Southwark Report Internals final single

IMPACT
REPORT
CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY AT DIGBY STUART
COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF ROEHAMPTON
This academic year has seen some familiar ways
of being together on campus returning, while
the long-lasting effects of the pandemic are still
very present. There is no doubt that there is still
healing to be done, and bringing people back
together in person has been an important part
of this, though not as easy as just doing what we
used to do. In this transitional stage, the listening
service, individual meetings for students to
share worries, hopes and whatever else comes
up in the silences, is one way we’re meeting the
pastoral needs of our community.
We’re still working with a blended approach for engagement,
continuing to offer the CCRS programme online, to allow
students who have remained at a distance from the university
to complete this year. While also offering more on-campus
activities like community lunches, creative chaplaincy and our
Digby Dig, a weekly prayerful gardening time in the Vatican and
Peace gardens. A real highlight in the term has been gathering
for our annual Carol Service. This ecumenical service celebrates
that three of our four colleges have Christian foundations and is
a real focal point in the academic year. Our local primary school,
Roehampton Sacred Heart, were also able to come back onto
campus to sing carols with us around the Christmas tree which
has been missed during lockdowns.
This is just a snapshot of some of the life and rebirth of
community here at Digby Stuart College and the wider
Roehampton University. Now with the summer term coming to
an end we're looking forward to being able to plan ahead with
University Chaplaincy
more in-person focused
activities to build a real
sense of college belonging
and especially focusing on
being able to get back to
Lourdes with our HCPT,
Digby Stuart 704 group
for Easter 2023!
Ginny Jordan-Arthur, Digby Stuart College in Roehampton
CANTERBURY CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT
This last Tuesday evening the Catholic
society at the University of Kent in
Canterbury celebrated its annual end
of the academic year dinner together
at the Café des Amis in Canterbury. It’s
hard to believe that another academic
year has come and gone, especially as
we struggle to return to some form
of ‘normal’ after the Covid crisis. For
us, the biggest achievement was the
resumption of the Sunday afternoon
masses at Eliot chapel on campusconsidering
everything, attendance
has been very good. Even during the
strange and hectic summer term,
and the mass has really formed a
focus for the
student Catholic
community.
We have also been
able to resume ‘one
to one’ meetings
between students and the Catholic chaplain
and presently have two students seeking the
sacrament of Confirmation and another two
seeking entry into the Church. Preparation is
underway and the spark of faith hope, and love
very much alive as these students, in particular,
serve as inspiring examples to many others.
We also continue or weekly Tuesday Catholic
Society meetings- sometimes ‘live’ (with pizza)
and sometimes via Zoom in order to make the
event accessible to more students. We will
end this year with a three part series on the
Book of Revelation, and that has caused some
anticipation!
All in all, a good year.
Fr Tom Herbst, Catholic chaplain UKC
Please pray for the repose of the soul of
Fr Tom Herbst, who died in 2022,
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
27