Torch - Fall 2014

Havergal College

Discovering Spirituality at Havergal

By The Reverend Canon Susan Bell, Chaplain

O ld Girls and parents know well that Havergal College is more than a school. In the words of one Old Girl: “We are a family and a community.” So true. And it is a fact that is well known by The Rev’d Andrew MacDonald and me, The Rev’d Canon Susan Bell, respectively the Assistant Chaplain and Chaplain at Havergal. Mr. MacDonald has the care of the Junior School while I am the Chaplain for the whole school, paying particular attention to the Middle and Senior Schools. Havergal is an Anglican school. Anglican schools have traditionally been those affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada, while serving the whole of their communities. This means that we are here for students of all faiths and none. Havergal is a place where education happens; however, unlike some other schools, we take care to provide intellectual, physical and spiritual learning. Havergal is a place where formation takes place—where our students are invited to think beyond themselves, to consider both their own spirituality as well as the spirituality of others who represent the diversity within our community, our city and our world. Havergal is a place where we explore what it means to make a difference , in the words of our school’s mission. Havergal is a place where we seek to grow into the fullness of who each of us was created to be. Each week on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, the community gathers in the Brenda Robson Hall and in the Junior School Hall for Prayers. These are services of prayer and an exploration of how our values and spirituality are integrated daily into all our lives. Mr. MacDonald and I help with preparation and support for Prayers, and depending upon the day, Prayers may be led by students, the Chaplain or by members of the faculty and staff. So what does this mean and what does this look like on a daily basis?

Because we are a community—a family—each voice that is heard in Prayers is valued. Because we are all on a lifelong journey of the integration of our values, we welcome many different perspectives on how that process happens. In addition to their curriculum of intellectual and physical education, during the rest of the week students also attend Religious Education classes in the Junior School and the Middle School, which are taught by Mr. MacDonald. Confirmation classes are offered to the students in the Middle and Senior Schools. As the school’s Chaplains, we are available for pastoral care and counselling, and the beautiful St. Cecilia Chapel is available to everyone in our community as a place of quiet and peace: for prayer and for solitude in the midst of a busy school day. The familiar rhythm of Prayers, pastoral support and intentional spiritual education for all is what it means to be an Anglican school.

Because we are a community—a family— each voice that is heard in Prayers is valued.

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