Collective Worship
Every morning registration time starts with a time of prayer, led by staff and students. The prayers follow the rhythm of the school and liturgical years, and are themed around current events, memorial days, feast days and inspiring quotes. This is a great and consistent opportunity for students to reflect on what is happening in the world and helps issues of social justice, news stories and questions of faith stay on their consciousness throughout their school day.
Every Tuesday we welcome one of our five priests from our Partnership family to celebrate Mass with students. Each week, our chaplain will get a chance to work with the students who have chosen to attend Mass in order to discuss what happens during the celebration, and how we can best prepare to take part. We also have liturgies and Masses at key points throughout our school year, most importantly, but not limited to, wonderful celebrations at Christmas and Easter.
Throughout the year, there are other opportunities for students to explore their faith and join in with acts of collective worship. In Year 7, students get the opportunity to explore St. Oswin’s Chapel, a place we hope all students would feel comfortable to use if they ever needed some quiet time away from the hectic life of school. In Year 12, students are encouraged to take part in the John Paul II Award which allows our young people to get involved in their local communities and parishes.
Retreats / Self Reflection
We hope to encourage our young people to think critically about their own lives and the place they see themselves in the world and, motivated by the Gospel message, to become people of challenge, change and transformation.
We give every student at St. Thomas More the chance to experience an overnight retreat where they are able to think and reflect on their own lives. The retreat takes place at the Emmaus Youth Village, and is facilitated by the Youth Ministry Team. It is fully funded for every student in Year 8 and this year will take place on the week of February 26th, 2018. Students in other years are also given the opportunity to attend retreat or pilgrimage experiences throughout their time at St. Thomas More.
The Chaplaincy is available for every student in the school, and each is encouraged to become involved in as much as they can. Our school chaplain is available for students at any time of the school day should students need advice or someone to talk to.
Community Work
Our chaplain links into the local community, working with parishes to support the work of Youth Ministry in our Tynemouth Priory Partnership. Once a half-term, a group of adults from every parish work with one another to discuss and plan how best the parishes can support our young people.
Year 6 students who visit St Thomas More in preparation for their transition into Year 7 will also spend time in our Chapel in a time of liturgy reflecting on how God can give them strength through their anxieties and fears about growing up and starting in secondary school.
The Chaplaincy also offers opportunities for our young people to get involved in issues of social justice. Last year we supported a number of different charities including Walking With, a local charity which works closely with refugees and asylum seekers helping them to settle into our local communities, providing food for families. Our students have also fundraised for St. Oswald’s Hospice, Sport Relief, CAFOD and our HCPT pilgrimage to Lourdes which provides a holiday experience for younger students who need it the most.