PASTORAL LIFE

WELLNESS DAY

The annual Clongowes Wellness Day took place on Wednesday 25th November. The Amber Flag Committee made up of staff and students worked very hard behind the scenes to make this an enjoyable event for all the Clongowes community. The Pieta Amber Flag Initiative recognises the individual efforts of primary and secondary schools, youth reach, third level institutions, community groups, clubs and companies to create healthy, inclusive environments that support mental well-being. It was a different type of ‘Wellness Day’ in comparison to previous years due to Covid restrictions. The Committee opted for our own ‘Darkness into Light’ 5K walk without rising in the early hours (the boys were happy to know!) and a video presentation from Pieta House.

In keeping with the Amber Flag principles, we must achieve two goals each year to retain our ‘Amber Flag’ status. (1) Whole school wellness event: 5k walk and Pieta House Mental Health Awareness talks.

(2) Raising money for Pieta House through donations and the sale of Darkness into Light snoods. The day was a big success and as a result, we have maintained our Amber Flag for another year. A special thanks go to all who helped make the day possible but especially: The Amber Flag Committee & Mrs Dolan, Mr McGovern & Syntax Students (in particular James Mulkerns alongside Mr Dawson) for taking the lead on organising the routes for the walk. Teachers and staff who participated in the walk and led the ‘wellness’ lessons. The Facilities Team for preparing and having the walking route safe for us all. Ms Cooke & her team for being so accommodating with the menus for the day. And finally, Mr Nelson for capturing wonderful pictures of the day.

WAY OF THE CROSS

Good Friday this year we hosted a virtual Way of the Cross online at clongowes.net. The aim of this was to enable us to all ‘gather’ in The Boys’ Chapel and celebrate this important liturgical date together. The soundtrack for this year’s event featured renowned Irish soprano Celine Byrne and cellist Jane Hughes, along with our “chamber” Schola of senior members.

AMBER FLAG

We are delighted to announce that Clongowes has been awarded the Pieta Amber Flag award for 2021. Well done to the Amber flag committee, students and staff who made it possible!

KAIROS

In the lead-in to our annual mid-term break, Clongowes hosted our two annual Kairos Retreats simultaneously. It was not possible to hold our Kairos retreats offsite due to the Covid restrictions but fortunately for us, we were able to utilize the wonderful surroundings of our own home territory. Some sixty-plus Poetry students partook in the Kairos experience with Rhetoric students and staff members facilitating and partaking. Our main gathering points for both groups on the two Kairos Retreats were the College Chapel and People’s Church- two beautiful iconic places of worship for everyone here at Clongowes and afar.

The opening line to the retreat was:

“God is still writing your story. Stop trying to steal the pen. Trust the author!”

The Kairos Retreat has always been suggested as the ‘jewel’ of the Jesuit schools right across the globe and the journey of the most recent retreatants was found to be no different. Students and parents have recently cited it as being “the best experience of their schooling to date”, “profound”, “moving’’, “awakening”, “deeply affected” and many more beautiful attributes. Many thanks to all who worked together to make the retreat possible in these unforeseen times, where it is difficult for many annual activities to run as normal. Our prayer and hope for the newly refreshed retreatants is to continue to live in the spirit of Christ’s love experienced on the retreat so that they can begin to make it a daily reality for themselves and everyone that they meet.

ONLINE MASSES

Throughout the year we have broadcast our Sunday masses and special liturgical occasions live from the Sports Hall. The images show the preparation and rehearsals in the Sports Hall ahead of the first live broadcast of Sunday Mass from Clongowes in September. Thank you to all the boys and staff who made praying together a reality during this challenging year.

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT

A very early pre-dawn call for the 100 or so students and staff who braved the elements to join the Darkness into Light walk for Pieta House on May 8th. After their trek around the grounds and local roads, it was straight back to the Ref. for some well earned hot drinks, sausage rolls, doughnuts and delicious pancakes from Ms Thomas!

The Procession

An early pre dawn start

Well deserved pancakes after in the Ref

Mr McIllmurray and Mr Sweeney enjoying the walk

REMEMBRANCE TREE

Our annual November Remembrance Tree stood in the concourse where students and staff took time to remember their loved ones that have passed on. The names were remembered during daily prayers and at the special mass for Deceased OCs on Remembrance Sunday. “In November We Remember”