Religious Education

Achieving success in a happy and hardworking atmosphere, where each individual matures in a supportive environment.

Our work within the Religious Education Department is centred upon the needs of the individual child. We strive to work in close partnership with our pupils, parents, colleagues and community to develop the whole person academically, vocationally, physically, morally, spiritually and emotionally. Each pupil will have the opportunity to develop all their talents and skills to the full and in doing so create independent, confident and responsible young adults of the future.

Members of Department

Subject Information

Religious Education is a compulsory subject for all students at Key Stage 3 and 4. Some pupils may choose to continue their study of RE at Advanced Level.

At Key Stage 3 students follow the Fully Alive series endorsed by the Diocesan Advisors. The series successfully fulfils the demands of the core curriculum. Within this programme students study a variety of topics such as the Bible, the Sacraments, Friendship, Justice, Islam, Judaism and Moral Issues.

At Key Stage 4 students follow the CCEA GCSE specification in Religious Education Unit 2A The Christian Church with a Focus on the Catholic Church in Year 11 and Unit 6 Christian Ethics in Year 12. Another course offered at KS4 is the OCN Level 2 Certificate in Religious Studies.  This is a Level 2 qualification which is equivalent to a grade B at GCSE.

At Key Stage 5 a growing number of students take up GCE Religious Studies. The students follow the CCEA specification for AS and A2 and have the opportunity to study two of the following modules:

Departmental News

Our school chaplains play an integral part within the College life by assisting throughout the year with our liturgical services. Para liturgies are celebrated for the opening of the new academic year, Christmas and Easter. There is a celebration of Mass for parents, students and teachers to welcome our new Year 8 students and a Thanksgiving Mass to acknowledge our leavers in Years 12 and 14.

Throughout the year students will also have the opportunity to attend retreats and visit places of religious significance.

We have a school oratory for prayer services and quiet reflection. The students have successfully set up a Faith Development Group to assist with the strengthening and nurturing of the faith of all our students. A Saint Vincent De Paul group has also been established to help those less fortunate in our community. The College is actively involved in fundraising and our main charities are Trocaire, and SVP.

St. Vincent De Paul Society

The society of St. Vincent De Paul is a Christian voluntary organisation, working with poor and disadvantaged people. The society is involved in a diverse range of activities such as the organisation of Christmas Hampers and visitations to those in local Nursing Homes.

The College St. Vincent De Paul Society consists of a number of pupils from Years 13 and 14. The society is open to all year groups and new members are always welcome.   They attend the annual SVP conference.

Retreats

Each year we take various year groups to Clonard Monastery in Belfast. A retreat is a break from the routine of everyday school activities, where young people are given the opportunity to look deeply at their own lives and the nature of their own belief. This is done through games, discussion, craft-activities, prayer and liturgy.

Year 8 Welcome Mass

The Year 8 Mass is a beautiful celebration involving staff and parents to welcome our new Year 8 students into the College community.  Fr. Gunn and Fr. O’Hagan our College Chaplains join us to celebrate this special event.  The evening is very special.  The Year 8 students lead the celebration.  They take part in the readings, the offertory, altar serving and the music alongside the College choir. It is such a special celebration that begins a very special journey.