"Father Alec Reid was the one who saw the first crocus in spring."

Reverend Ken Newell - Presbyterian Moderator 

Father Alec Reid

For the Jubilee year we have been inspired by the life and works of Father Alec Reid, a Redemptorist Priest from Tipperary who served the Clonard Parish in Belfast during the conflict. 

Father Alec Reid played a pivotal role in starting the process that led to the political agreement that brought an end to the horrors of the troubles in the north of Ireland. This put him at great risk but he believed a different future was possible and placed the needs of the community above his own. When few were willing or able to see a way forward and out of the most awful times; Father Alec Reid provided the vision and courage that was needed. In the darkest of all places, he was able to see and share hope and a way forward. 

On one infamous occasion, he was passing secret messages between key politicians when he stopped to provide a dying soldier with the kiss of life and anointed him. He then went on to deliver the letter that had been stained with the soldier's blood.  

We ask Father Alec Reid to pray for us so that we can be like him, bringing hope and God's presence where it is most needed in our families, schools, community and world. 

Father Alec Reid, Pray for Us. 

Our friends from the Irish Chaplaincy came to visit the school in April and we celebrated the life of Alec Reid and this special Jubilee Year. The children and seniors worked together to crochet and paint crocuses. The paintings serve to remind us of our calling to be Pilgrims of Hope in our world.