Charter Day took place on Monday 8th December 2008 and was a great success. The formalities were preceded by a service conducted by the school chaplain, Rev Peter Campion and the Most Revd Dr John R W Neill, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough. The guest speak was the The Reverend Father Peter McVerry, S.J. Fr. Peter McVerry SJ has been working with Dublin’s young homeless for more than 30 years. During this time he has campaigned tirelessly for the rights of these young people.
In 1979, Fr. McVerry opened a hostel to address the urgent need for accommodation for young homeless people. Four years later he set up a charity called The Arrupe Society, to provide further housing and support. Renamed in 2005 as Peter McVerry Trust, the charity has progressed from providing a three bedroom flat in Ballymun to today's wide range of services catering for the diverse needs of young homeless people through supported accommodation, drug detox, education and training.
Father Peter McVerry provided a most thought-provoking speech on the plight of many of the disadvantaged and homeless in today's society in Ireland and how his experiences had altered how he viewed others and their situation.
The Deputy Chairman of the Board, Willie Maxwell, thanked Father McVerry for his address and during his thanks, a cheque was presented to the Peter McVerry Trust by the school.
The Headmistress, Frances Hill, gave a most thought provoking address which had as a central theme the need for optimism and determination to deal the difficulties created by the recent education cutbacks in the budget. The Headmistress also celebrated the founding of the school in 1669 as is the tradition on Charter Day, and also gave a most thorough report on the fortunes of the school over the past year. Miss Hill also paid tribute to the achievements of pupils, staff and past pupils over that period.
Prizes were presented to all the academic prize winners by the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Hubert Beaumont and the formalities were followed by afternoon tea in the school Dining room. |
