“The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbour in his spiritual and bodily necessities.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447

This teaching from the Catechism of the Catholic Church provides an important foundation for our chaplaincy. It reminds us that Catholic faith is expressed not only through prayer and worship, but also through practical service to others. At St Patrick’s, our chaplaincy seeks to give young people opportunities to put this principle into practice.

Inspired by the Mission of St Patrick

Our school chaplaincy is inspired by the mission and example of St Patrick. Just as St Patrick used his faith to serve others, share the Gospel and build up the Christian community, our student chaplains are encouraged to put their faith into action through prayer, service, leadership and witness.

Our chaplaincy provides students with opportunities to develop their own relationship with God while also becoming active members of our school community. Through their work, our student chaplains help us to live out our school values, particularly our commitment to service.

Our Student Chaplains

We currently have 108 student chaplains from KS3 and KS4. They play an important role in the spiritual life of our school and are given opportunities to take responsibility, lead others and put their Catholic faith into practice.
Our student chaplains have been involved in a wide range of activities, including:

  • Pop-up chaplaincies celebrating themes such as the Month of Mary, Laudato Si’ and care for our environment.
  • Supporting celebratory Masses, including serving as readers and altar servers.
  • Planning and leading school assemblies, sharing their faith and encouraging other students to reflect on important themes.
  • Taking a leadership role in charity events, helping to organise opportunities for the school community to serve others.
  • Supporting prayer, reflection and opportunities for students to develop their spiritual lives.

These experiences enable students to develop confidence and leadership skills while recognising that chaplaincy is not simply about organising events. It is about living out faith through action and service.

Faith in Action

Through our chaplaincy group, students take part in the Salford Diocese Faith in Action Award. The award provides students with a structured opportunity to develop their faith by putting it into practice through service to others.

This connects strongly with our school value of service and with the teaching of CCC 2447. Students progress through different award levels, encouraging them to deepen their faith, take greater responsibility and demonstrate how their beliefs influence the way they live and serve
others.

The programme encourages students to recognise that being a person of faith involves more than what we believe. It challenges them to ask:

How can I put my faith into action?

During 2025–26, 22 students achieved their Bronze Faith in Action Award, demonstrating their commitment to developing their faith through practical service.

Faith, Leadership and Service

Our chaplaincy gives students a genuine opportunity to lead, serve and witness to their faith. From supporting Mass and leading assemblies to organising charitable activities and environmental initiatives, our student chaplains are encouraged to become active participants in the life of our school.

In this way, our chaplaincy seeks to follow the example of St Patrick: a faith that is expressed through service, courage, leadership and action.

Our aim is to nurture young people who know their faith, live their faith and put their faith into action.