On Friday 17th September – the day after the Holy Father arrives in Scotland – he will take part in an Education event – ‘The Big Assembly’ - at St Mary’s University College in Twickenham.  This will consist of an open-air event lasting 2 hours or so, involving over 3,000 young people from every Diocese in the UK.  A few young people will meet the Pope, he will answer some questions and everyone will be invited to join him in prayer. 

SCES has been asked by the Bishops to organise a group of senior school pupils (S5/6) from across the Dioceses to represent Scotland at this event.  This will provide a wonderful opportunity to have representatives of Scotland's young people present at an event which has a specific focus on the value of Education.

Each Catholic secondary school in Scotland is invited to nominate two senior pupils to join a Scottish pilgrimage to London. In addition we hope that the Dioceses of Aberdeen and Argyll and the Isles will each be able to nominate 2 young people to represent their Dioceses.  We wish these young people to be excellent representatives of their Dioceses and confident ambassadors for Scottish Catholic education.  (Willingness to wear some tartan and to sing will be assets!)

The party will travel by coach on Thursday 16th September, staying overnight in London and taking their designated places on the site by 8am on Friday 17th September. The group will  travel back by coach, leaving London by early afternoon to return to Scotland by late Friday evening.

Travel details, costs etc., are still to be confirmed, but I am pleased to say that we have secured accommodation for our group at St Mary’s University College.  We hope that some of the costs can be subsidised.

What do schools / Dioceses need to do now?

For now, we need to know that you are able to commit to send two representatives to the Big Assembly in Twickenham.  We need your initial response by Friday 4th June, if possible.  At a later date, we will provide more details for the school/Diocese and for your chosen representatives. 

Please email or fax us details of your interest in this event:  mail@sces.uk.com; Fax: 0141 551 8467.

Or telephone us on 0141 556 4727.