Good Shepherd Primary School

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

Loving God,

We believe that each person is special because God made us all.

Help us try to make sure all people are treated with respect and have what they need because God made them too.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

MEET OUR CHAPLAINCY TEAM

Our pupil chaplains are a team of Year 5 and Year 6 pupils:

“I wanted to become a chaplain member because I always wanted to be closer to God and learn more about religion.” Chinaza

“I like to try new things and see how I can become closer to God.” Erin

“I wanted to be a chaplain to follow the footsteps of God.” Temi

“I wanted to be a chaplain so I can be more like Jesus and spread the message of Good News.” Saviour

 

WHAT DO THE GOOD SHEPHERD CHAPLAINCY TEAM DO?

The Chaplaincy Team have an important role in the Good Shepherd community. They aim to:

• Lead by example
• Promote the principles of Catholic Social Teaching
• Encourage others to live out their faith
• Support liturgy, prayer and the spiritual life of the school
• Take an active role in fundraising

The Chaplaincy Team meet regularly, they reflect on, and try to further develop, the spiritual life of the school. The meetings allow every Chaplain the opportunity to share their ideas and make decisions about how to promote the Catholic ethos in our school.

Loving God,

We believe that people who make decisions should listen to everyone.

Help us make sure everyone is treated fairly and can have a say.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

“Jesus is calling you to be a disciple with a mission! Go, do not be afraid, and serve.” Pope Francis, July 2013

How the Chaplaincy team achieve the above aims varies slightly from year to year as it is up to the children to shape and develop their role. Throughout the year, they will have opportunities to:

• Plan and lead prayer and liturgies to groups, classes and the whole school
• Share Bible stories
• Engage pupils in activities to enhance their understanding of their faith and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching
• Plan and lead fundraising events
• Organise prayer events for significant occasions in the Liturgical calendar

RE DAY

Each year, the Chaplaincy Team host an RE Day for Chaplaincy Teams in local Catholic Primary Schools. The day begins with prayers and throughout the day children participate in a range of activities and crafts to encourage them to think about their faith and how they can live it in their daily life.

Loving God,

We believe that everyone has special gifts and talents.

Thank you for the gifts you have given us.

Help us to make sure everyone can use the talents you gave them.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

 

CHAPLAINCY TEAM IN ACTION – SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

The Chaplaincy Team have decided that they would like to take a more active role in parish Masses. They have plans to meet with Father Con to decide when they can attend Mass and whether they can support by reading, leading the offertory or altar serving.

During our Advent Reflection Day all classes created Christmas cards which the Chaplaincy team then hand delivered to Coloma Court Care Home along with some beautifully sung Christmas carols; these were thoroughly enjoyed by the residents and put a big smile on everyone’s faces! They then put Christmas cards into the hymn books at Good Shepherd Church for the parish community to find and enjoy- spreading the joy of Christmas.

Loving God,

We believe that we are all brothers and sisters.

Help us to think about what is good for everyone, not just ourselves.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

CHAPLAINCY TEAM IN ACTION – LEADING PRAYER

This year, the Chaplaincy Team have introduced class prayer books. Their idea is that each day the class will choose someone in the class to pray for.

Our annual travelling crib was launched by the Chaplaincy Team for Advent. Throughout Advent, a child in each class brought home the travelling crib to share with their family.

Before Lent, the Chaplaincy Team introduce the travelling Stations of the Cross as another opportunity for families to share in their faith.

Loving God,

We believe you want to bring your peace to our homes, our communities and our world.

Help us to be peacemakers, listening to and loving each other.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

CHAPLAINCY TEAM IN ACTION – LEADING FUNDRAISING

The Catholic Social Teaching ‘Option for the Poor’ reminds us of God’s love for the poorest and most vulnerable people. Each year the Chaplaincy Team lead Good Shepherd in understanding our calling as Catholics to help those in our community who are most in need by promoting our annual harvest collection for the New Addington Foodbank.

Through the kind and generous donations from the families in our school community, we successfully collected food and toiletries that will provide those in need with essentials and remove the worry of how they will afford these items. It truly is putting Jesus’ teaching into action.

“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home.” Matthew 25:35

The Chaplaincy Team have used the CAFOD A-Z of fundraising ideas to start making plans for how our school can continue to fundraise throughout the year.

Loving God,

We believe that when we serve the poor we serve you.

Help us to take special care of those people most in need.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

PREVIOUS WORK OF THE CHAPLAINCY TEAM

Last year the Chaplaincy Team were involved in coming up with our whole school rule: be kind and respectful. To show that they were living this, they decided to carry out random acts of kindness. They made gifts of sweet treats along with bible quotes and handed them out to school staff. It was a very welcome surprise and put smiles on lots of faces!

Loving God,

We believe that we are one big human family. Help us to reach out to people who are suffering or sad, showing them the love you have shown to us.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer