The year opened with our traditional Ascensio Scholarum and Academic Mass. This is the Jesuit tradition where pupils formally ascend to the next Playroom at the start of each year. We were delighted to have our Mass Choir back in St Peter’s, and the whole congregation singing once more.
Our rhythm of prayer has continued on, with pupils beginning their assemblies with the Prayers of the Church, and engaging in the reflective Ignatian prayer of the Daily Examen, delivered each day by our Committee pupils. Boarders have enjoyed informal reflective prayer times within their boarding communities each week.
The Chaplaincy co-curricular programme has seen more students than ever before getting involved with Chaplaincy activities.
Over 30 pupils from Grammar Playroom upwards have enrolled on the Confirmation programme, where they are currently enjoying the international Alpha Course, watching videos that provoke conversations about personal Faith. A new group of Altar Servers has been formed, who meet twice weekly for formation and training. Rhetoricians have signed-up for the Eucharistic Ministers formation programme, where they are receiving a range of talks from external speakers. It is very much hoped that they can begin their service before Christmas.
Our Social Justice co-curriculars have proved to be as popular as ever. Over half our Poets are taking part in our longest standing initiative, the Arrupe Programme, where projects include fundraising for local charities, assisting local schools for pupils with additional needs, and caring for our Common Home.
The entirety of LG is taking part in the Faith in Action Bronze award, run by the nationally recognised organisation, CYMfed. They have the opportunity to lead prayer and reflection in the College, as well as carry out charitable endeavours. Further up the school, Grammarians and Syntaxians are completing their Silver award. Our Poetry pupils who attained their Gold award last year have been supporting our younger pupils in their projects.
Change-makers is our pupil-led co-curricular that allows pupils to focus on topics that are of particular concern to them. Pupils, led by Higher Line, have been discussing topics they would like to focus on in the second half of term and they will be presenting on this when we return.
Our Environmental Society has been particularly active, preparing for a week of events at the College to coincide with the COP26 conference in Glasgow. They will be giving an assembly on the first day back after the holidays, to launch the week of environmental activities.
Finally, our tradition of Sodality prayers, which has been going since our original founding in the 1500s, has been kept faithfully alive by Higher Line students this term. They gather with staff on a Thursday evening in our Sodality Chapel to pray the Night Prayers of the Church on behalf of the whole Stonyhurst community.
Well done to all pupils who have taken part in Chaplaincy this half term. The numbers involved are a testament to the strength of community spirit within our pupil body, and a source of tremendous pride to our staff.