Diocese celebrates Catholic Schools Week 2025
Students, chaplains and teachers from post-primary schools across the Diocese of Kilmore travelled to St Patrick’s Church in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim, on Tuesday 21 January last for the Annual Diocesan Mass to mark Catholic Schools Week 2025. This year’s theme for Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Alive in Christ”.
Bishop Martin Hayes was the principal celebrant assisted by Fr Seán Mawn, PP VF Ballinamore; Fr John McMahon, PP Carrigallen; Fr Andrew Tully, PP Killeshandra; Deacon Andy Brady, Parish of Castlerahan & Munterconnaught; and Deacon Paul Flynn, St Patrick’s College. In addition to school representatives, other diocesan personnel involved with education and pastoral development were also present as were members of the local Parish Pastoral Council and parishioners from Ballinamore.
Bishop Martin’s homily may be accessed from the following link: Bishop Hayes’ Homily for Catholic Schools Week (21 January 2025)
The Prayers of the Faithful used at the Mass may be accessed from the following link: Prayers of The Faithful Catholic Schools Week 2025
Patricia Sheridan, Diocesan Post-Primary Schools Catechetical Advisor, organised the Mass and the hospitality afterwards with the assistance of teachers and pupils from Ballinamore Community School.
During the course of the Mass, reference was made to the contribution made by post-primary school students in the diocese to a variety of charities and good causes including
- Aid for Gaza
- Christmas Hampers
- Concern
- Crumlin Children’s Hospital
- Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund
- Food Cloud Appeal
- Goal
- Help Our Homeless
- Guide Dogs
- Irish Cancer Society
- Irish Pilgrimage Trust
- LA 519
- LauraLynn Foundation
- North West STOP
- Nursing Home Visits
- Oesophageal Cancer Fund
- Pieta House
- St Vincent de Paul
- Shoe Box Appeal
- SoSad
- Syrian Appeal
- Tidy Towns
- Team Home
- Ukranian Appeal
- Youth Drama Society
- Unicef
A message for Catholic Schools Week 2025 from Bishop Thomas Deenihan of Meath may also be accessed from the following link: Catholic Schools Week Message from Bishop Deenihan of Meath 2025
Photographs courtesy of Thomas Kelly, Ballinamore Parish Pastoral Council