunteered.

Cuan Mhuire - Tour, talk, Questions and Answer session for Second Year. One group 21st Sept. Other group 28th.

Aware - Karl O'Reilly did the Beat The Blues Programme with the 6th year students on Fri 30 Sept.

Retreat - The 6th year Retreat in Mount St. Anne's was a most enjoyable day for those involved. Woodie and the Retreat Team in Killenard made the day very memorable for the 6th years.

Alzheimer Hero Day - 5th and 6th year volunteers sold fridge magnets and badges raising a total of €55.17 for the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

Hallowe'en - At the break up for mid-term, the Meitheal leaders organised a fun "Hallowe'en Scary Night" in the school for the 1st years. The variety of activities were both fun and scary and the Meitheal leaders made it a fantastic night for all.

Christmas Child Appeal - boxes collected on 16th of November and handed to Samaritan's Purse.

 

Yearly Activities:

  • Opening of Year Mass 
  • Alzheimer Hero Day:  Students sell fridge magnets and badges around the town to raise funds for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland. 
  • Senior Retreats. These retreats are held in Mount St. Anne’s Retreat Centre for 5th and 6th year students.
  • Christmas Child Appeal : students donate varied toys, sweets etc. are were placed into wrapped shoe boxes and collected by Nancy Nolan on behalf of The Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child Appeal. These gifts are to be distributed to children who otherwise may not have got any gifts for Christmas.
  • The Advent Wreath is assembled by 6th year students and placed in the foyer.
  • Class by class Penitential Services are held for Advent.
  • The Meitheal leaders bring first year students for a fun filled day trip to Dublin, which in the past included visiting the Ice Rink in Smithfield and Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. One of many activities held by Meitheal leaders during the year including a raffle, a rag day, school discos, meditations for first years etc.
  • The Christmas crib, tree and decorations are put up by the 2nd year students.
  • Class by class meditations are held for Christmas.
  • On St. Brigid’s Day, Mary Sweeney from Trocaire comes to talk to students about the work her agency does worldwide. Mary focused on East Timor in particular during her last presentation.
  • Our School Chaplain Fr. Merrigan comes in to bless the throats of students and staff on the Febr. 3rd, the Feast of St. Blaise.
  • Blessed Ashes are distributed by Fr. Merrigan on Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Lenten Season.
  • St. Paul’s was one of two Kildare and two Carlow Secondary Schools who were invited to the Press Release Launch of the 2005 Trocaire Lenten Appeal in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. The event was held in the Standhouse Hotel, The Curragh, Co. Kildare. The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin and Trocaire are linking up this Lent to promote another element of the Diocesan ‘Reach Out’ campaign, which involves a special emphasis on supporting the ongoing development work of Trocaire in Ethiopia and their Lent 2005 theme: ‘Ethiopia, Help Make Poverty History’. To Launch the Lenten Appeal the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin. Dr. Jim Moriarty was joined by the Archbishop of Addis Abeba Ethiopia, His Grace Abune Berhaneyesus Souraphiel (meaning Light of Jesus). Sean Farrell from Trocaire talked us through a slideshow of photographs, giving us a very real impression of what life is like in the Ethiopian village of Dansa and Badada, the two sisters featured in this years campaign. Three fifth year students; Paul Broughall, Emma Flynn and Sabrina Harrison represented their school at the launch and they were accompanied by their religion teacher Ellen Sunderland and Fr. Merrigan. The atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly and the students got to talk openly to the Bishop and Archbishop, as they joined our table for lunch.

 

Other events:

Upon our return to school in January 2005, we had class by class ceremonies in the prayer room to pray for the victims of the Tsunami. Students felt quite strongly that they wanted to express their sorrow after such a momentous event.
  • The Trocaire 24 Hour Fast in March.
  • Children At Risk Ireland ( CARI) personnel meet first and second year students in March to discuss issues around assertiveness and safety in relationships.
  • Meitheal Achievement Night in St Leo’s Sports Hall Carlow in February. This event is organised by the Diocese to make presentations to the Meitheal leaders. The Bishop Dr. Moriarty is one of a number of people who will thank the leaders for all the hard work they do in their schools.
  • St. Patrick’s Day preparation.
  • Stations of the Cross and services in preparation for Easter.
  • Ongoing class meditations.
  • Graduation Night for sixth years on the last Thursday evening of  May.