Chaplaincy

Welcome from the Chaplaincy Team

Our faith and relationship with God is at the centre of what we do at Cardinal Wiseman, whether in class work or outside of school, we always hold our faith at the forefront of our work.

This is supported by our Chaplaincy Team and RE department. Attached to the Religious Education Department, Chaplaincy is headed up by our Lay Chaplain and the RE staff.

With over 50 students signed up for the Chaplaincy Team it is one of the most popular teams in school. The Chaplaincy Team are very proud of the school’s newly renovated chapel and very proud to hold Masses, prayer services and to use it as a special place to reflect. As part of Chaplaincy, there are opportunities to go on residential retreats at Alton Castle and the new Soli House, chances to work with our feeder primary schools, to take part in retreat days and to make new friends. There will also be a chance to learn about counselling and become anti-bully ambassadors for the school.

“The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness”. — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Pastoral Care

Our Lay Chaplain is in school all week and meets with individuals and small groups and liaises closely with the school’s Student Welfare Department.  Our Lay Chaplain also works and meets regularly with our Student Chaplaincy Ambassadors.

Prayer & Worship

The Chaplaincy Team set out principles and guidelines for planning of acts of collective worship, retreat/reflection days and other initiatives in relation to the spiritual life of the school.

• Whole school Masses during the year include those marking the beginning and ending of the school year, special occasions and (where possible) Holy Days of Obligation that occur during the school year. Our current practice is for Mass to be celebrated in the Sports Hall, although in September we go to St Patricks Cathedral for our start of the school year Mass.  Mass is also celebrated most Thursday mornings in our school chapel.
• Each year group has one Mass each academic year.
• Non-Eucharistic liturgies are celebrated as appropriate throughout the year.  These include – Advent/Christmas celebration; Distribution of Ashes and Reconciliation services during Lent; Holy Week celebrations when we are in school at that time; and prayer during retreat opportunities.

Spiritual Leadership

The Chaplaincy Team supports the spiritual development of the school community in a variety of ways.  These include – producing the ‘themes of the week’ based on the Sunday readings; leading staff training on prayer and spiritual development; supporting Form Tutors in praying with students.

The Chaplaincy Team also promotes student participation in the planning, delivery and leading prayer and worship.  We support and encourage student involvement in assemblies.  We encourage student leadership in Morning Prayer in the Chapel and in their Form bases. The Chaplaincy Team participate in the retreat programme for Years 8 & 10. In addition we contribute to the on-going development and evaluation of the Catholic Ethos of the school.