Chaplaincy


The core purpose of a Catholic School is to support families and parishes in supporting young people in developing their faith and by doing so provide advice, support and a sense of ethics and morality as they negotiate their way through from childhood to adolescence to adulthood.

Elsewhere you will read of what we call “The Challoner Way” and “Walk with Me” which try to sum up what makes a Catholic School distinctive. In short it is our love for Christ and the unconditional love of Christ which motivates all of our work.

Chaplaincy at Bishop Challoner School
Our Lay Chaplain, Mrs Teresa Cripps, together with our incredible Pastoral Team, walks with students, their families and staff during their time here at Bishop Challoner. Working with local priests and the Diocese she ensures that our community is able to celebrate and grow in faith, be in tune with the liturgical feasts and seasons each year; creating plenty of opportunities to experience prayer, mission, retreat and service.
The Chapel of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, our School Chapel further enhances the prayer and Catholic life and mission of our school. Every tutor group will have an opportunity to celebrate Mass in our Chapel and it is open daily for times of prayer and chaplaincy clubs. It is at the epicentre of our school, which expresses the place of Jesus in our learning, growing, thriving community.

 

The Chaplaincy Team

  • Teresa Cripps

Parish Priests:

  • Fr Paul Leonard (St Joseph’s, Basingstoke)
  • Fr John Lee (St Bede’s, Basingstoke & Hook)
  • Fr John Chadwick (Sacred Heart, Hook)
  • Cn Chris Rutledge (St John the Baptist, Andover)
  • Fr Stephen Voonght (St Michael’s and St Oswald’s Tadley)
  • Fr Patrick Tansey (St Michael’s, Tadley)

Charities Co-ordinator:

  • Virginia O’Kelly

Every September, students are invited to join the Challoner Chaplaincy Team. Its a wonderful way to grow in faith, build friendships, discover and use our God-given gifts.

There are many ways that students can get involved – participating in lunchtime clubs, writing weekly prayers for the school, bidding prayers, creating art or drama to enhance worship. Students have choreographed and led dances for worship songs, supported planning and led assemblies, planned and led workshops during outreach to primary schools.

In Christus Vivit, Pope Francis wrote, ‘I want to state clearly that young people themselves are agents of youth ministry’ (Christus Vivit, 203).
We believe it is important to grow even the smallest seeds of faith, so Chaplaincy Team members are invited to be trained to write prayers, lead small groups, to pray for people and share faith. There are a variety of ministries involved, and Mrs Cripps is always open to new ideas from the students themselves.

Our diverse and enthusiastic Chaplaincy Team are daily witnesses to the love and call of Christ.

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