November 2024: The Month of the Holy Souls
The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2025 is Catholic Schools: Alive in Christ. As we look forward to celebrating Catholic Schools Week 2025, the month of November offers us a moment to remember and pray for the Holy Souls. In November we remember and pray for those who died hoping in the promise of the resurrection. We also pray for the happy repose of the souls of all of our loved ones who have gone before us. During the hustle and bustle of school life, this resource gives schools the time and space to remember that the sorrow of death will give way to Christ’s promise of eternal life with God.
“Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way, he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life. The very first words, then, that I would like to say to every young Christian are these: Christ is alive and he wants you to be alive!” – Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, Section 1.
Primary Resources
Post Primary Resources
Schools may wish to avail of resources from the Pioneers for this month
Pioneer Pledge for the month of the Holy Souls
A short-term pledge gives spiritual support and encouragement to people and their families who are living under a shadow of addiction.
Contact the Pioneers on 01 805 4226 or via www.pioneers.ie/pray
“Dilexit nos – He loved us” – Encyclical of Pope Francis
Prayers and Reflections based on “the Human and the Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ” are available on www.pioneers.ie
Information note for parish newsletter editors:
These prayers and reflections will launch on 1 November 2024.
They have been prepared for
- Pioneers, Parish groups
- Families,
- Religion Teachers (Primary & Secondary)
- University Chaplaincies,
- AA / NA groups
Two versions of 16 x 9 image for Parish websites is also included
If you wish to be notified of updates, please contact prayer@pioneers.ie
NATIONAL RESOURCES FOR CSW 25 Click on links to access and download
Irish Bishop: Catholic schools follow the example of Jesus, serving all regardless of faith, creed or social background
- Jan 18th, 2025 ICN Article
‘Saint Patrick on Croagh Patrick’ artwork created by Explorer’s Class in Knockrooskey National School, Westport, Co Mayo, for 2024 Catholic Primary Schools Management Association competition: Irelands Got Saints!
Source: Irish Catholic Media Office
Across the island of Ireland, from tomorrow, Sunday 19 to Saturday 25 January, the annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week will be marked by parish communities. During this dedicated week, school communities will pray, explore and discuss the 2025 theme Alive in Christ!
Next week, on each day of Catholic Schools Week, there will be a specific thematic focus: Service in Our Community of Friends; Service in Our School Community; Service in Our Family Community; Service in Our Local Community; and, Service in Our Faith Community.”
Bishop Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath and chair of the Council for Education of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said, “Grounded in the dedication to service of their communities, Catholic schools continue to set a high standard in the provisions of education.
“This is the result of the dedication of all in the school community: pupils, parents, staff, parishes, and those who volunteer to serve on Boards of Management. Christ the Teacher provides the example and sign of what it is to be fully human, to be fully alive, and our schools endeavour to model the education that they provide on this example.
“Generations of people have benefited from Catholic schools and our society is all the better for their contribution to the common good. Our schools, following the example of Jesus, serve every person regardless of creed, background, faith, social status or age,” he said.
During this special week, Catholic schools will explore the meaning of Pope Francis’ introduction to Christus Vivit, “Christ is alive! He is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life.” This year’s theme complements Jubilee 2025, where Pope Francis calls on Catholics to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, contemplating what it means to be fully alive as a human being – living life to the full in Christ.
Sensitive to the age-appropriateness of the various classes and years, the CSW theme will explore how we exist for one another in Christ, building from the wellbeing of the individual, extending the notion of true wellbeing to others, to our families and communities, and to the Other, in God. The 2025 theme will mediate on hope, the true purpose and meaning of human life, and, in the more senior years, on true freedom. The theme connects with Grandparents’ Day next Wednesday during Catholic Schools Week, and correspondingly with the subject of family in schools at post-primary level.
Each day’s CSW resources offers scriptural reflection on prayer, action, student voice, and concern for our common home, and these are available HERE.
CSW 2025: Primary Resources
Junior and Senior Infants
1st & 2nd Class
3rd & 4th Class
5th & 6th Class
Parish Resources
Prayer Service – Grandparents’ Day
CSW 2025: Post-Primary Resources
Monday
Monday Presentation – Friendship:
Tuesday
Wednesday
Wednesday Presentation – Family:
Thursday
Friday
Friday Presentation – Common Good:
Teacher Resources
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