Cothú – A Journey of Faith and Renewal
Cothú aims to nourish, sustain and support schools as faith sharing communities rooted in the Christian Gospels and the Mission of the Church. In the spirit of our founding congregations, Cothú aims to foster a Catholic imagination and rekindle faith practice in those involved in our schools and beyond.
We are committed to celebrating and enhancing the rich diversity of our school communities and the spiritual life of each person.
COTHÚ – Rekindling Faith. Reimagining Ethos
Since its launch in September 2024, the Cothú initiative has grown steadily, supporting CEIST schools in exploring, reflecting on, and bringing to life their Catholic ethos. It provides a structured framework for schools to engage in meaningful dialogue about their mission and values, helping staff and leadership teams connect with the deeper purpose of Catholic education.
Building on the success of Cohort 1, 23 new schools joined in 2025, forming Cohort 2 and bringing the total number of participating schools to over 50. Each participating school is supported to reflect on its current practice while considering ways to further animate its ethos across all areas of school life.
All facilitators, for both cohorts, received comprehensive training in transformational facilitation through CEIST. This ensures that Cluster meetings are reflective, safe, and supportive, allowing participants to explore their experiences honestly and creatively. CEIST provides ongoing guidance and mentoring, while sustainability is embedded through the training of internal Cothú trainers, who will train future facilitators. In addition, Cothú Associates design high-quality materials and resources, equipping schools with practical tools to enrich learning and support effective implementation.
Clusters, composed of 3 – 5 local schools, meet once per term. Cohort 1 has now moved into the next phase: embedding action at the school level, where Cothú Teams work with staff to affirm the excellent work schools are already doing around ethos, while helping everyone understand that ethos is a shared responsibility, not just the role of the RE department or school leadership.
Cohort 2, in its foundational year, focuses on building trust, experiencing transformational facilitation, and creating safe, authentic spaces for dialogue. This approach allows participants to engage in professional development in a way that is reflective, collaborative, and transformative – beyond simply imparting information.
Cothú continues to evolve, providing CEIST schools with structured reflection, practical tools, and supportive networks that rekindle faith, animate ethos, and inspire courageous leadership. Over time, the initiative will expand to include students, parents, and the wider school community, extending its impact beyond leadership teams and staff. By building on existing strengths, affirming good practice, and creating shared spaces for reflection and action, Cothú helps schools deepen their ethos in a way that is collaborative, sustainable, and transformative.
Cothú Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You have shown us the way to lead through the example of Jesus,
Embodying wisdom, justice, humility, and compassion.
As school leaders in our CEIST schools we pray for nourishment, we pray for courage, we seek your strength.
As we strive to do our best to serve others, grant us your guidance.
In the face of poverty, pain, and injustice, give us the fortitude to act with integrity and empathy.
May our leadership reflect Christ’s example – putting the needs of others first, staying true to our core values, and nurturing the fait hof those we serve.
We pray this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.