Scottish Catholic Observer

The school community—including staff, pupils, parents and grandparents—gathered in the school hall for the Mass celebrated by Fr Paul Milarvie, parish priest of St Flannan’s, Kirkintilloch, and St John of the Cross, Twechar. After the singing of the hymn to St Agatha, ten primary six pupils enrolled in the Pope Francis Faith Award. The award is an initiative of SCES and the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland that was launched following the success of the Caritas Award for senior school pupils, and seeks to involve pupils in the life of their parishes. St Agatha’s have now enrolled in the second phase of the awards following the pilot scheme that involved more than 50 schools.

During the Mass, Fr Milarvie reminded the school of the importance of the gift of Faith in their lives and encouraged the P6 youngsters to consider pursing the parish commendation as part of their commitment to their Pope Francis Faith Award (above).

Last year, East Dunbartonshire Council took the decision to close St Agatha’s and merge the school with St Flannan’s Primary in a new build on the St Flannan’s site. Parents campaigned against the closure next year. The Church had agreed with the council’s plans for the school.

Paul Manley, headteacher at the school, said the closure was very sad and made the Mass very poignant. Prior to the school merger, his pupils will join with their St Flannan’s counterparts as they work towards their faith awards. “Luckily the other school were doing the Pope Francis Faith Award as well so that gave us an opportunity to work with them,” he said.

The school’s anniversary celebrations will continue later in the year, with a Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate its 40th to be held in St Flannan’s, Kirkintilloch, on June 8.

—     [email protected]

—Read the full version of this story in the March 6 print edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.