Year 9 Vocations Retreat

On Monday, students In Year 9 were welcomed back with a Vocations retreat day. We were very lucky to welcome over 10 guest speakers to talk about their vocation and what their career means to them. The day started with prayer and reflection in the Main Hall, followed by praise and worship by Adenike, a Catholic singer who has appeared on the voice and worked with Will.i.am.  Adenike introduced us to the theme of Vocation and remined students that it is okay not to be sure, but to make sure they give everything a go with a full heart and that God will get them where they need to be.  She sung some beautiful songs to us and even invited some of Year 9 Choir up to sing ‘O Happy Day’.

Students then went around in their forms and had the chance to ask questions to each speaker about their jobs, some of the talks even included a Doctor who let students listen to heartbeats and a religious sister who prayed a decade of the rosary with the class and another who sang a reflective song with them. The day come to a close with Mass Celebrated by Bishop David Evans who spoke to us about listening to God’s call and being ready to serve with our Vocation and each form group was represented in the Mass by being a reader or bringing an item up in procession. Year 9 choir also sang beautiful songs with Adenike in this Mass “He is wonderful” and “Father we adore you” being new praise and worship songs we will now use in school.

Students were a credit to themselves and were very polite too all of our visitors- well done all! Year 12 students were also on hand to help the guest speakers with IT, taking pictures and helping with the preparation of Mass, thank you to Cheyanne, Elena, Sara, Kayleigh and Leanne.

A special thanks to our speakers: Adenike, Sister Mariam, Sister Irene, Sister Bonaventure, Fiona Kilker, Michelle Beasley, James Farrell, Molly McQuaid, Dr Annabel Ariyathurai and Aisling Griffin.

Miss Farrell
Lay Chaplain

“On Monday, as part of the Year 9 Vocations retreat day, I had the opportunity to speak to a variety of different experts with different jobs. I went around with my form talking to all of the guest speaks and asked questions about what they do. My personal favourite talk was with a police officer/investigator. It was very interesting to know how officer’s really get there jobs done and it was different to how I originally thought”

Tino 9BO

“Singing with Adenike was amazing, we had the chance to sing with a different vibe of Gospel songs and performing Infront of the whole year group and the Bishop. I also went to see Adenike sing in March 2023 at Flame where there was over 8000 children there, she helped us tune into Catholic life and flame, so it was good to be able to work with her in school”.

Marie 9TE