Scottish Catholic Observer

Motherwell Diocese celebrated the launch of This is Our Faith, the new religious education syllabus for Catholic schools in Scotland, with a prayer service at Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral last Wednesday.

Bishop Joseph Devine of Motherwell was joined by representatives from the education sector, civic and community leaders and politicians, including John Pentland MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, as primary and secondary school children from across the diocese (right) ensured the cathedral was packed and awash with colour for the celebration.

Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, spoke to those gathered about This is Our Faith, which was launched nationally last month by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, the first religious education syllabus to be originated wholly in Scotland and designed to meet the needs of young people in Catholic primary and secondary schools.

Document

The new document has received the Vatican seal of approval as it was granted the Decree of Recognitio, a momentous achievement for Catholic education in Scotland.

Bishop Devine, bishop president of the Catholic Education Commission, spoke of the importance of the new teaching document, which, he said will provide the basis for RE teaching in Scottish Catholic schools ‘for decades to come.’

Des Timmons, headteacher of St Leonard’s Primary School, East Kilbride, spoke about the document’s introduction in Motherwell Catholic schools, while pupils from across Motherwell Diocese were also involved throughout the cathedral service last Wednesday.

Barbara Campbell, religious education adviser for secondary schools in Motherwell Diocese, said: “We wanted to set out how exciting and challenging it will be for schools in Motherwell Diocese to use This is Our Faith.”

Celebration

Senior pupils from diocesan secondary schools, who are participating in the Pope Benedict XVI Caritas Awards, took part in the service, while the choir from St Mary’s Primary School, Hamilton, and pupils from John Paul II Primary School, Viewpark, sang on the evening.

“It was a beautiful evening and it was a privilege to take part,” Angela Cluckie, principal teacher at St Mary’s Primary School, said. “The children loved the whole celebration and it was very special for us as two of our staff were involved in the early stages of This is Our Faith’s production.”

During the service, symbols representing the eight strands of Faith were brought to the cathedral altar by pupils and, at the evening’s conclusion, Bishop Devine presented each school with a copy of the new teaching document.

As Ms Cluckie added, the occasion had a lasting effect on the children present, in particular one of her pupils at St Mary’s.

“As we were getting on the bus home, one of the pupils said: ‘That was great, can we do it again tomorrow?’” she said.

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Pic: Tom Eadie