Pastoral Programme

The Pastoral Programme is devised in order to help students in their faith, development. There are many aspects to this programme and it spans very important areas in the lives of all the students.


1. Retreats

There are retreats for all years. Sixth Years are organised as three days of reflection which are held in 18 different venues up and down the country. The settings for these venues are different: some monastic (Roscrea, Glenstal, Melifont), some experiential, i.e. attendance at institutions where substance abusers are recuperating (Cluain Mhuire, Newry and Bruree) others are chosen places where the students can come close to God in nature (Glendalough, et alia). The feedback from these retreats has been most positive.


2. Fifth Years

The programme for Fifth Year takes the form of a Day of Reflection in the school which is divided into two main parts. First, the students are involved in a 'Game' which is devised to help them reflect on the poverty of the developing world and the wealth of the developing world. In the afternoon they meet with various missionaries who help them understand and organise discussions with them. These missionaries and development workers will have worked in Africa, Latin America and Asia.


3. Fourth - Second Year

The Reflection for the other years aims at integrating personal and faith development by looking at issues that affect all of us, especially relationships and sexuality.


Social Action

Beginning in Transition Year the students get very involved in many activities which are under the umbrella of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. These include:

i) visiting old people in a number of nursing homes

ii) visiting people with disabilities (who are blind, in wheelchairs or who have Alzheimer's Disease)

iii) serving meals in various food centres in the inner city

(iv) selling clothes in Fred's Fashions (these shops are run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society)

(v) giving assistance to young people who are preparing for the Junior Certificate in deprived areas

(vi) helping as teachers' aides in special schools for children who are intellectually disabled


Evaluation

After each placement each student is expected to make out an evaluation of how much he has learned from his experience and the staff are asked to comment on how well he managed in his new situation outside of the normal school routine. It is frequently observed that it is a very maturing and mind-expanding experience, changing students attitudes to people who are less well endowed (whether physically, mentally or socially) in a very positive way.

Outings also take place and the students enjoy themselves organising and participating in these both at Christmas and after Easter.


Fund Raising

There is a great deal of fund-raising just before Christmas to finance these activities. These include the sale of (i) Christmas Trees (ii) Christmas Cards designed by the students and then sponsored (iii)Yuletide Logs (iv) Calendars (in conjunction with Greenwatch). Further activities include a sponsored Soccer Marathon, a sponsored 24-hour fast, carol singing in various shopping centres and a plastic duck race down the Liffey.


Christmas time

The contacts made in Tallaght are important in discerning who needs help and who is really in need. Over 120 hampers are distributed in the weeks preceding Christmas by the students, the parents and the teachers.


Year Masses

Once a year the parents and students of each year are invited to a special Mass for them when the focus is on that particular year so that all servers, readers and other functionaries are either parents or boys of the year.


Faith Development Group

Once a month a Faith Development Group meets combining the talents of the girls from Loreto, Rathfarnham and the boys of 5th Year. This meeting is one of discernment to find out how faith can shape a world vision and outlook.


The College Union

The past students attend Days of Reflection before Christmas and Easter. Each year some hundreds attend these important occasions which serve as a time of both spiritual and social renewal where all contacts are strengthened and new resolutions are made to keep in touch in the future.