St Mary’s Students
Discover Their Voice in Chapel

The Revd Richard Pengelley, Chaplain

A fundamental goal of education is ‘scaffolding’ or teaching students in their ‘zone of proximal development’. Chaplains consider this when developing age-appropriate services for students aged 4 to 18, as well as events for parents, grandparents and alumni.

In my experience, two of the most important elements of scaffolding are to connect the chapel theme with the students’ lives and experiences, and to give them more agency, freedom and autonomy in the creation and co-ordination of their services. It can sometimes involve more effort and certainty risk, but I can’t ever remember Jesus telling his followers to avoid risk!

By Year 12, our students run most of their own services on an appropriate theme of their choosing. In my five years at St Mary’s, I have been pleased to witness a 'deepening' of the themes chosen and reflections shared by our students. I believe that this relates to trust – in the chaplains, the chapel, the process and each other.

Our School values (Courage, Respect, Compassion, Integrity and Aspiration) and term themes (Gratitude, Perseverance, Creativity and Kindness in 2024) are often chosen and very well expounded. However, this year I have observed a further deepening.

The School’s Day and Boarder Chapel Prefects, Lara Fischer and Andie Schell, started the year with a rich reflection on love, as their first chapel fell near the date of St Valentine’s Day. The meanings of family, the divine, friendship and romantic love were explored as they set the scene for those who would lead ensuing services. Andie, a boarder, talked about the love her fellow boarders have shown through the amazing support she has felt in the boarding house.

Lara talked about love not always being outwardly expressed; she felt that love is ever-present, even if it isn’t demonstratively expressed. Lara also shared an insight into her deep Christian faith, which she explained meant so much more than romantic love.

At the next Year 12 service, Hackett House Community Captain, Artina Monzavi, felt inspired to lead her group in a reflection on 'Loss and Letting Go.' She commented, 'Loss is a universal experience that we don’t talk about often as everyone needs to bottle up their emotions sometimes. And yet we have all experienced loss, so we need to remember that we are not alone in that experience.'

In her own life, Artina was touched and inspired by the story of her mother, who was forced to urgently leave her country of birth, which resulted in the loss of family identity, culture and place. It was deeply moving as other students shared their experiences of loss, from pets, to health, to friendships and the pain of physical illness or injury. Poignantly, this chapel service took place the day before the second anniversary of the loss of our beloved 2021 Head Girl, Sally Hicks.

Next, Lefroy House Community Captain, Sophie Parker, led a service based on a quote she heard from her sister, 'Comparison is the thief of Joy'.
'I had been comparing myself to others in all kinds of ways, many of which are unhealthy, such as appearance, intelligence, social status, followings, likes, posting your great life online, and constantly checking the comments you get. Added to that is the reality that Year 12 is a stressful and competitive time where we can’t help but compare ourselves to others.'

She and her team went on to suggest solutions to this comparison conundrum, which included developing life balance through sport, study, music, being in nature, pets, down time and fostering an overarching sense of kindness, gratitude, perseverance, and being the best you can be.

Riley House Community Captain, Fiona McGinn, chose to lead her group in a service based upon 'Being in the Moment'. Like so many others, they began from the starting point of being 'super stressed' in Year 12. They shared in their reflections just how hard it can be to make time for themselves and to appreciate the people and things around them. In chapel, they appreciated the time to reflect on the nice things that others did for them.

When asked to share more on the value of chapel, all the students talked about it being a safe and reflective place. One said that as a Muslim, she felt the Chapel was a place where she felt she could share, be heard and enjoy the stories of others. They felt it had become more inclusive as they had grown older. 'Less recounting and more reflecting', was one insightful comment.

'Chapel gives us a much-needed break from the rush and demands of school,' they shared.

'Sitting with a group where everyone feels the same and we’re all vulnerable is helpful. Our technological generation has the benefits of social media but also the costs, such as shallow connections, constant comparisons and distractions. Truth is getting harder to determine and so places like chapel, where we hear the stories of faith and each other’s lives, and we are given time to reflect deeply, are really helpful. Because at the end of the day, we are all trying to find, speak and live our own truth.'

Published in Messenger August 2024