Category Archives: Year of Faith

Archbishop at Lourdes for Feast Day Celebrations

Pupils and staff of Lourdes Secondary celebrated the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes on Friday the 8th of February with the Most Reverand Archbishop Philip Tartaglia. Mass for S1 and S6 was concelebrated by the Archbishop, Monsignor Gilmartin and school chaplain Father John Carroll.

Invited guests included Head Teachers from our associated primaries, our Student Council and members of the Parent Council. The Archbishop spoke of his “closeness” to the community of Lourdes Secondary and encouraged pupils to “listen to Jesus”.

After Mass, the Archbishop joined invited guests and S6 Caritas pupils for a celebratory lunch. A number of liturgical and fun events took place throughout the day to mark this important event in the school calendar.

Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day

As you know the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes is 11 February. This year 11 February falls on the Monday of the February holiday and we are therefore celebrating the Feast Day on Friday 8 February.

I am delighted to tell you that our Feast Day Mass this year will be said by Archibishop Tartaglia.

Archbishop Tartaglia has kindly agreed to visit us on that day and share this special occasion.

Senior Pupil Retreats

The second week in December saw two retreat days for our senior pupils here in Lourdes Secondary: S6 – Monday 10 December and S5 – Friday 14 December. School chaplain, Fr. John Carol planned and delivered two days of fun and reflection on the theme “You’ve Got Mail!” Pupils were given the opportunity to work together and reflect on the challenges of being a young adult in Scotland today and compare this to the challenges of living as a member of a faith community both in Lourdes Secondary and in their own neighbourhoods. One of the highlights of the retreats was the opportunity for pupils to write short notes of encouragement and support to one another which were used as part of short prayer service. As always, the pupils were creative and entertaining in their presentations and managed to re-enact the parables of Jesus with a modern, 21st century twist encouraging one another to be the “Good News” of God’s love today. Well done to all those who participated and shared in both retreat days and a huge thank you to Fr. John for all his work for both days and for all his support and help throughout the year.

Partnership with Parents

Our new Christmas tree in the front hall has been donated to the school by the Parent Council. They have asked that, if possible, it is part of our Advent and Christmas preparations for the last two weeks of term.

I am grateful to the Parent Council for their generous gift.

Mrs Lennon (Head Teacher)

National Mass to Launch Year of Faith Mass

Lourdes Secondary was represented by all members of the SLT and 4 S6 pupils at the National Mass to Launch the Year of Faith in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral in Motherwell yesterday afternoon (3 – 6pm). The Mass was attended by well over 1200 people and schools from all over Scotland were represented. In attendance were the Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Archbishop Tartaglia, who gave the Homily. Mass was concelebrated and led by Bishop of Motherwell, Joseph Devine. S6 representatives, Paul McCambridge, Head Boy, Sean Fraser, Deputy Head Boy, Megan Green, Deputy Head Girl and Megan Shiels along with Mandie Running, Chair of the Parent Council.

A significant number of S6 are participating in the Caritas Award scheme and this will provide a real context for their faith witness. Megan Shiels has also volunteered to work with the HCPT in Lourdes at Easter.

Year of Faith

The Year of Faith for the Catholic Church throughout the world opens on Thursday of this week. The year is intended to be, “a special time of grace in which we discover or rediscover the life-changing experience of encountering Jesus Christ.” Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop of Glasgow.

A number of events are planned across the world to mark this year and an official website www.yearoffaithscotland.com has been established in Scotland. Assemblies will focus on this throughout the week and prayer cards will also be distributed. In Lourdes Secondary we will also note the opening of the Year of Faith in other ways, details of which will follow.

“What the world is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people enlightened in minds and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life, life without end.” Pope Benedict XVI