A more inclusive pastoral ministry in schools

Seminar for spiritual directors and religious counsellors about pastoral work with children with autism

01/02/2020 Blog

Religious counsellors in the State, Church, and Independent schools met together for a training seminar about a more inclusive pastoral ministry in our schools. In our school communities, children with autism are being helped to integrate and therefore the pastoral workers need to improve their knowledge, skills, and competencies about this aspect.

This meeting took place on the 15th January 2020 and was organised by the Pastoral care section within the Secretariat for Catholic Education and the Spiritual Development in schools Unit within the Vicariate for Evangelisation.

At the Archbishop’s Seminary, Ms Jeanette Galea Soler u Ms Claire McElhatton, two experts in the field, helped the participants to understand how to relate better with children with autism and together with Sr Alexandra Chircop, they also delved in the pastoral aspect, especially when coming to the participation in the mass.

At the end of the seminar, fr Reuben Gauci collected the issues that priests experience in schools related to the multifaith experience as a preparation for future training opportunities.

The schools that participated in the seminar are: