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NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE 13

CHARITY & CHAPLAINCY

Blessed Antonio Rosmini envisioned education as leading to
the perfection of both human nature and the human person.
Our abilities and skills are on one side of the coin, and our moral
character the other. Chaplaincy at Ratcliffe College seeks to
facilitate the latter through encounters with God. St Paul said at
the Areopagus that God is not far from any of us, for ‘in him we
live and move and have our being’.

At Ratcliffe College, we are invited to meet God in reflection and
prayer, in community celebration, and in service to others. This
year, students, staff and families of Ratcliffe have, once again,
displayed their generosity and support, for which the Chaplaincy
Team is very appreciative.
MEETING GOD IN REFLECTION & PRAYER Staff & students dining on soup & bread on CAFOD Fast Day

We meet God in the rich heritage of our tradition, personal From the beginning of the year, we busied ourselves in service to
reflections and witness, and in our engagement with current others in a multitude of ways. Within the School, the St Vincent
issues. Each Friday and every second Wednesday, members of de Paul Club, the Mother Teresa Group, the Duke of Edinburgh’s
the Chaplaincy Team, other staff or students lead a reflection, Award candidates, and the students’ Chaplaincy Team spend
focusing on God’s action in our lives. Last year’s assembly time with younger students and peers, preparing displays, and
schedule included topics such as prayer, reconciliation, Holocaust sorting clothes for charity. There are many opportunities for
remembrance, community and St Cecilia. We continued to students to volunteer outside Ratcliffe, such as the Voluntary
explore themes around World War I, where Br Nigel Cave (72) Service Unit that visits the Syston Friendship Group, and the
gave a moving assembly and remembered ORs that lost their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, in which students visit the
lives in the Battle of the Somme 100 years on. We also heard local elderly, or help out at The Carpenter’s Arms. In all of these
about community service and overseas volunteering from a volunteering pursuits, we come across our brothers and sisters in
number of students. Visiting speakers enlivened the schedule, need, hear their stories, and grow. Insofar as we give to them, we
representing local charities. A special assembly was delivered by can be assured of sharing God’s presence through our interest
Old Ratcliffian Tim Wilson (79), who mesmerised the audience and companionship.
with Turkish folk wisdom! Many students also contributed
musically to these assemblies, demonstrating that God can Fundraising is another great aspect of Ratcliffe life, and through
speak to us in many different ways. the generosity of students, staff, families and friends, we have
managed to raise over £34,000 for domestic and overseas
MEETING GOD IN SERVICE TO OTHERS causes. We were proud to support, as our main school charity,
the Tilinanu Orphanage in Malawi, which has hosted many
The Gospel of Matthew recounts Jesus’ words that, insofar as Ratcliffe students since it was established by Old Ratcliffian
we care for our poorest brothers’ and sisters’ needs, we do it for Alice Pulford (07). Kate Scarborough and her mother spent their
Jesus. Our School motto echoes this – ‘Love is the Fulfilment of October half-term break at the orphanage, and returned to us
the Law’. It is in service to others that the great variety of ages, with inspirational stories of determination and hope. We thank
backgrounds, creeds and experiences among our staff and everyone for their hard work and generosity this year.
students find a common purpose.

Students pack a van full of donated coats for Syrian refugees Year 9 students preparing for a fundraising Fun Run

Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk