Scottish Catholic Observer

The youngsters visited Kilbride Hospice and were given a tour of the new £3 million building’s facilities, learning about the help the staff give to those with cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and lung diseases.

Following the visit, the children set their minds to coming up with ways to help the hospice. Pupil Emma McNeill was so keen to support the work of the charity that she undertook a sponsored cycle in Strathclyde Park and raised £300 for the charity. Now her fellow students plan a sponsored relay around their school campus—the Hospice Heroes’ Run—that will take place next month.

St Leonard’s pupils have been taking part in a number of activities as they work towards the Pope Francis Faith Award. The awards were launched in Lent 2014 following the success of the Caritas Award for senior school pupils, and seek to involve pupils in the life of their parishes.

The pupils, assisted by their parish coordinator, have been at the heart of activities in their local church. Many of them were confirmed by Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell in March and since then have attended St Leonard’s Church for a talk on the sanctuary, and some of the sacred objects and vessels used in services, given by Jim Lee, one of the sacristans at the parish.

Parish priest Fr Gerard Chromy recently included the students, together with their counterparts at St Hilary’s Primary School, in the procession before Mass on Palm Sunday.

On May 18, the Pope Francis Faith Award students attended the parish’s annual Mass for the sick and acted as welcomers in addition to supporting the singing. Already, groups of pupils have been twinned as prayer partners with some of the sick of the parish and have received some letters and cards from parishioners in appreciation of their support.

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—This story ran in full in the May 29 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.