Author: Mr Pearce

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The Story of Our Oratory

A brand new documentary about our school oratory has been produced by  pupils from our CREDO club. Over the last couple of years, pupils have interviewed current and former staff about the history and significance of what is our mini church.

The final production, edited by Keith in S6, explains the origin of the art work, the stained glass, the altar and the spiritual significance of the oratory as the center of prayer. At the center is the tabernacle, where Our Lord waits for us and dwells with us as we learn and grow each day. Well done to the young people involved in this project. It will make a significant impact on our community for years to come.

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Success for RMPS!

Congratulations to our first ever Higher RMPS class who achieved great success in their exams. 64% of the class exceeded their target grade and of those pupils, 75% of them did so by two bands or more! Overall, Turnbull High School ranked third out of the eight High Schools in East Dunbartonshire for Higher RMPS.

Our aspirational core RERC curriculum gives our young people to grow in spiritually and in their intellectual grasp of the faith. Higher RMPS is an additional opportunity for young people to deepen their learning and gain accreditation in a subject that is desirable to universities and  a range of employers.

Now that the Higher is up and running, the RE department are introducing National 4 RMPS for all pupils. This will be achieved through our core RERC curriculum over S3 and S4. This will provide a progression of qualifications from S2-S6 that young people can achieve in recognition of the outstanding work that goes on in our core RERC courses.

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S1 Pilgrimage 2025

It was the first day of May, the month of Mary and the feast of St Joseph the worker. What better day to make a pilgrimage? And what better day to learn about how we can become saints. A group of S1 made the journey to St Patrick’s Church in the Cowgate, Edinburgh to visit the national shrine of Venerable Margaret Sinclair.

Pupils enjoyed a presentation from the dedicated team of volunteers about this ordinary girl who is on the path to sainthood. Learning about the joys and sufferings of an ordinary life at the turn of the century, our young people gained a deeper appreciation of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus- not being boring and cut off, and not necessarily by receiving great revelations from God, but through the ordinary things of life, done with love for God and others.

Then pupils made a prayer walk around the church, pausing to ask questions about the many relics of the saints and works of art that have been brought there by the new Oratorian community. Deepening their understanding of the church building, the young people revisited many foundational beliefs and practices including why and how we genuflect, the real presence, baptism at the font, may crowning of the statue of Our Lady, veneration of the saints, intercession, the power of the Holy Spirit, the Litany of St Joseph and the Angelus. The pupils participated in a Mass that was reverent and beautifully celebrated with the priest addressing them in his homily on St Joseph and the holiness of offering our daily work to God, and finding Him in it.

After a picnic in the sun, we walked to Blackfriars Street where venerable Margaret used to live and on our return, the chairman of the canonization committee gave a talk on the process by which a person is declared a saint.

The young people were perhaps the most respectful, inquisitive and affable group that we have every taken on this trip. They were an absolute credit to the school and to their families. We hope that they were inspired to consider how they might invite God into their everyday life, to love Him in the Blessed Sacrament and to discover a life of prayer.

 

 

 

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Lenten Almsgiving

As part of our school almsgiving, the RE department hosted a sponsored silence during which BGE pupils had to keep shtum for a whole period!

Well done and thank you to all pupils and their families for raising an incredible £927. 95. This does not include the donations made to the foodbank.  Well done to one of our S1 pupils who raised a very substantial sum. 

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April 2025 RE update

The RE department would like to wish all of our pupils, parents and colleagues a joyful Easter! As the young people have been learning in class, the resurrection is the miracle of miracles- the central belief of Christianity because, if it is true, then Jesus really is the Son of God and he really has defeated sin and death. S1 have studied the account of the Holy Women in Mark’s gospel, S2 are studying Luke’s account and examining the various ’empty tomb theories’ and S3 are focusing on the road to Emmaus, covering the post resurrection appearances. So happy Easter! And remember that Easter continues for fifty days- longer than Lent!

It is with this hope of the resurrection that we heard the news of the death of Pope Francis. As the funeral Mass says, ‘life is changed, not ended’ and so we commend Francis’ soul to the mercy of God as his life finds it’s fulfillment. Our Friday prayers that week were led by Miss Morrison and the CREDO club who guided us through a service, praying for the Pope.

 

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March Update- RE and Chaplaincy

It has been a while since I have managed to get an update in the Turnbull Times or on our blog- it has been such a busy year so far! Here are just a few insights into the last few months at the Turnbull High School RE department!

Our amazing Caritas class raising funds and awareness for Aid to the Church in Need!

Our Caritas class leading the Rosary on our Patronal Feast Day.

S2 after their AGAP Rosary Drama workshop.

In other news, our first ever Higher RMPS class are doing really well and have just finished their assignment.  Our S2 pupils are just completing their SQA Religion Beliefs and Values award on Jesus as the Son of God. Our successful Caritas pupils have been submitted for their award and everyone in the class has achieved a combination of the Caritas Award, two units of the SQA Religion Beliefs and Values at Level 6 and the Saltire Award!

Taking our donations of baby products to the Sisters of the Gospel of Life at the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life initiative who provide support to families who are struggling.

Our Advent Rorate Mass

One of our lovely S1 classes after receiving a presentation and the gift of a New Testament from ‘Good News For Everyone’ formerly, The Gideons.

Our S3 pupils participating in their NET retreat.

Our S3 pupils benefiting from a presentation on the 5K’s from one of their peers during our topic on Sikhism.

Our brand new outdoor stations of the cross were blessed and prayer for the first time at the start of Lent.

Some pupils praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament during a retreat.

Our S3 pupils meeting priests and religious as part of our S3 Vocations Conference

S5 studying the scriptures at their FireCloud Retreat

S2 pupils sending cards to Pope Francis while he is in hospital.

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October Update

Things have been so busy this term that there has been no time for blog posts!

Here is a super fast rundown of some of what has been going on since the start of September.

We were one of the first schools to take part in the new Caritas Formation Retreat
S1 Retreats- Based on the School Values and Virtues
S2 Drama Workshops with AGAP based on the Rosary for the mont of October
First time S5 FireCloud Retreats based around Discipleship: Being an apprentice of Jesus the master craftsman
Our S6 Caritas pupils were stewards for the National Pilgrimage Mass at Carfin with all the bishops etc
The Music department provided the music for the Archdiocesan High Schools’ Mass
Aid to the Church in Need Youth Rally- one of our Caritas pupils was involved in asking a question via live-link to Africa
S3 Vocations Conference – Pupils had the chance to meet and talk with priests and religious about finding your calling from God
S2 Marriage Talks from SPUC
S6 ‘Best life’ talks from SPUC
And that doesn’t include all the charity work! Well done everyone! Onwards and upwards for Jesus!
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Holy Art Attack 2024

On the 18th of June, the Mr Pearce and Mr Rafferty joined forces to lead our young people in our first ever Holy Art Attack. In celebration of June, the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, young people with artistic abilities created giant chalk pictures in the front yard. Through the sharing of the talents of our young people it is our hope that these images will be a reminder to everyone in our community and neighbourhood of the love of Jesus for each one of us.

View this video for a taste of the event and the artwork.

 

 

 

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2024 Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage

On the 25th April, a group of S1 pupils went on pilgrimage to St. Patrick’s church that is over 200 years old and is the shrine to a woman who could become Scotland’s next canonised saint. The building is now a Catholic church but it used to be a protestant church before they sold it to the very large Irish catholic community in the area, who at the time required a larger space to hold Mass. It was this Catholic community which began the parish football team which became Hibbs. They faced difficulty in breaking into the football scene at the time due to anti-Catholic and anti-Irish prejudice but quickly went on to win the league. They wore the green hoops before Celtic did!

On arrival we received an introduction from a nice lady named Marion. Afterwards we went to a mini museum which contained information and relics from/about Margaret’s life.

The second activity was a tour of the large church where we were taught the history of the statues and paintings which included ancient paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross. We were also shown the large altar and learned about reverence and the Real Presence in the Eucharist.

The final indoor activity was watching a presentation that shows how the area around would have looked during Margaret’s lifetime. This was followed by an informative talk about the life and example of Margaret Sinclair given by Mr Hughes. Formerly the head of RE at Turnbull, Mr Hughes is now the education advisor to the Margaret Sinclair committee.

After a quick break and time to write our prayer petitions, Fr Gerrard Hatton offered Mass. Three of our group read for the liturgy of the word and Father gave a homily about Margaret and St Mark. It worked out well that we visited on the feast of St Mark because we study his Gospel in S1 and lots of our learning matched up with what was said. Following Margaret’s example of reverence for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we all knelt at the communion rail to receive Holy Communion. After Mass we returned to the rail to venerate a relic of Venerable Margaret.

Next thing was that we had a lunch break. After that Mr. Hughes took us around to show us the streets and building Margaret grew up, even pointing out the flat her family would have lived in as well as her primary school. We also learned about an anti-Catholic speech given outstide St Giles Kirk on the Royal Mile from which a mob of nearly a thousand set out to burn down St Patrick’s church. Inexplicably, undeterred by the 300 or so Catholic men who intended to defend the church, the mob stopped at the top of the street and turned back. Some consider this to be down to the intercession of Venerable Margaret.

Finally, we were shown a small shop where we could purchase things such as rosaries. After the shop our bus arrived and we headed back to the school.

 

Ryan and Ben, 1HT

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