“School chaplaincy is a pastoral role carried out in an educational setting in a collaborative and cooperative manner in order to promote the spiritual and human development of the members of the Catholic school community.”
– Ontario Bishops, Pastoral Letter on Catholic Secondary School Chaplaincy, OCCB, March 2009
It is understood to be an essential ministry to the whole Catholic school community, students and staff. This ministry is collaborative and encourages the gifts of others; it is pastoral and spiritual, involving liturgy and prayer, teaching, counselling and witness.
Chaplains are professionals who have undergone theological education and formation to prepare themselves for this role. Chaplains understand that they share in the Church’s ministry to its members and are guided by the Church’s teaching and practical advice; they foster a sense of collegiality with all the Church’s ministers; and, they understand their specific ministry in the broader context of the life of the Diocese.
Fr. Andrija Petresin is our school Chaplain
Email: PetresinA@hcdsb.org
Affiliated Parish: St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church
Pastoral Services
One of the great benefits of attending Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School is that pastoral and spiritual care is available for all students and staff. The Chaplain offers a professional service of pastoral support and care for the school community and is a visible sign of the school’s commitment to the spiritual and religious needs of students and staff. This ministry includes the following services:
Pastoral Care
The Chaplaincy Leader ministers to students and staff who may be experiencing personal crisis, hospitalization, and bereavement. The school’s pastoral ministry strives to be sensitive to those of other Christian denominations and religions.
Liturgical Coordination
The Chaplaincy Leader coordinates school Masses and prayer services. Corpus Christi’s chapel is frequented by students and staff for prayer, meditation, Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved within the chapel throughout the school year.
Spiritual Development
The Chaplaincy Leader organizes classroom visits, offers retreats for staff and students, and coordinates special events and speakers throughout the year, all of which nurture the spiritual life of the school community. Important issues, such as chastity, pro-life, the Third World, identity, bully-prevention, leadership, etc. are addressed in the school in a variety of ways.
Community Outreach
The Chaplaincy leader coordinates visits to a local food bank and is a staff advisors for the Safe Schools/ Social Justice Committee. As well, the chaplain attends meetings at the deanery and regular meetings with the other chaplains from the Halton Catholic Board, creating a collegial and collaborative approach to high school ministry.
Events
In the goal to nurture young people to live meaningful and ethical lives and to be responsible members of society, Corpus Christi offers:
Whole School Mass & Prayer Services
As a Catholic school we have the great privilege of being exposed to long-lived traditions and encounter moments of sacred experiences…
September 18, 2019 – Opening Mass
December 18, 2019 – Advent Mass
February 26, 2020 – Ash Wednesday Liturgy
April 9, 2020 – Holy Thursday Liturgy
May 5, 2020 – Catholic Education Week Mass
June 4, 2020 – Year End Mass
Retreats
Retreats offer students an opportunity to dwell deeply into their personal and authentic identity as individual and as community members. To foster a healthy spiritual and mental relationship with others, and God. For grades 9 & 10 retreat are part of the school curriculum and participation is mandatory.
Grade 9:
May 20, 2020 – All students
Grade 10 (HRE 201):
Sem 1:
October 22, 2019 – tbd
October 24, 2019 – tbd
October 29, 2019 – tbd
October 30, 2019 – Life Skills Students
Sem 2:
March 26, 2020 – tbd
April 1, 2020 – Life Skills Students
April 2, 2019 – tbd
April 7, 2019 – tbd
Pilgrimage Trip
This year, we are offering students an opportunity to visit Montreal from a Catholic heritage lens. We will visit sites of Canadians saints, which include Old Montreal, St. Joseph’s oratory and Kahnawake Mohawk Territory (First Nations reserve). The pilgrimage is open to all students.
March 4-6, 2020 – first 10 students to register
Social Justice & Outreach
As good stewards of life and in balance of cultivating a holistic approach to the human person, what we experience in prayer and the sacred we express in action. Here are some of the already planned events that students will have an opportunity to participate in:
November 7, 2019 – People of Life ‘Development & Peace Symposium’
November tbd – HCDSB Bully-Prevention Contest Launch
December tbd – Good Shepherd Food Bank
February tbd – Culture of Life Conference
April 8, 2020 – Day of Pink
May tbd – Kanata Village Mohawk Centre
May tbd – Multi-Cultural Day
May 14-15, 2020 – March for Life
May tbd – Good Shepherd Food Bank & Soup Kitchen
Chapel
Aside from whole school services, opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is provided during Advent and Lent as well as on a drop-in basis. The Chapel is available at all times for students and staff for quiet prayer, from class visits and for fellowship. It is a safe space for all students and staff.
Prayer Resources
Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You call us to be the body of Christ to others.
May our eyes look upon the world with Your compassion.
May our feet hurry to help others and to do good.
May our hands reveal Your blessing upon humanity.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Focus on Faith
Theological Theme
The Halton Catholic District School Board’s Theological Theme, “Who Do You Say That I Am?” (Mark 8:29) has been incorporated into the school year, as a means to infuse Catholicity into the Curriculum, in conjunction with our Catholic Social Teachings. The Theological Theme provides our students and staff with the support and guidance that enables them to give witness to their faith.
Focus on Faith Prayer
Jesus, Friend and Teacher,
You ask us,
“Who do you say that I am?”
Thank you for inviting us
To know you more each day.
Quiet our minds
To hear your Word;
Open our hearts
To love you more;
For the more we know you,
The more brightly we reflect you.
You meet us in our every need,
Your love, new each day!
Guide us as we build your kingdom,
And find our home in you;
For you are the Lord,
The face of God,
And the breath of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
