We have been fortunate this term to have a team of chaplains working in College. Established chaplaincy groups, such as the Justice and Peace group continue to flourish. Those involved recently launched a college-wide competition for students to design a billboard advertising the message: 'Vote: it's a privilege!' and the winning entry will go on a real life billboard in the local area.

The Green Fingers project is a new group this term, bringing students from different faiths together to care for the earth and learn about the environment. They are even planning to grow their own fruit and vegetables on site!

Another new group to start this term is Nu-Gen (short for New Generation), which is a group of Christians meeting to discuss how their faith interacts with contemporary culture. One member of the group, Victor Oyewole, was particularly moved by the plight of victims of the earthquake and Tsunami earlier in the year. As a result, he designed a PowerPoint presentation to be given in assemblies, showing images and statistics from the affected areas. As a result, students raised nearly £300. Ann Wilson, a CAFOD representative from Salford Diocese came in to college to receive the money raised and thanked Victor for his hard work and compassion in doing something to help those in need.

The weekly college Mass is always a highlight of the week for Loreto College, and we are glad that so many staff and students come along. A particular highlight this term was the Mass celebrated for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception which, with Christmas not too far away, brought home to us the joy at the heart of Christmas and the part we can all play in being open to the Word of God in our lives.

At the time of writing, we are looking forward to the end of term student retreat, which the chaplaincy team will lead at the Monastery of Our Lady of Hyning, near Carnforth. The theme for the retreat is: 'Light in our Darkness', providing an opportunity for students to take a well earned rest after a long term and to reflect on their own spiritual and academic journeys.