Sacred Heart School Westport Christmas Message

Here at the Sacred Heart School Westport, we haven’t let a little thing like a global pandemic dampen our Christian spirit. Since the beginning of our school year, our students and staff have endeavoured to do their best to make our school a safe and comforting environment. Despite ever increasing restrictions and changes to regulations, we have persevered and engaged in our liturgical activities, albeit in an altered format.

Our TYs in particular have been involved in decorating our sacred space and participating in social justice projects. For Remembrance month in November, each class dedicated a paper angel to loved ones who have passed away. These were displayed in our canteen space as an honour to those who have impacted on our lives but are sadly no longer with us. The TYs were also heavily involved in a project being run by a past pupil, Hannah Nevin, to provide Christmas shoeboxes for those living in the Direct Provision Centre in Ballyhaunis. Currently our TYs are engaged with a local nursing home, The Pilgrims Rest Westport, providing some festive cheer there by decorating their windows with Christmas scenes and baking treats for the residents. Our LCA students, under the guidance of our Art teacher Ms Olivia McHale, arranged a beautiful Advent wreath.

Our staff have also been engaged in raising awareness for different causes, with three of our male staff members growing impressive beards and moustaches for ‘Movember’. We also had a hair donation from another teacher, for ‘The Little Princess Trust’. Several members of staff will also be participating in a ‘Santa Dash’ against TY students as a fundraiser for the SVP and The Westport Aror Partnership.

Finally, we are pre-recording our carol service, taking all precautions necessary. Here at SHS the show must and will go on! We wish everyone a very happy Christmas and every blessing for the New Year.