Chaplaincy at St Bede’s is about expressing faith through both prayer and action.  Our aim is to encourage pupils in discovering their faith, support them in engaging with their faith by putting it into action, and finally, to equip them with the means to be disciples in their communities, responding to Christ’s call to ‘spread the good news’.  All chaplaincy activities are supported by our Lay Chaplain and Faculty staff.

The Eucharist is at the heart of our worship and weekly Mass is celebrated.   The liturgy is prepared each week by a different class from Year 7, 8 and 9, and pupils play an active role through readings, bidding prayers and the offertory procession. We also have House Masses that celebrate each House Saint, and is celebrated close to the Feast Day of the Saint.  

On Holy Days of Obligation, we celebrate Masses and Services with all pupils, highlighting the significance of the day. We also mark Advent and Holy Week with special services that involve a large number of pupils, in our choir and also reading.

The chaplaincy team at St Bede’s provides a number of opportunities for pupils to become more engaged with both their faith, and the faith life of the whole college and local community. 

• In Year 7, 8 and 9, pupils have the opportunity to attend Chaplaincy club that allows them to discover more about the catholic faith, in a friendly and fun environment.  In these sessions we play games, look at stories from the bible, and do activities that convey the Catholic message in a fun and interactive way.
• In Year 10 and 11, pupils begin to make further connections with their faith life.  Year 11 Eucharistic Ministers are commissioned and take part in the weekly Mass and in larger school events, to support clergy in the distribution of Holy Communion.  Year 10 pupils, who wish to become Eucharistic Ministers, attend a day’s training session, to fully understand the significance of the Eucharist in the Mass and in the Catholic faith.  They form a vital part of the chaplaincy at St Bede’s and in their parishes.  Year 10 are also involved in the Young Volunteers Programme. This programme, in collaboration with other Diocesan schools, introduces pupils to different Catholic charities and encourages them to raise funds and awareness of their work.
• There are many opportunities for Sixth Form involvement in Chaplaincy.  In collaboration with other schools in the Diocese, and CAFOD, they can participate in the CAFOD Young Leadership programme.  This programme allows them to become involved in developing, organising and running Awareness and Fund-raising events for CAFOD within the college as well as other aspects of the St Bede’s chaplaincy.

In addition, there are many other opportunities for pupils to become involved in chaplaincy at St Bede’s.  The college is heavily involved in charity work, regularly raising money for CAFOD, the Julian Trust, other Catholic charities and other wider organisations. 

We offer retreat experiences throughout the year which vary from 1 day to weekend residential visits to Kintbury, Viney Hill and other retreat centres.  We also offer a yearly retreat to Rome and this has been well received by pupils.