Scottish Catholic Observer

The legacy of last year’s Papal visit was at the forefront of the minds of Catholic primary school headteachers last week. Headteachers from across Scotland gathered at Cumbernauld’s Westerwood Hotel last Thursday and Friday for their national conference, at which they focused on the legacy of the Papal visit—Growing in Faith.

More than 150 conference delegates enjoyed talks from Professor Tom Devine, the renowned Catholic historian, Mgr Michael Regan, administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, and Tony Finn, chief executive of the General Teaching Council Scotland. Mass was celebrated for the delegates by Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley

Bishop Tartaglia

Members of the Association of Scottish Catholic Primary Headteachers (CHAPS) warmly welcomed the Paisley bishop to the conference. The bishops worked closely with schools and religious education groups in the launch of the This is Our Faith document, which provides guidance to teachers on the religious education curriculum that has been developed for children and young people in Catholic schools in Scotland.

“Bishop Tartaglia has been very supportive of our Catholic headteachers,” Elizabeth Dornan, headteacher of St Joseph’s Primary School Stepps and president of CHAPS, said. “The conference was a great success and all the delegates received a lot of information over the two days and greatly enjoyed the input of the speakers.”

New Catholic syllabus

On Thursday morning, Mr McGrath and his group focused on the new religious education curriculum, emphasising to delegates the importance of the new document in schools.

“The session on ‘delivering This is our Faith’ highlighted the significance of the new RE syllabus in shaping how young people will ‘encounter’ Jesus in learning how to profess, celebrate, pray and live the Faith,” Mr McGrath said. “In this session, which was both visionary and practical, teachers were encouraged to develop their own understanding and to have confidence in their skills to deliver religious education which is dynamic, powerful and inspiring.”

Speakers

On Thursday afternoon, the delegates listened to Mr Finn, who spoke of the importance of being Faithful professionals.

Mr Finn emphasised to those gathered the necessity of having a ‘commitment to keep learning and improving’ throughout their careers and spoke of the roles of Faith, hope and charity and the consideration of professional values. “It’s about what we can give to others,” Mr Finn told delegates of their duties as Catholic headteachers.

The following morning, Professor Devine delivered an inspirational talk about: Catholics in Scotland since 1945—An end to disadvantage? Following Professor Devine’s talk, the delegates had the opportunity to learn more from Mgr Regan about the impending introduction of the new English translation of the Roman Missal and what changes will be made. Such a talk gave the delegates a clearer understanding of what stage their own dioceses are in preparations for the Missal’s introduction in parishes.

“The conference gives headteachers from across Scotland the chance to meet up and network—something which is particularly important for those from areas where Catholic schools are thin on the ground,” Ms Dornan said.

PIC: PAUL McSHERRY