An innovative evangelisation programme in the Archdiocese of Southwark has led to four staff members in Catholic schools being received into the Catholic Church.
The project, called “Come and see”, was designed to invite non-Catholic staff in schools to join a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programme, where they are supported within school to be received into the Church. It began in 2023 and four staff completed RCIA in April this year.
Devised by Archbishop John Wilson for parishes and schools in the South London and Kent area “Come and see” has already had some success, with a decade high number of people being received into the Church this year – a 164 per cent increase compared to last year.
A special Mass was held at St Philomena’s Catholic High School for Girls in Carshalton, where staff members from St Ursuline’s High School, Wimbledon and St Philomena’s were received into the Church.
This included one baptism and two confirmations. Another staff member who went through the programme was received into the Church at the Easter Vigil in his parish.
The Mass was led by the Archdiocese of Southwark’s Episcopal Vicar for Education, who said:
“It is not enough to say we do not have enough Catholics, we do not have enough Catholic teachers or enough Catholic headteachers. We have to evangelise, invite people in and encourage them to say yes to the Lord.
“It is the power of this invitation that we now have four staff members in schools in our Archdiocese who courageously came forward and said yes to Christ. This is history being made in our Archdiocese and is going to be the roadmap for promoting our faith in our schools and in our communities. I give God all the glory.”
One staff member at St Philomena’s, who was baptised at the Mass, spoke about how much it meant to her and her daughter – a pupil at a local Catholic school.
“It means we can both receive communion together, I know it means so much to her as well,” she said.
A science teacher at Ursuline High School was confirmed into the Catholic Church at the Mass. He said it has had a positive impact on his relationship with his pupils, who have seen him at Mass and questioned why as a science teacher he is a Catholic.
“We’ve had some really good discussions about science and faith, how they are not incompatible at all,” he explained. “So that’s been quite a good journey for our students as well and their enlightenment too.”
Deacon Errol Quagraine, who is supporting staff members on the programme, said:
“When this programme first started, we were worried we would not get anybody. But when we sent the invitation out for people to come and see what the Lord has got for you, they resoundly said ‘yes’ because of what they see happening around them.”
The Come and See project began inviting staff in June last year, with a pilot project at St Philomena’s and Ursuline High which saw Deacon Errol work closely with headteachers of both schools and the Chaplain of Ursuline High to make the vision a reality. Canon Victor Darlington is aiming to push the pilot out wider across the Archdiocese to get more teachers and school staff received into the Church.
Teachers or staff members interested in joining the programme can get in contact with the Archdiocese of Southwark’s Education Service via their website rcaoseducation.org.uk/ or email on [email protected].
The increasing Rite of Election numbers are part of a broader trend of growth for the Archdiocese, with Mass count statistics having increased by over ten percent in the past year.
(Canon Victor Darlington baptises one of the teachers | photograph courtesy of the Archdiocese of Southwark)
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