Day of Prayer unites school community at St Helens
At De La Salle School St Helens, our commitment to nurturing the spiritual lives of our students takes many forms, one of which is the monthly Day of Prayer. This special day invites students from across the school to gather in Chapel for moments of prayer, reflection, and connection with their faith throughout the day.
The Day of Prayer begins before the school day, offering students a peaceful and prayerful start. During break time, students come together to pray, after which they are invited to share tea and toast in the Chaplaincy with staff, strengthening a sense of community. At lunchtime, prayer stations are thoughtfully arranged in the Chapel, allowing students to reflect and pray in their own time and way.
These gatherings provide a meaningful space for students to unite in prayer for important intentions. In recent months, we have prayed for Our Global Family, for mothers during the month of October, and for world leaders as they gathered for COP29. By bringing these global and personal concerns to prayer, students learn to approach life with faith, hope, and compassion.
The Day of Prayer is a beautiful reminder of the power of prayer to unite and inspire. It fosters a culture of reflection and gratitude, enabling students to pause amid their busy lives and connect with God. By coming together as a community of faith, we strengthen not only our relationship with God but also with one another.
Students Brighten Lives at Broadoak Manor
On December 11th, 2024, a group of students from De La Salle School, St Helens, spent a heart-warming day at Broadoak Manor Residential Care Home, engaging with the residents and spreading festive cheer.
The visit was filled with joyful activities, including arts and crafts, friendly games of bingo, and plenty of cups of tea accompanied by heartfelt conversations. The students brought energy, kindness, and a listening ear to residents, many of whom shared how much the companionship and interactions meant to them.
The impact of the day was beautifully captured in an email from the staff at Broadoak Manor:
"The residents absolutely loved your school being involved and helping them with the activities for the day; they can't wait to welcome you back. Some of our residents don't get many visitors, so for De La Salle School to come and just spend some time having little chats, making the residents smile, and being so kind was a wonderful gesture. We honestly can't speak highly enough of the students who came yesterday. They were a great example of everything you would like: kind, polite, and a pleasure to have at Broadoak Manor anytime."
The day wasn’t just a highlight for the residents - it was also a proud moment for the school. Special thanks were extended the students, who represented De La Salle with exceptional grace and compassion.
As an extension of this budding partnership, Broadoak Manor residents were invited to enjoy the school’s production of Annie, a gesture that further strengthened the connection between the school and the local community.
At De La Salle, we believe in fostering a spirit of service and compassion, and this visit to Broadoak Manor was a shining example of those values in action. The students’ efforts not only brought smiles to the residents but also highlighted the importance of bridging generations through kindness and community spirit.
We look forward to many more collaborations with Broadoak Manor and thank the staff and residents for making us feel so welcome.
Celebrating Mass as a School: Bringing Students Closer to Jesus
At De La Salle School, we deeply value the spiritual growth of our students and the opportunity for them to encounter Jesus through the celebration of Mass. However, with increasing demands on clergy across the UK, it has become more challenging to arrange for a priest to regularly come into school for this important act of worship.
To ensure our students continue to have this meaningful experience, we have embraced a new approach by taking groups of students to St. Teresa of Avila Parish for weekday Mass. On alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Catholic Life Team accompanies students from KS3 to attend Mass, where they actively participate in presenting the offertory gifts, meet local parishioners, and engage with the liturgy as part of a broader faith community.
These experiences not only enrich the students’ faith but also connect them with the local community. The welcoming spirit of St. Teresa’s parishioners offers a warm and supportive environment where students can see faith lived out in everyday life. As Blessed Carlo Acutis taught, “By standing before the Eucharistic Christ, we become holy.” We are blessed to provide our students with this chance to stand before the Lord and receive the grace of the Eucharist regularly.
This initiative is only part of our commitment to nurturing the spiritual life of our students, helping them grow in their faith and understand the vital role of the Mass as a source of hope, strength, and connection to Jesus. Together, as one community of faith, we walk the path towards holiness, inspired by the example of Blessed Carlo Acutis, and St John Baptist de La Salle.
For a typical weekday Mass, we take a class of around 30 students, with their form tutor. We do also have scheduled times of the year for larger celebrations of Mass for House groups and Year groups, as well as our Founder’s Day Masses and Year 11 Celebration Mass.
Inspiring First-Ever Student-Led Climate Conference
On Monday 25th November, we proudly hosted our first-ever student-led Climate Conference, an event that brought together students from our school and the local primary schools, staff, and special guests to explore the theme of respect for the planet and its people. This event, led by our passionate students, aimed to inspire action against climate change and highlighted the power of young voices in addressing this global crisis.
The conference opened with a warm welcome from our student hosts, Samuel and Joshua, who set an enthusiastic tone for the day. The agenda was carefully crafted to balance education, reflection, and action. Highlights included:
Podcast Recording: The day began with a live recording of our school podcast, Peer-to-Ear, featuring keynote speaker Jessica Drew, a PhD researcher on climate migration. Jessica provided an eye-opening introduction to this pressing issue, explaining how climate change forces millions to leave their homes.
Small Group Discussions: Students engaged in meaningful conversations with their peers, brainstorming questions for Jessica and reflecting on the personal impact of climate change.
Workshops: Guided by our Geography teachers and Head Students, attendees participated in hands-on activities designed to deepen their understanding of environmental challenges and solutions.
Synod Workshop: In the spirit of collaboration, students joined a Synod-style discussion to generate ideas and recommendations for addressing climate change. These insights formed the basis of a letter sent to government and church leaders, amplifying our students' voices on a larger stage.
One of the most poignant moments of the conference came during the Closing Pledge Ceremony, where students added leaves to a symbolic tree. The tree here is inspired by the tree created at St Cassian’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Each leaf represented a personal commitment to protecting the planet, from reducing waste to encouraging others to act. This tree will grow with each future conference, becoming a living testament to our community’s dedication to environmental stewardship.
The conference sent a powerful message: young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow - they are the changemakers of today. By creating a platform for students to share their thoughts, ideas, and commitments, the event demonstrated the importance of respecting and amplifying youth voices in the fight against climate change.
This Climate Conference marks the beginning of a series of student-led events at De La Salle School. We’re excited to continue building on this momentum, providing opportunities for students to lead, learn, and take action. Together, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future.
Thank you to all who participated in making this day a historic and inspiring moment for our school. Stay tuned for updates on the incredible work our students are doing to protect our planet.
Welcoming Our Lasallian Family from Malta: A Chaplaincy Exchange
On the 4th and 5th of December, De La Salle School, St Helens, had the privilege of hosting members of our Lasallian family from Malta: Mariella, Isabel, David, and Nic. The purpose of their visit was to observe and shadow our Chaplaincy team, gaining insight into a role that is relatively new in their schools.
In the UK, lay chaplains have long been an integral part of faith life in schools. However, in Lasallian schools in Malta, having chaplains who are not religious Brothers marks an exciting and innovative chapter. This exchange offered a valuable opportunity to share experiences, ideas, and the unique ways we integrate faith into school life.
During their visit, our Maltese guests toured the school, visited lessons, and met with key groups such as ARISE, our faith formation group for Year 9 students. Through these interactions, they gained a comprehensive understanding of our Prayer and Liturgy provision and had the chance to hear directly from students about their views on Chaplaincy.
The students shared heartfelt reflections on the impact of Chaplaincy in our school:
"Staff are always dedicated to their faith and helping others to understand it."
"Chaplaincy makes everyone feel welcome, no matter their faith, and our Chaplain shares her faith in a special way."
"Faith is at the centre of school life. As Chaplains, your role is to promote the benefits of having a strong faith and doing God's good work."
These sentiments underline the vital role of Chaplaincy in fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where faith is nurtured and celebrated.
The visit was a meaningful exchange of ideas and inspiration. It highlighted the shared mission of Lasallian schools worldwide: to provide holistic education rooted in faith and service. We look forward to continuing our partnership with our Lasallian family as they develop their Chaplaincy provision and strengthen the bonds of our global Lasallian community.
