Sr. Mary McHugh OSU has retired as Diocesan Advisor (Secondary Schools) and prior to the appointment of a new Diocesan Advisor Bishop Jones has decided to initiate a consultation process. 

The objective of this consultation process is to seek the best possible match between the support provision of the Elphin diocese (which also works within resource limitations) and the needs of various school personnel as they support the transmission of the Catholic faith in the contemporary secondary school environment.

Currently the diocese envisages inviting the following school personnel to participate.  

(i) Chairpersons of Boards of Managements (Diocesan Schools),
(ii) Principals,
(iii) Chaplains,
(iv) Trained Catechists
(v) Others who teach RE.
(vi) Clergy with an interest in this area
(vii) Interested parents
(viii) Dedicated personnel in other dioceses.

I would like to stress the reference to “inviting” in the above sentence.  Personally I hope we can see the enterprise of offering information  and formation opportunities to teenagers that support them transform their lives from within.

When will you hear more about this?

The Elphin Diocesan Advisory Catechetics Committee is to determine the questions, format etc. that will support the process and the time-frame. 

Given the work to date it is hoped that the consultative element will begin in November 2011 and conclude by April 2012. 

A report with recommendations will subsequently be presented to Bishop Jones.   I anticipate it will also be published on the Elphin Diocesan website.

Will any support mechanism be put in place during the course of this process / the academic year 2011 /2012?

In the absence of a Diocesan Advisor, Bishop Jones has asked me to serve as a link person with the National Association of Post Primary Diocesan Advisors and to pass on information received through this body via email to interested persons and to make provision via the recently established Post Primary Information & Resource sub-section of the Elphin Diocesan website.

What would help at this point?

I would greatly appreciate receipt of the email addresses of all R.E. teachers and Chaplains interested in receiving resources, updates etc..  Please forward to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and include reference to your name, school and role in the  school. 

Thank you.

Unfortunately we are not adequately resourced to replicate this provision via post / snail mail.

 
_____________
Justin Harkin,
Director of Pastoral Development (Diocese of Elphin)
Pastoral Development Office,
Church Grounds,
Strokestown,
Co. Roscommon.
Tel /Fax: 071 96 34960

Dated Sept. 11th 2011.