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Three Presidents!

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Pictured with Fr Tomás Surlis, President, St Nathy’s College, on a recent visit to the College are Mr Adrian Leddy, Club President Connacht Rugby and Mr Michael Rock, Provincial President, Connacht GAA.

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[one_half] [lightbox_image size="full-fourth" image_path="https://www.stnathys.com/wp-content/uploads/Leddy-and-Rock-4-Small.jpg" lightbox_content="https://www.stnathys.com/wp-content/uploads/Leddy-and-Rock-4-Small.jpg" group="g1" description="Three Presidents!!!"] [/one_half] [one_half] [lightbox_image size="full-fourth" image_path="https://www.stnathys.com/wp-content/uploads/Leddy-and-Rock-1-St-Nathys-04-06-15-Small.jpg" lightbox_content="https://www.stnathys.com/wp-content/uploads/Leddy-and-Rock-1-St-Nathys-04-06-15-Small.jpg" group="g1" description="Three Presidents!!!"] [/one_half] [divider style="hr-dotted"]

Both are past-pupils of St Nathy’s College.

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SciFest@StNathy’s 2015 – A Report

The Faculty of Science at St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, held a Junior Science Fair on Friday 30 January 2015. One hundred and forty First and Second Year students competed in the competition, with a total of 58 projects. They arrived into the large Sport Complex hall, at 9a.m., amid an air of excitement and anticipation.

They earnestly set about setting up their posters and displays. Project titles were varied, many reflecting the interests and life experiences of this group of 12 – 14 year olds.

Titles included

• Nasty Nicotine • How to prevent injuries from Football Boots • The effects of video games on Children • Does wearing foundation give you spots? • How Social Media affects our lives • Ill-discipline • Computer radiation • Should Energy Drinks be banned from Schools? • Which Gender has better Concentration?

Topical issues such as “How can we make the Farm a Safer Place?” and “What causes people to drink alcohol?” were addressed as were more technical questions such as “Could we live without Polymers?” and “How do Crystals form?” Despite the diversity of the problems that these students set out to solve, they shared a common enthusiasm to share their ideas and findings with anyone who would listen! Bring on the Judges!

Seven Judges, from the world of Science, had the onerous task of interviewing the students and picking the winners. The Judges included Mr. Joe Dillon and Mr. Pat Cummins of Aurivo, Mr. Pat Curran, Mr. Alex McDonnell and Fr. Martin Jennings, former Science teachers at St. Nathy’s College, Ms. Jemma Freeman, a Science graduate and former student at St. Nathy’s and Ms. Sheila Porter, Founder and CEO of SciFest, who acted as Chief Judge.

[lightbox_image size="full-half" image_path="https://www.stnathys.com/wp-content/uploads/SciFest-Setting-Up-e1425597059952.jpg" lightbox_content="https://www.stnathys.com/wp-content/uploads/SciFest-Setting-Up-e1425597059952.jpg" group="SciFest" description="SciFest Setting-Up"]

[lightbox_image size="full-half" image_path="https://www.stnathys.com/wp-content/uploads/SciFest-Setting-Up-e1425597059952.jpg" lightbox_content="https://www.stnathys.com/wp-content/uploads/SciFest-Setting-Up-e1425597059952.jpg" group="SciFest" description="SciFest Setting-Up"]

These judges, who generously gave of their time, made the students feel at ease as they asked them questions, and probed to determine their depth of knowledge and understanding of their projects. They worked throughout the day, consulting with each other and visiting some projects up to four times during the day before making their final decisions.

While the competing students were busy setting up their projects and impressing the judges, others were busy setting up demonstration tables. Dr. Eadaoin Tyrrell, of the Life Sciences Dept., Sligo I.T., challenged students to determine how strong they are, as well as informing students of courses available in Sligo I.T.. Dr. Sheila Gilheany of the Institute of Physics (IOP) spoke to students about careers in Physics while Mr. Cyril Furey, of Arran Chemicals, Athlone, spoke to students about the importance of taking a Science subject for their Leaving Cert., and career opportunities open to Science graduates.

TY students were a great help on the Day. In groups of three, they set up and manned stands in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Agricultural Science. At the Biology stand, hearts were dissected with precision, while colour-changing chemical reactions were demonstrated at the Chemistry stand. The Physics stand encouraged students to participate in experiments involving sound while the Ag. Science stand had a wormery and challenged students to identify the breeds of farm animals.

The remaining TY students performed a wide range of tasks, ensuring that the day ran smoothly. In addition to setting up the hall and helping junior students to display their work, they met and greeted the visitors, made and conducted a Science Quiz and took photos throughout the day. Their quiz consisted of 10 multiple choice questions and the prize was a pair of Sony V55 DJ Headphones, kindly given to us by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). Over 300 students entered this competition. At the end of the day a correct entry was selected at random. The lucky winner was Lucas Galad, class 1H.

The judges had made their decisions by 3p.m. and the awards ceremony began. First to receive their prizes were 22 students who were awarded Medals of Merit. These were presented by Mr. Denis Naughton, T.D.. The recipients (in no particular order) were Gemma Hallworth and Rebecca Caulfield, class 1M, What are the Effects of watching too much TV?; James Finn and Aaron Finn, class 1S, The effects of Technology on Children; Éinrí Hunt, class 1S, Salers; Lukas Galad, Mohammad Abdullah and Patrick Coleman, class1H, Do video games affect you?; Sarah Rooney, Megan Regan and Dominic Mahon, class 1R, Is your phone as clean as you think?; Letitia Williams, Gabrielle Kuisyte and Shelagh Doherty, class 1R, Hot Phones; Zara Loftus, Marita O’Hanlon and Ellie Moffatt, class 1H, Boys to the Left, Girls to the Right; Ciara McElroy and Ciaran Treil, class1B, Which Tea Bag is the best? and Erin Phillips, Roisin Duffy and Caitlin McDermott, class 1S, Is my phone a Health Hazard?

Next up were the awards in the Life Sciences category. These were presented by Dr. Eadaoin Tyrrell, Sligo I.T.. First place went to Aoife Coleman and Louise Costello, class 1M, with their project Will the next generation be able to communicate without the use of Technology? In second place were Jack McDonnell and Jamie Mitchell, class 1S, with their project What is Ebola? Third place was awarded to Leanne Collins, Lauren Frain and Nicole McGrath, class 1B, How Bad is our Grammar? while fourth place went to Elise Phillips, Ilana Phillips and Anna Regan, class 1S, Why 5-a-day?

The Physical Sciences/Technology awards were presented by Dr. Sheila Gilheany, IOP. In first place were David McHugh, Patrick O’Grady and Darragh McNicolas, class 2M. Their project was How can we make the farm a Safer place? In second place were Jack Casey and David Phillips, class 1H, with their project Is liming your land worth the cost? Third place was awarded to Aaron McNamara and Kevin Kenneally, class 1S, How DRS works on an F1 car, while fourth place went to Mathew Dillon, Shane O’Connor and Josh Carney, class 1R, How to prevent injuries due to Football Boots.

The top three awards were presented next. The Best Individual Project, was awarded to Roisin Maloney, class 1M. Her project was called Can we live without Polymers? Runners-up, Junior Scientists of the Year, St. Nathy’s College 2015, were Lisa Rushe and Samantha Durcan, class 2J. Their project was called Ill-Discipline. They investigated the effectiveness of Penalty Sheets, as a deterrent against bad behaviour in St. Nathy’s College.

The top award, Junior Scientists of the Year, St. Nathy’s College 2015, consisting of a Trophy and €100, was awarded to Darragh Beirne, Oisin Phillips and Mathew Coyle, class 1H. Their project was called Is the time right for LEDs? It looked at the saving that could be made in a typical household by changing from standard incandescent light bulbs to LEDs.

Well done to all the students who entered projects in this competition. The prize winners will have the opportunity to continue their research and to present their projects in the next round of SciFest, to be held in April in Sligo IT.

This Science Fair would not have been possible without the help of so many people (Judges, Exhibitors, Presenters, Colleagues and TY students) and the sponsorship received from both the local community and national organisations. In particular, we would like to thank McHugh’s Wholesalers, Imelda Towey, Thompson Butler, Aurivo, Dooney’s Menswear, Pallas Foods, First Class Office and FDK Engineering of Ballaghaderreen, along with SciFest Ltd., SFI, IOP and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

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Pope’s Message for Lent 2015: “Make your hearts firm”

“Make your hearts firm”

Vatican City, 27 January 2015 (VIS) – The following is the full text of the Holy Father Francis' message for Lent 2015, entitled “Make your hearts firm”. The document was signed in the Vatican on 4 October 2014, the festivity of St. Francis of Assisi.

“Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each communities and every believer. Above all it is a 'time of grace'. God does not ask of us anything that he himself has not first given us. “We love because he first has loved us'. He is not aloof from us. Each one of us has a place in his heart. He knows us by name, he cares for us and he seeks us out whenever we turn away from him. He is interested in each of us; his love does not allow him to be indifferent to what happens to us. Usually, when we are healthy and comfortable, we forget about others (something God the Father never does): we are unconcerned with their problems, their sufferings and the injustices they endure. Our heart grows cold. As long as I am relatively healthy and comfortable, I do not think about those less well off. Today, this selfish attitude of indifference has taken on global proportions, to the extent that we can speak of a globalisation of indifference. It is a problem which we, as Christians, need to confront.

When the people of God are converted to his love, they find answers to the questions that history continually raises. One of the most urgent challenges which I would like to address in this Message is precisely the globalisation of indifference.

Indifference to our neighbour and to God also represents a real temptation for us Christians. Each year during Lent we need to hear once more the voice of the prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience.

God is not indifferent to our world; he so loves it that he gave his Son for our salvation. In the Incarnation, in the earthly life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God, the gate between God and man, between heaven and earth, opens once for all. The Church is like the hand holding open this gate, thanks to her proclamation of God’s word, her celebration of the sacraments and her witness of the faith which works through love. But the world tends to withdraw into itself and shut that door through which God comes into the world and the world comes to him. Hence the hand, which is the Church, must never be surprised if it is rejected, crushed and wounded.

God’s people, then, need this interior renewal, lest we become indifferent and withdraw into ourselves. To further this renewal, I would like to propose for our reflection three biblical texts.

1. 'If one member suffers, all suffer together' – The Church

The love of God breaks through that fatal withdrawal into ourselves which is indifference. The Church offers us this love of God by her teaching and especially by her witness. But we can only bear witness to what we ourselves have experienced. Christians are those who let God clothe them with goodness and mercy, with Christ, so as to become, like Christ, servants of God and others. This is clearly seen in the liturgy of Holy Thursday, with its rite of the washing of feet. Peter did not want Jesus

to wash his feet, but he came to realise that Jesus does not wish to be just an example of how we should wash one another’s feet. Only those who have first allowed Jesus to wash their own feet can then offer this service to others. Only they have 'a part' with him and thus can serve others.

Lent is a favourable time for letting Christ serve us so that we in turn may become more like him. This happens whenever we hear the word of God and receive the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. There we become what we receive: the Body of Christ. In this body there is no room for the indifference which so often seems to possess our hearts. For whoever is of Christ, belongs to one body, and in him we cannot be indifferent to one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honoured, all the parts share its joy'.

The Church is the communio sanctorum not only because of her saints, but also because she is a communion in holy things: the love of God revealed to us in Christ and all his gifts. Among these gifts there is also the response of those who let themselves be touched by this love. In this communion of saints, in this sharing in holy things, no one possesses anything alone, but shares everything with others. And since we are united in God, we can do something for those who are far distant, those whom we could never reach on our own, because with them and for them, we ask God that all of us may be open to his plan of salvation.

2. 'Where is your brother?' – Parishes and Communities

All that we have been saying about the universal Church must now be applied to the life of our parishes and communities. Do these ecclesial structures enable us to experience being part of one body? A body which receives and shares what God wishes to give? A body which acknowledges and cares for its weakest, poorest and most insignificant members? Or do we take refuge in a universal love that would embrace the whole world, while failing to see the Lazarus sitting before our closed doors?

In order to receive what God gives us and to make it bear abundant fruit, we need to press beyond the boundaries of the visible Church in two ways.

In the first place, by uniting ourselves in prayer with the Church in heaven. The prayers of the Church on earth establish a communion of mutual service and goodness which reaches up into the sight of God. Together with the saints who have found their fulfilment in God, we form part of that communion in which indifference is conquered by love. The Church in heaven is not triumphant because she has turned her back on the sufferings of the world and rejoices in splendid isolation. Rather, the saints already joyfully contemplate the fact that, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, they have triumphed once and for all over indifference, hardness of heart and hatred. Until this victory of love penetrates the whole world, the saints continue to accompany us on our pilgrim way. Saint Therese of Lisieux, a Doctor of the Church, expressed her conviction that the joy in heaven for the victory of crucified love remains incomplete as long as there is still a single man or woman on earth who suffers and cries out in pain: 'I trust fully that I shall not remain idle in heaven; my desire is to continue to work for the Church and for souls'.

We share in the merits and joy of the saints, even as they share in our struggles and our longing for peace and reconciliation. Their joy in the victory of the Risen Christ gives us strength as we strive to overcome our indifference and hardness of heart.

In the second place, every Christian community is called to go out of itself and to be engaged in the life of the greater society of which it is a part, especially with the poor and those who are far away. The Church is missionary by her very nature; she is not self-enclosed but sent out to every nation and people.

Her mission is to bear patient witness to the One who desires to draw all creation and every man and woman to the Father. Her mission is to bring to all a love which cannot remain silent. The Church follows Jesus Christ along the paths that lead to every man and woman, to the very ends of the earth. In each of our neighbours, then, we must see a brother or sister for whom Christ died and rose again. What we ourselves have received, we have received for them as well. Similarly, all that our brothers and sisters possess is a gift for the Church and for all humanity.

Dear brothers and sisters, how greatly I desire that all those places where the Church is present, especially our parishes and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference! 3. 'Make your hearts firm!' – Individual Christians

As individuals too, we have are tempted by indifference. Flooded with news reports and troubling images of human suffering, we often feel our complete inability to help. What can we do to avoid being caught up in this spiral of distress and powerlessness?

First, we can pray in communion with the Church on earth and in heaven. Let us not underestimate the power of so many voices united in prayer! The '24 Hours for the Lord' initiative, which I hope will be observed on 13-14 March throughout the Church, also at the diocesan level, is meant to be a sign of this need for prayer.

Second, we can help by acts of charity, reaching out to both those near and far through the Church’s many charitable organisations. Lent is a favourable time for showing this concern for others by small yet concrete signs of our belonging to the one human family.

Third, the suffering of others is a call to conversion, since their need reminds me of the uncertainty of my own life and my dependence on God and my brothers and sisters. If we humbly implore God’s grace and accept our own limitations, we will trust in the infinite possibilities which God’s love holds out to us. We will also be able to resist the diabolical temptation of thinking that by our own efforts we can save the world and ourselves.

As a way of overcoming indifference and our pretensions to self-sufficiency, I would invite everyone to live this Lent as an opportunity for engaging in what Benedict XVI called a formation of the heart. A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart. Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have a strong and steadfast heart, closed to the tempter but open to God. A heart which lets itself be pierced by the Spirit so as to

bring love along the roads that lead to our brothers and sisters. And, ultimately, a poor heart, one which realises its own poverty and gives itself freely for others.

During this Lent, then, brothers and sisters, let us all ask the Lord: 'Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum': Make our hearts like yours (Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). In this way we will receive a heart which is firm and merciful, attentive and generous, a heart which is not closed, indifferent or prey to the globalisation of indifference.

It is my prayerful hope that this Lent will prove spiritually fruitful for each believer and every ecclesial community. I ask all of you to pray for me.

May the Lord bless you and Our Lady keep you”.

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Juno and the Paycock

St. Nathy’s College Transition Year Students Present: Juno and the Paycock

On 4^th & 5^th December 2014 in St. Nathy’s College Hall. Matinee: 11a.m. Evening Show: 7:10 p.m. Adults: €10. Students: €5. Early Booking Advisable. Seats Limited.

For Booking Contact: olennon@stnathys.com or call 087 6735803 gosuilleabhain@stnathys.com or call 086 8601741.

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U16 Division 3 County Championship

On Saturday the 20^th of September Eire Óg and close rivals Michael Glaveys were to compete for the U16 Division 3 County Championship. This was to be the third time these sides would face each other this year alone, and Eire Óg have been victorious the last two games by only a kick of a ball. This alone was enough to suggest that a close encounter was to be expected again.

It began with a nervous start for Eire Óg, conceding two points and losing their first two kick outs early on. It was clear that Michael Glaveys were out for revenge.

Ciaran Dolan was given a black card after five minutes when he took down his man in the square.

A Penalty was given and slotted in the bottom right corner by Tiernan Murphy.

Minutes later Ronan Cahill left a free kick short which was gathered by Sean Groarke in the air and put in the Michael Glavey’s net. Eire Óg then shook themselves down and started to attack Michael Glavey’s defence. It started from Eire Óg winning their own kick outs. Mark Finan then confidently slotted over a free from a tricky angle to settle a few nerves. Glaveys did not make it easy for Eire Óg, and they led by a point going into half time.

Michael Glaveys got off to a dream start scoring 1-2 in the first five minutes and it looked as though it would be a one sided second half. Eire Óg, having a reputation of being a second half team, came back in great fashion. Ronan Cahill in full forward was immense under the high ball scoring 3 points from play in quick succession. Michael Glaveys were not done however, scoring two more goals in the space of 10 minutes. Ronan Cahill, again on the ball, showed a great display of strength to power his way through the Michael Glaveys defence and score a fine goal. Michael Glavey’s Midfielders kept running at the Eire Og defence but could only gather a point from play. Aaron Woods did an excellent job of keeping Michael Glaveys best forward, Cathal Heneghan, at bay. Conor Coleman stepped up to take a penalty and although it was saved he was quick to gather the rebound and he somehow found the back of the net. Michael Glavey’s forwards did not take full advantage of their scoring chances. Ronan Cahill, Jarlath Lavin and Sean Groarke added to the Eire Óg scoreboard. James Walsh, James Lafferty and Ciaran Lavin kept Eire Óg’s forwards supplied with lots of ball. Ronan Dooney made a fine save in the late stages of the second half to ensure an Eire Óg victory.

  The game finished Eire Óg 4-8 Michael Glaveys 4-3. Congratulations to a magnificent team and their management on a wonderful achievement.

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