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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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Rorate Mass 2023

O Come, O Come Emmanuel! Thank you to all the pupils, family members and staff who attended our 2023 Rorate Mass. As the sun rose outside, we turned our hearts towards the Risen Son, the light of the world whose arrival in time we will celebrate at Christmas. We did this gathered at the altar of God where the Son becomes flesh once more in the Blessed Sacrament. Maranatha- Come Lord Jesus!

 

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What impact has your last unit in RE made on you?

S1

I feel that this unit of learning has really taught me lots about my religion and how powerful God is and I loved when we learned about the roles in the church and the way science and Catholicism are linked. Mostly everything we learnt was new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This unit’s impact has helped me learn through right and wrong and how to respect everyone and treat everyone correctly. Another thing is I have learned lots more about God and how I am lucky to be who I am and can understand all of the above.

It has helped me to understand how much we are similar to God, and how we should all try to make the right choices in life

It has shown me more about the greatness of God.

The impact of this topic on me has been true and faithful. I understand what God has done for us to live our life and to be free. I also know what happens during the Mass.

I have learned so much I never knew about my faith.

I now know about being made in God’s image and what it actually means and I will try my best to follow the ways of God and not sin.

By showing me that how much sin can destroy a relationship between me and God and how much god still loves us after sinning.

This unit has impacted the way I look at my faith and has been enjoyable to learn.

Before high school, I didn’t know a lot about the actual story of God until now. I realise that our actions really do effect the world even if the are the actions are small.

 

S2

It was very interesting to learn the reflection between the Trinity and the family.

 

S3

This has impacted my learning and faith as I look into how I can deepen my belief in God and become closer to him like the disciples did.

It has taught me that we should be disciples of Jesus and follow his example, so we can achieve eternal life and become a saint who lived through Jesus’ morals.

This unit has made me come to the realisation that sins are not stuck to you forever and just leave a mark on your soul that can be fixed just by going to confession and offering Penance and to me that small diversion in life taking maybe half an hour every so often to be allowed to take accommodation in heaven the perfect place for eternity is a deal that if you were not to take then you are foolish spending 80 to 90 years living it up pushing away God and walking away from his grace just for a short life of fun and pleasure instead of spending life honoring God then be able to spend the rest of time with him in heaven.

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2023 Whole School Mission

From the 4th to the 9th of October, Turnbull has hosted its third mission, a schoolwide event that takes place every six years ensuring all pupils may experience it.

This term’s mission was centered around Blessed Carlo Acuitis (1991-2006) an English-born Italian Catholic youth and web designer. In fact, he is best known for just that, having created an inspiring website that explored the many miracles of the Eucharist. Although he died young of leukemia, he is known as the Patron Saint of the Internet for using this modern tool to help spread the good news of God.

The school’s auditorium was decorated spectacularly for the occasion and with speakers from Life In The Eucharist, all pupils were able to learn about the wonders of the Eucharist and Blessed Carlo Acutis himself. Our visitors were emphatic about the quality of our young people’s participation. “It’s a lot to process but the pupils have been engaged,” one speaker commented, “Each pupil will take something away from it, even if two or three tried to eat the wax grapes!” As well as this, the school was even given a T-shirt of Blessed Carlo Acutis signed by his mother. Each session consisted of time at the International Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition and time for Eucharistic Adoration in the school oratory. The visiting team were very impressed with Turnbull High School and spoke very highly of our young people’s engagement and reverence.

Throughout the week, pupils learned about Carlo’s life and example in RE lessons. They also learned about Carlo’s website which documents approved miracles involving the Eucharist. Pupils will stunned to learn that the words of Jesus and the teachings of the Church on the Real Presence are supported by forensic science. If you haven’t heard about this, you can visit Carlo’s own website to learn more. (https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/liste/list.html)

It is important to us that a Whole School Mission involves as much of our community as possible. A twilight session for parents and family enabled us to welcome our wider community. Over refreshments, family members experienced the exhibition, viewed a showing of the EWTN film about Blessed Carlo and venerated the relic. On the Friday, we were thrilled to welcome Primary 4 pupils from St Nicholas’ and St Helen’s primary schools. The children were exquisitely behaved, were completely enthralled in the exhibition with help form the team and their reverence in the oratory would make the seraphim blush! We hope that the experience will have been a significant one as they prepare to receive their first Holy Communion.

Feedback from the young people was extremely positive, many of whom wished that they could have spent more time at the exhibition and the oratory. Most notable is an increase of 9% in belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist as a result of the School Mission.

The mission came to an end on Monday 9th and what better way to end it than with a Mass? Joined by invited guests and with music performed by Turnbull’s very own Jazz Band, this was surely a Mass (and a Mission) to remember!

Looking forward, it is clear that the legacy of this event will endure, serving as a source of motivation for our continued spiritual growth and serving as inspiration for the pupils, families and staff of Turnbull High School. Anna, S6.

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Chaplaincy Update

Our chaplaincy program continues at a pace with S3 confessions, the Teresa House Mass and most of all, our Whole School Mission! (More to follow!)

We were disappointed that a number of events could not go ahead. The Aid to the Church in Need Rally was cancelled due to RACC being discovered at the venue and the S3 vocations event has had to be postposed because of strikes but we keep on growing and learning together as we move through the liturgical year.

Coming up in November:

Annual Requiem Mass on All Souls Day

November services in class

S2 Class Masses in November

Patronal Feast Day- 21st November

St Andrew House Mass

Ongoing:

Daily Decade, 8.30am, Holy Mass on Wednesdays at 8.30am, Prayers for Peace on Fridays at 1pm.

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