Chaplaincy
"School Chaplaincy is a pastoral role carried out in an educational setting in a collaborative and cooperative manner in order to promote the spiritual and human development of the members of the Catholic school community."
– Ontario Bishops, Pastoral Letter on Catholic Secondary School Chaplaincy, OCCB, March 2009
Chaplaincy at St. James is one of the many supports available to students, their families, and staff. Laurie Young is our Chaplaincy Leader. She has spent many years acquiring the experience and knowledge to serve as our Chaplaincy Leader. She has her Religion Specialist, her Youth Ministry Certificate and has served in several parish ministries in both Rockwood and Guelph, in addition to the Diocese of Hamilton.
As Chaplaincy Leader, Mrs. Young leads our school liturgical celebrations, retreats, and serves on our Board’s Equity and Inclusion Committee. The three secondary school Chaplains often work together to create a unified approach to celebrating the liturgical year.
As part of the Guidance team, Mrs. Young supports students who need someone to talk to, to walk with them in their challenges and grief. She works closely with the Social Worker, the Guidance Counsellors and Administration to make sure that all students have a safe place to learn and an opportunity to be successful. This includes being a Staff Advisor to the S.A.F.E. group (2SLGBTQIA+ and allies), to the St. James for Justice group and the Environmental Council.
At St. James, Chaplaincy supports the following principles:
We are a Community That Accompanies
This is about taking the time to walk alongside one another, to listen, to teach and to transform. We emulate the ways of Christ. He walked with the broken, the hurting and the doubtful.
We are a Community Builds Relationships
In building relationships, we are able to strengthen those who have lost a sense of faith or no longer consider themselves to be members of the Church. Our role, as Catholic educators, is to initiate, facilitate and maintain trusting relationships with each other, with our students, with our parents and with our parishes, we are one body with many parts.
We are a Community That Encourages Engagement and Instills Hope
Through a loving encounter with the people around him, Jesus strengthened people and gave them the courage to work through difficult circumstances. He gave them the courage to be loving when loving was difficult. When we can see ourselves and those around us as broken yet beloved, we retain the hope that difficult times will pass. We are called to be better than we believe we are capable of being. This is possible with the support of the community.
Finally, we are a Community That Forms Joyful Disciples
We are meant to celebrate the “good news” of the gospel. We are a resurrection people who can die to what is harming our relationships with God and others and be resurrected into new people who walk in the world with generous hearts and minds. We are all the beloved of God. There is joy in that recognition and acceptance.
Our St. James community needs the gifts that your child brings to our community as we are anxious to share the gifts of our community with each family!