Ratcliffian 2016 (LOWRES)

CHAPLAINCY & CHARITY
Head Boy Declan McAuley (right), aided by Joe
Higham, Archie Herrick and Chris Curnick (from left),
packs a van full of coats donated to Syrian refugees,
organized locally by the Brooks family.
Meeting God in Service to Others
The Gospel of Matthew recounts Jesus’ words that,
insofar as we care for our poorest brothers’ and sisters’
needs, we do it for Jesus. Our School Motto echoes
this – Love is the fulfilment of the Law. It is in service
to others that the great variety of ages, backgrounds,
creeds and experiences among our staff and students
finds a common purpose.
Year 12 Activities Week – Carpenters Arms. Students Joe Jarvis, Alina Tebbutt,
Lilly Dosanjh and Katie Wiselka were set the task of decorating the entrance hallway.
Very much novices with a paint brush, they threw themselves into the job. As always
staff and residents of the Carpenters Arms were extremely grateful for the help.
CHAPLAINCY & CHARITY
Father President Ted Mullen leads the Jazz
Band at the Picnic Concert, supported by Emilia
Lawden (middle) and Eve Milward.
In all these volunteering pursuits, we come across our
brothers and sisters in need, hear their stories, and grow.
Insofar as we give to them, we can be assured of sharing
God’s presence through our interest and companionship.
Chaplaincy and Charity
Blessed Antonio Rosmini envisioned education as leading to the perfection
of both human nature and the human person. Our abilities and skills are
the one side of the coin, our moral character the other.
Chaplaincy at Ratcliffe College
seeks to facilitate our moral growth
through encounter with God.
St Paul said at the Areopagus that
God is not far from any of us, for In
him we live and move and have our
being. At Ratcliffe College, we are
invited to meet God in reflection and
prayer, in community celebration,
and in service to others. Students,
staff and families have displayed
again their generosity and support, for which
the Chaplaincy Team is very appreciative.
Members of the CCF
surround the Altar on
Remembrance Day.
Meeting God in Reflection and Prayer
We meet God in the rich heritage of our tradition, personal
reflections and witness, and in our engagement with current
issues. Each Friday and every second Wednesday, members
of the Chaplaincy Team, and other staff or students lead
a reflection focusing on God’s action in our lives. Last
year’s assembly schedule included topics such as Prayer,
Reconciliation, Holocaust remembrance, Community and
St Cecilia. We continued to explore themes around World
War I, and heard about Community Service and Overseas
volunteering from a number of students. Visiting speakers
enlivened the schedule, representing local charities.
Year 9 students preparing for a fund-raising fun run.
A special assembly was delivered by
Old Ratcliffian, Professor Tim Wilson,
who mesmerized the audience with
Turkish folk wisdom! Many students
also contributed musically to these
assemblies, demonstrating that God
can speak to us in many different ways.
Meeting God in Community Celebration
We meet God in celebrating as a community. The heart
of such is the celebration of Mass, which takes place on
weekends for the Boarding Community and visitors, and
during lunchtime twice a week. Mass is also celebrated to
mark important dates for the School and on all Holy Days
of Obligation, and we celebrate periodic Class Mass for
students in Years 7-11. Reconciliation reflections are given
twice a year, and the opportunity to speak with a priest is
open to all. Christmas, Easter and First Holy Communion
services are also celebrated, and we were blessed with the
presence of Bishop Patrick McKinney to confirm our group
of Year 8 students this year. Various retreats take place
throughout the year, and are always active and enjoyable
occasions. We marked the end of Year 11 and Year 13
with intimate and joyful services for each group.
Staff and students dining on soup and bread on CAFOD Fast Day.
From the beginning of the year, we busied ourselves in service
to others in a multitude of ways. Within the School, the St
Vincent de Paul Club, the Mother Teresa Group, Duke of
Edinburgh candidates and the students’ Chaplaincy team
spend time with younger students and peers, preparing
displays, and sorting clothes for charity. There are many
opportunities for students to volunteer outside Ratcliffe, such
as the Voluntary Service Unit that visits the Syston Friendship
Group, Duke of Edinburgh students visiting the local elderly,
or helping out at the Carpenter’s Arms.
The whole School joined together for the Easter Service,
introduced by the Preparatory School in song and drama.
Fundraising is another great aspect of Ratcliffe life, and
through the generosity of students, staff, families and friends,
we managed to raise over £34,000 for domestic and overseas
causes. We were proud to support as our main school charity,
the Tilinanu Orphanage in Malawi, which has hosted a litany
of Ratcliffe students since it was established by Old Ratcliffian,
Alice Pulford. Kate Scarborough and her mother spent their
October half-term break at the orphanage, and returned to
us with inspirational stories of determination and hope. We
thank everyone for their hard work and generosity this year.
Mr P Michel
Lay Chaplain
Students gathered to cut a cake following their
Confirmation by Bishop Patrick McKinney.
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