Scottish Catholic Observer

Sabrina Jehangir, Notre Dame High School, Glasgow

Reflecting on the award, she explained that pupils had the opportunity to help out at local churches, including St Peter’s Church in Partick, and was glad the award gave the opportunity for young people from different faiths to work together and share their views.

“The Caritas Award has been very welcoming to all different religions and I am glad I have been able to benefit from this,” she said.

On taking part in the award she said: “I think it has mainly been about reflection and how we grow as people and how we are maturing. It has been about spreading love in the community and treating everybody as equals, that was the main message that I took from the award.

“At one of the Masses we celebrated in school, we all had the chance to read out prayers, with teachers from the school participating as well,” she said of her fondest memory of taking part. “It was a very special memory for me.”

Laura Baillie, John Ogilvie High School, Hamilton

She explained that her school is connected to a number of parishes and pupils were able to help at each of them and that she enjoyed coming together for weekly group sessions, at which progress would be discussed, but also enjoyed the independent aspects of working towards the award.

“For young people it can be difficult to be involved in our parishes and the award gave us the opportunity to do this,” she said.

She added that some pupils volunteered to be on their parish’s reading rota and some pupils took part in a volunteers’ weekend for a local scouts’ group attached to the school—through Our Lady and St Anne’s Church, Hamilton.

Speaking about the posthumous award for Reamonn Gormley, she recalled that Reamonn was the first pupil from John Ogilvie High School to climb Ben Nevis for St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie, and added that he has left a legacy that has inspired so many pupils from the school to help others in their own way.

“I have taken so much from being involved,” she said. “There has been a strong sense of community, not just within the Caritas group, but by getting involved in the local community and trying to help people.”

Katie McShane, Taylor High School, Motherwell

In addition to arranging fundraising events at the school, she worked with the Children’s Liturgy group at her local parish and the award has made her realise that there are ‘so many ways of getting involved in parish life.’

“Taking part in the award has made me realise that you need to show love, it is not just a word,” she said. “I really enjoyed working with the Children’s Liturgy group throughout the year.”

Lauren McShannon, Our Lady’s High School, Motherwell

As part of her work towards the award she volunteered with ALMA, as a passkeeper in her parish and took part in a pilgrimage to Rome in February with fellow pupils during which they sang for the Holy Father.

“We knew we were going to sing for the Holy Father but we were surprised that he mentioned us by name,” she said.

She added that the Caritas Award helped her build on the excitement of the 2010 Papal visit and turn it into something that will stay with her for the rest of her life.

Sean Deighan, St Andrew’s Academy, Paisley

Sean organised his own volunteer project for the Caritas Award, teaching Catechism alongside university students to primary pupils preparing for their First Holy Communion.

“I went to St Cadoc’s Church and alongside three other boys, two university students, we taught the primary four pupils,” he said. “The children really liked the club and it was a good way to get involved in parish life.”

He said he would recommend the programme to future sixth year pupils as he believes it is ‘an even more effective way to learn about faith than studying RE’

Helen Patfield, St Kentigern’s Academy, Blackburn

Helen from Linlithgow was at the Papal Mass at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, on September 16, 2010 with her school and never imagined that day would be the first step in a journey that brought her to the Caritas Award.

“It inspired me to volunteer at a youth project in Liverpool and taught me the value of giving my time to help others, something that brings its own rewards,” she said.

Pic: Paul McSherry