Chaplaincy
 
Michael McCoy – Chaplain, and Sr. Roberts from Tyne and Wear started chaplaincy in 1990 without any idea of role but received much help from the school. Nothing in his training prepared him, nor would he have chosen to be a chaplain. There is no blueprint for chaplaincy, there are broad principles and areas for concern. Need to work with young people, go with them where they are going; don’t call them back, to where you are.

The gospel passage about Jesus on the road to Emmaus with 2 disciples is mirrored by chaplaincy:

Chaplaincy about ‘presence’ – accompanying young people. The chaplain is the only person in a school not constrained by the timetable, which allows them more freedom.
It is also about ‘challenging’ young people to live the best lives they can
‘Moving on’ - recognise and respect the varying stages of faith - a constant challenge
Schools are striving to be distinctive Catholic communities.
Schools exist in a rapidly changing world. This impacts on young people:
- with shifting patterns in family and work life;
- changing social policy;
- along with an increasingly secular world.
Changes create tension between material and spiritual values. Chaplaincy is trying to ease that tension.

Entitlement to spiritual care – do we simply welcome those who are not Catholic, or do we actively respond to needs of non-Catholics [increasingly, Catholic schools can have attendance of up to 50% non-Catholics]
Real challenges:
- what message do we give; called to be prophetic
- desire to discover meaning and purpose in our lives, especially in young people. Exposed to different value systems (Christian values v. modern society)
- encounter the apathy and confusion of young people – chaplains have the opportunity and capacity to do this
- need to discover new ways of operating

Where does the chaplain fit in?

The profile of a chaplain has changed dramatically in recent years. Parallel changes in the Catholic Church. Ten years ago predominantly priests/religious, more mature; now involving laity and young people
Do not wish to undermine the role of the priest. Far from it – the presence of a ‘lay’ chaplain in a school encourages the priest to go in, a point of contact
It is becoming increasingly hard to have full-time priest-chaplains in school. Look at employing full-time lay chaplaincy workers
Don’t want to look at canonical rules (Guidelines for the Employment of Chaplains – ACCE/CES soon to be published) of who can be called a chaplain – but Chaplaincy has a key role to play in developing
What does a Chaplain do?
A recent advert in The Universe for a chaplain outlined a long list of requirements including good listener, supportive, IT literate, capable of statistical analysis, preferably a teaching qualification, link with other schools, experience of working with young people, etc…and the salary offered was £10k…Highlights the diversity of the role of a chaplain.

A chaplain needs to be available full time; available to do home and hospital visits, as well as to go on retreats; work with pastoral heads; give regular feedback; evangelisation; formation classes for staff and pupils; learn more about the gospel; challenges to pray; act on issues of social concern; catechesis; RE; liturgical celebration (weekly mass; community celebration; feasts; welcomes; mark the end of school) - to list just some of the areas in which chaplains are involved.

The Way Forward

No blueprint, every diocese is different
Integral part; distinctive
Every school and college to work towards adequate chaplaincy, full-time or other
The chaplain cannot make it happen; needs to happen at the diocesan level
The chaplain needs to build a chaplaincy team who can bring valuable experience and insight, and who will provide support
Chaplains independence is important - provides time and opportunity to school
The support of the dioceses for chaplains is important
Obstacles

Time
Fear
Shortage of suitable candidates (this is being addressed with introduction of training courses)
The CES resource pack for Education Sunday, “Reaching out into the Deep” gives an appropriate message – we must have the courage to reach out.