Reactions from some of the pupils
Scoil Mhuire Lourdes: Being a part of Catholic Schools Week made me feel important. Being one of the first to read for Catholic Schools Week also made me feel very special. Reading in front of all those people also helped me, because now, I feel confidant reading in front of a lot of people. It made the Offertory Procession more meaningful, because I know why people were bringing up the gifts.
Sarah Butler
Being a part of a Catholic Schools Week helps me to learn about Jesus and Our Lord God. As we learn more about Jesus, we learn more about being kind and helping people.
There are many Catholic traditions in our school, such as going to Mass on St Brigid’s Day and on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. We also sing in the choir on St Patrick’s Day. The Brigidine Sisters have influenced our school community for many years.
We are celebrating Catholic Schools Week by putting our grandparents names in a box and getting it blessed so that all our grandparents are blessed. This week in my class, we are learning about the mysteries of the Rosary and saying a decade of the Rosary each day. It was an honour to be able to read at Mass to mark the beginning of Catholic Schools week.
I will also help me as I continue on my journey towards preparing for my Confirmation. It is a privilege for me to attend a Catholic school.
Abbie Halligan
Boys School:
Last Saturday night was the beginning of Catholic Schools week. We also enrolled all of the Confirmation children. The church was packed with people. After the first hymn, I brought up the candle and some of my classmates did a reading. At the end of Mass the children got a certificate.
Niall Gorman
On 30th January the church was absolutely packed. It was a Catholic Schools night and a Confirmation enrolment ceremony. There were readers and two gifts to be brought up. My reading was about the sick and all those in need. After the communion I went down to my father for the rest of the Mass.
Last Saturday was Catholic Schools week and in the church we had a Mass and some people did readings. The church was packed. I had read out a reading about the Catholic Schools week and prayed for all the administrators, teachers and communities around Ireland.
Patrick Tobin.
On a January night, it was the Catholic Schools night. There were many people there. The priest was telling us all about the reason for the Catholic Schools week. Afterwards the readers went up and at the altar we bowed and then we said our readings. I was second. When we were all done we bowed again and returned to our seats. Then the priest said his last few words. We collected our certificates and then we all went home.
What Catholic Schools Week Meant To Me
Grange School:
Amanda Travers’ story: ”I really enjoyed Catholic Schools Week because I got to bring up one of the gifts. I felt part of the community. A few people from my school took part. It was fun.”
Hannah Fleming’s story: ”At Mass when I was up on the altar it meant a lot to me because it was on Grandparents’ Day. And my granny and granddad lived in Portlaoise. My family and I went to Mass together. And I gave the priest a hand. I said a prayer for my grandparents. And I enjoyed listening to the priest”.
Molly Nolan’s story: ”I enjoyed Catholic Schools Week. It was amazing and fun but at the same time I was a little nervous on the day I had to read at Mass because lots of people were watching me. But it was fun and I enjoyed going up to the altar.”
Thomas Kealy’s story: ”Before I went up to read a prayer at Mass I was a little bit nervous. But when I started reading I had a lot of fun. I liked the prayers that I read. They were lovely. There was a very nice lady who told me when to go up on to the altar. I enjoyed being part of Mass.”
David Lonergan’s story: ”I really enjoyed all the activities we did in school during Catholic Schools Week. We learnt about St. Brigid. We celebrated Grandparent’s Day. And we found out about the important work priests do in our community.’
Ardattin pupils who took pat in Catholic Schools week, with Mr McInerney
