St John Vianney’s GIFT/ Chaplaincy Team
All our students, from Key Stage 2 through to Key Stage 5, have the opportunity to join the Chaplaincy/ GIFT team (Growing in Faith Together). The team currently is composed of 30% of pupils attending St John Vianney, making us one of the largest teams in the Diocese. The team is vital to the spiritual life of St John Vianney and the Catholic life of the school and is very much pupil led. The team are supported by Father Nick, from ‘Just Youth’ and Mrs Garfin, the RE and Catholicity Coordinator of the school. Our team was formed in 2015 and has had a real impact on the life of the school since its development.
In 2019 the team was recognised by the ‘Million Minutes’ Catholic Charity organisation, earning the ‘Cardinal Hume Award for Outstanding Services to the Poor’.
In June 2022 the Chaplaincy team were awarded with the Diocese of Salford’s Silver ‘Faith in Action’ award, recognising the excellent work undertaken in supporting others in our community. Bishop John Arnold presented the Chaplaincy team with the prestigious award in a ceremony at Wardley Hall.
The role of our Chaplaincy team;
- To lead the school as a community of faith
- To encourage the pupils to live out their faith in daily activity
- To develop good relationships within and beyond the school community
- To support and develop Liturgy, prayer and the spiritual life of the school
- To have our Children and Young People leading in fundraising activities for various community based charities
- To continue to develop strong links with the Parish, the Diocese of Salford and in the wider community
- To support the school in its Vision and Mission Statement
In order to fulfill these roles our Chaplaincy team will…
- Meet weekly in order to discuss the liturgical life of the school
- Participate in our pupil retreat, twice a year, to plan and support Advent and Lent activities
- Help to organise and support key Masses and liturgical events
- Organise various charity fundraising events
- Work collectively with other Chaplaincy Teams within the Diocese of Salford
- Promote the Gospel values and be a role model to their peers
The following are our expectations of all Chaplaincy Team members;
- Listen to each other’s ideas
- Communicate with all the team members, the school and parish
- Encourage everyone when making decisions, to share their ideas and to try their best
- Include everyone else when making decisions
- Lead by example and role model appropriate behaviour; to love everyone especially people you may not always get along with
