|
|
|
|
| |
OVERVIEW |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Within the Diocese of Menevia, there are 18
Primary schools and 3 Comprehensive Schools. These schools
cater for pupils aged 4 - 18 years of age. In addition,
there are active Catholic Chaplaincies in each of the three
secular Universities within the Diocese. Three priests act
as Chaplains to the Comprehensive Schools. Overall, there
are 3191 pupils in the Primary sector of whom 2437 are Catholic
and 754 are non-Catholic. In the Comprehensive sector, there
are 2533 pupils of whom 1678 are Catholic.
The total number of teachers in the Primary sector is 152 of whom
124 are Catholic. In the Comprehensive sector, the teacher
number is 138 of whom 72 are Catholic. Following Diocesan
policy, the Governing Bodies of the schools make every effort to
appoint Catholic teachers whenever a vacancy occurs.
All schools have Voluntary Aided status and are run in partnership
with the Local Education Authority in whose area the school is
situated. The Trustees of the Diocese appoint Foundation
Governors who are always constitute a majority on the Governing
Bodies. In the Diocese, good relationships exist between the
representatives of the State, both locally with Diocesan
Representatives serving on the Education Authorities and
nationally with the National Welsh Assembly, the body responsible
for education in Wales.
Religious Education is central to the life and mission of the
schools. A strict allocation of 10% of the overall
curriculum time is given to the teaching of Religious Education as
requested by the Bishop's Conference of England and Wales.
British law requires that all schools, Catholic and State, provide
a moral and spiritual framework for all children within the school
curriculum. Collective worship is a statutory requirement
and a daily act of collective worship is an obligatory requirement
in English civil law.
Over the past four years, most of our schools have undergone
statutory Inspection under the terms of the Education Act 1996.
Both the religious and secular education in the schools have been
praised from the Inspectors.
The Schools Commission of the Diocese was established to give
advice to schools on the management and administration of the
schools, and normally meets three times a year. It also
supports the Bishop in his oversight of all matters affecting the
teaching and curriculum of our schools as required by the Code of
Canon Law.
All of our schools have active parent associations who work hard
for the benefit of the schools in a variety of activities.
In all schools, close collaboration is encouraged with other
Christian communities. Most of our schools admit Fellow
Christian pupils. Indeed, many parents of non Catholic
children apply for admission to our schools.
As a consequence of the rural nature of the Diocese, with many
scattered and small communities, together with the problems of
distances involved, many Catholic children are unable to attend
our Catholic schools. Where this is the case, each parish is
responsible for providing religious instruction for these
children. Lay catechists assist the priests in the provision
of religious programmes in each parish.

|
|
SCHOOLS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CARMARTHENSHIRE
Aided Secondary School
St John Lloyd
Havard Road
Llanelli SA 14 8SD
Tel: (01554) 772 589
Headteacher: Mr Paul White
Email:
office@stlloydscarms.sch.uk
Aided Primary Schools
St Mary's
Union Street
Carmarthen SA31 3DE
Tel: (01267 234297)
Headteacher: Mr Martin O’Toole
Email:
staff.stmaryssc@ysgolccc.org.uk
St Mary's
Havard Road
Llanelli SA14 8SD
Tel: (01554) 759178
Headteacher: Mrs Patricia Way
Email:
atmin.stmarys@ysgolccc.org.uk
CEREDIGION
Aided Primary School
St Padarn's
Llanbadarn Road
Aberystwyth SY23 1EZ
Tel: (01970) 623862
Headteacher: Mr A G James
Email:
prif@stpadarnsrcp.ceredigion.sch.uk
PEMBROKESHIRE
Aided Primary Schools
Holy Name
Vergam Terrace
Fishguard SA65 9DF
Tel: (01348) 872506
Headteacher: Mrs Shelagh Robb
Email:
head.holyname@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
Mary Immaculate
Merlin's Hill
Haverfordwest SA61 1PH
Tel: (01437) 762324
Headteacher: Mr Patrick Mansfield
Email:
head.maryimmaculate@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
St Francis
Priory Road
Milford Haven SA73 2EE
Tel: (01646) 694830
Headteacher: Mrs Rachel Best
Email:
stfrancis@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
St Mary's
Britannia Road
Pembroke Dock SA72 6PD
Tel: (01646) 682879
Headteacher: Mrs Sharon Nichols
St Teilo
Greenhill
Tenby
Tel: (01834) 843995
Headteacher: Mr N Atherton
Email:
Head.stteilos@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
POWYS
Aided Primary School
St. Joseph’s
Silver Street
Brecon
Tel: (01874) 624488
Headteacher: Mrs Karen Lewis
Email:
office@st-josephs.powys.sch.uk
SWANSEA
Aided Secondary School
Bishop Vaughan R.C. Comprehensive School
Mynydd Garnlwyd Road
Morriston
Swansea SA6 7QG
Tel: (01792) 772006
Headteacher: Mr Joseph Blackburn
Email:
bishop.vaughan@swansea-edunet.gov.uk
Aided Infants School
St Joseph's
Caepistyll Street
Swansea SA1 2BF
Tel: (01792) 653609
Headteacher: Miss Anne Hacche
Email:
st.josephs.infants@swansea-edunet.gov.uk
Aided Primary Schools
St Joseph's
Caepistyll Street
Swansea SAI 2BE
Tel: (01792) 653609
Headteacher: Mr P Richards
Email:
st.josephs.rcjuniorschool@swansea-edunet.gov.uk
St David's
West Cross Avenue
West Cross, Swansea
Tel: (01792) 512212
Headteacher: Mr Colin Greenwood
Email:
st.davids.primaryschool@swansea-edunet.gov.uk
St Illtyd's
Jersey Road
Bonymaen
Swansea SA1 8HR
Tel: (01792) 462104
Headteacher: Mr David Lewis
Email:
st.illtyds.school@swansea-edunet.gov.uk
St Joseph's
Clydach
Swansea SA6 SNX
Tel: (01792) 842494
Headteacher: Mr Michael Way
Email:
St.Joseph.RCPrimarySchool@swansea-edunet.gov.uk
NEATH PORT TALBOT COUNTY BOROUGH
Aided Secondary School
St Joseph's R.C. Comprehensive School
Newton Avenue
Aberavon,
Port Talbot SA12 6EY
Tel: (01639) 884305
Headteacher: Mr Mike Callus
Email:
m.a.callus@neath-porttalbot.gov.uk
Aided Infants School
St Joseph's
Water Street
Port Talbot SA12 6LE
Tel: (01639) 882579
Acting Headteacher: Mrs Julie Beaumont-Rees
Email:
stjosephs.inf@neath-porttalbot.gov.uk
Aided Junior Schools
St Joseph's
Nobel Avenue
Aberavon
Port Talbot SA12 6YN
Tel: (01639) 769743
Headteacher: Mr Lyndon Watkins
Email:
stjosephs.jnr@neath-porttalbot.gov.uk
St Therese's
Southdown Road
Sandfields SA12 7HL
Tel: (01639) 882797
Headteacher: Mr Anthony McCarthy
Email:
atthereses.pri@npt.gov.uk
St Joseph's
Cook Rees Avenue
Neath SA11 1BW
Tel: (01639) 635099
Headteacher: Mrs Claire Dineen
Email:
stjosephs.pri@npt.gov.uk
|
|
|
CATECHISIS |
|
|
|

|
|
|
Personnel
At present there is a Catechetical Core Team
consisting of the Co-ordinator of the Catechetical Team and three
support staff, including one who is in charge of the Diocesan
Resources Centre.
In addition, there is a Diocesan Catechetical Team consisting of some
fifteen people from different areas of the Diocese, comprising
priests, religious and lay people, who are involved with various areas
of catechesis, either in a training or an advisory capacity, in their
own spare time.
The priests of the Diocese undertake pre-marital catechesis in most
parishes, with married couples assisting to some extent. Some of
the priests take charge of RCIA and the catechesis of parents whose
children are to be baptised. In a few of the smaller parishes
the priest undertakes the catechesis of children and young people.
In other parishes, priests select their catechists from the members of
the parish.
The Religious of the Diocese are involved in different forms of
catechesis in various parishes. This may include RCIA, Bible
study groups, the catechesis of parents whose children are ready for
baptism, preparation for other sacraments, and the catechesis of
children, young people and adults.
Lay people are involved in catechests in many parishes, as are many of
the teachers from the Diocesan Catholic Schools. In some
parishes parents are engaged in the catechesis of their own children,
particularly in programmes of catechesis for sacramental preparation.
Other lay people are involved in the RCIA programmes.
Catechetical Needs
The situation of this Diocese presents a mixed picture. While a
considerable percentage of the Catholic population is to be found in
the towns of Swansea, Neath and Part Talbot, a large number live in
smaller towns. or in isolated rural parishes in Mid and West Wales.
The catechetical needs of these parishes and deaneries are therefore
very different, and the situation is further complicated by the need
for catechesis through the medium of Welsh in certain areas.
Furthermore, while the larger towns are supplied with both Catholic
secondary and primary schools, there is a total absence of Catholic
schools in many areas of the Diocese.
For many years we have become very aware of the need for catechesis
from the cradle to the grave, and this philosophy has influenced the
Diocesan Catechetical Team in the planning of activities.
The Diocesan Catechetical Team regard the training and support of
parish catechists as one of its chief aims, since in the modern world
it is increasingly important that lay people, especially parents, are
fully engaged in the catechesis of their children. The
involvement of Lay people in catechesis is also important in the
strengthening of modern parish communities. This is a trend
which it is hoped to develop further in future years
The main areas of catechetical development in the Diocese over
the last five years have been as follows:
-
Catechesis for parents and for family life
Various parenting programmes have been followed in different
deaneries, including training sessions with parents involved in
their own children's catechesis; training sessions for parents
involved with Confirmation programmes; and study of lectionary-based
catechesis for parishes throughout the Diocese
-
Catholic Marriage and Family Life Ministry: A
Director of the Family Life Ministry has been appointed recently. A
significant number of people from different parishes across the
Diocese are involved in this work.
Various family workshops have been held in Carmarthen. There have
been 'Family Fun Days' at Gelli Aur Country Park, near Llandeilo,
when Catholics from all over the Diocese gather to 'play, pray and
picnic' together.
-
Catechesis for children not attending Catholic
Schools: This is a great need in this diocese because of the
scattered population in rural areas where there are no Catholic
schools, and also because of the choice some parents make to send
their children to schools where they can be taught through the
medium of Welsh, their mother tongue. At present, the numbers
involved vary from parish to parish.
Opportunities need to be created so that priests, school governors,
parents and all parishioners are well informed about available
catechetical material.
-
Catechesis for Youth: The most successful Youth
Group in the Diocese is the Youth to Lourdes Group, who concentrate
their activities on fund raising for and giving assistance to those
going an pilgrimage.
-
Catechesis for sacramental preparation: There
have been training days, in different centres, for parish catechists
involved with the preparation of children for the Sacrament of
Confirmation, and more are planned for the coming year. A day was
organised in Carmarthen for parents and catechists involved in the
preparation of children for First Confession and First Holy
Communion. (Days are planned in the coming spring; a study day on
the Mass, and a training day for Eucharistic Ministers.)
-
Catechesis for Travelling People: This has taken
place in a few areas of the Diocese, and has concentrated on
preparation for the reception of the Sacraments.
-
Catechesis for Adults: There have been various
short courses aimed at helping adults to deepen their faith, in
addition to the RCIA groups which are held in several parishes of
the Diocese. These have included days of retreat, group prayer, a
half day specially for the elderly, Advent reflections, and talks on
scripture during Lent. There have also been catechetical days or
weekends, led by visitors to the Diocese, on Scripture and
catechesis; on Lectionary based catechesis, and on Catechesis as a
journey in faith. Over a period of some two years, groups met
regularly to study the new Catechetical Directory, using 'A Gift
Destined to Grow'. During last autumn, there was a series of evening
meetings an lectionary based catechesis, with a half day on the same
theme in Margam at the end of January.
Groups preparing for the Catholic Certificate in
Religious Studies will meet on a number of Saturdays in the coming
year.
The provision of resources for Catechesis in the
diocese
Members of the Diocesan Catechetical Team were aware for many years of
the need for a centre where resource materials could be held, and this
awareness was reinforced by the requests received from several of the
Diocesan clergy. From 1995 until 2002, premises were made available at
the Stella Maris Centre in Swansea. As a result of the decision to
rebuild that Centre, the Resources Centre moved in September 2002 to
the Curial Offices in Greenhill, Swansea. It has now been expanded as
the Diocesan Pastoral and Resources Centre, and is run by the Core
Team referred to earlier. Several of the groups have already made use
of the facilities at the new Centre. In order to meet running costs,
books and cards are on sale, and the Team invite donations from groups
using the Centre.
Sr. Eugenie Murnion cp. Jacqueline Wykes
February 2003 |
|
|
External Link
Catechism of the Catholic Church
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|