POLICY ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND FAITH DEVELOPMENT

 Lios na Groi is a Catholic school under the patronage of the Bishop of Killaloe .Therefore it is inclusive and subject to the terms of the Enrolment Policy, enrolls children of other faiths and none and respects their beliefs and practices. Consultation with parents of all pupils takes place on enrolment. Parents are welcome to view the Religious programme taught – at its core is the commandment ‘Love God and love your neighbour’. The school models and promotes a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life of Jesus Christ.

It promotes Religious Education for the pupils in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Catholic Church and promotes the formation of the pupils in the Catholic Faith. A Christian ethos permeates the school and the life of the school. There is a spirit of prayer in the school, not just imposed on the children, but it is seen to be a value for the teachers. Children of all faiths are encouraged to pray to God as they are taught by their parents to do so at home. Children of no faith are encouraged to respect prayer time and to use the quiet time for reflection. The staff and children learn about other religions through reading and listening to their peers. The school cannot undertake to educate children of other faiths in their own faith, nor can it provide supervision during the religious education period apart from within the class. However, the school has an obligation to nurture the spiritual and moral development of all its children. Children of other faiths and no faith are facilitated to work on their moral and spiritual development during religion time, mass preparation for sacraments and catholic celebrations.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMME

 The Board of Management and the teachers have adopted the Alive –O Catechetical Programme approved and recommended by the Irish Hierarchy for use in Catholic Schools.

The programme incorporates the recommended approach to religious education for the reception of the sacraments of Penance, Holy Communion and Confirmation.

The programme is studied each day for one half-hour. A Christian ethos however permeates the school day and the life of the school.

 WholeSchool Dimension

Meaningful pictures and artworks are on display throughout the school building.

The major Catholic and local feasts are celebrated. They are marked with the aid of signs and symbols displayed throughout the school

  • Advent – the Advent wreath and Jesse tree

  • Christmas – tree and crib

  • Feast of St. Brigid – traditional crosses

  • Feast of St. Patrick – depiction of story and shamrock

  • Lent – symbols of repentance and ashes

  • Easter – symbols of the new life of resurrection, the empty tomb

  • Pentecost – artistic depiction of the coming of the Holy Spirit

Liturgical celebrations are held on some occasions e.g.

  • The opening and closing of the school year

  • Carol service at Christmas

  • Times of trauma or crisis and for other occasions which from time to time are considered appropriate to celebrate or to mark.

The catholic education offered in Lisnagry is conducted in collaboration with the children’s parents and the local parish. We see our role as being supportive of the role of parents and parish.

 The Sacraments

 Lisnagry National School places great importance on the preparation of our pupils for the Sacraments. During their time in our school, children are prepared for the Sacrament of First Penance (First Confession), First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Our dedicated staff and in particular the teachers of these classes (2nd class for First Penance and First Holy Communion and 6th class for Confirmation) put great time and effort into making these Sacraments very special experiences for the pupils.

Parents of First Communion pupils help to organise the very successful Do This in Memory programme. This is a parish based programme of preparation for First Communion centred in the parish celebration of the Sunday Eucharist and in the home. The programme is designed to facilitate parents, families and the parishes’ active involvement in the preparation for the sacrament. It complements and supports the work of sacramental preparation in the school. Our Parents’ Association get involved in the organisation of refreshments afterwards to make the celebration a whole school event. First Holy Communion takes place in May each year. Confirmation is a parish celebration and we share the celebration of this Sacrament with the other schools in our parish. The Bishop of Killaloe visits the parish to confirm the pupils and this ceremony usually takes place in May each year.