First Catholic Chaplaincy opens at Magee

A Catholic Chaplaincy has opened at Ulster University’s Magee Campus in Derry, the first in the institution’s 160 year history.

The Chaplaincy formally launched on Tuesday, October 7.

Current Chaplain, Fr Patrick Lagan, said he had been very pleased with the “turnout and engagement” of the Magee students.

Speaking to The Derry News, Fr Lagan said the in situ Chaplaincy had emerged from a conversation between Fr Micheál McGavigan (PP, St Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn) and Fr Paul Farren (Administrator, St Eugene’s Cathedral) last year about how best the Church could support Magee.

“Although we had a Chaplaincy presence on campus previously, it was limited to significant occasions such as Ash Wednesday and the Christmas Carol Service.

“But Fr McGavigan and Fr Farren came together and the strategy was to help me in my role by putting in place a programme where I would have the support of a pastoral development worker, somebody with extensive chaplaincy experience, somebody who would establish various complementary initiatives. Míċeál-Piaras Ó Ceallaiġ has recently been appointed to that role,” said Fr Lagan.

Asked, ‘Why now?’ Fr Lagan answered, ‘Why not now?’

“We would say it is always the right time to do things for evangelisation. We are about making disciples, proclaiming the Gospel,” he added.

“There is always the perfect chance to go and do what is right. We believe university campuses have now become places where there is a huge opportunity for evangelisation. People are very open to the word of God.

“Previously we didn’t have the resources we now have. We have an excellent pastoral development worker and there are huge possibilities for what we can do.

“The university campus scene is prime for evangelisation. The need is intense, the enthusiasm is equally intense, and the determination to get this right is powerful. We will do great things on campus, largely because I believe we have got the place in Derry city.

“There is a huge kindness and goodwill among the people here to help students find their way and to respond to the call we all have as baptised members of the Church to proclaim the Gospel, irrespective of whether or not we heed that call.

“By spending time with students, listening to them, accompanying them, we knew there was a need and a demand for the Chaplaincy on campus,” he added.

“We also listened to staff and stakeholders in the university, to parents, families, laity, and parishioners, who were all talking about the need and the hunger which students have to explore life and understand the ways of the world through the context of the Gospel.

“We were present at the Magee Freshers’ Fayre in September and there was a huge amount of interest. I think students are curious about their faith and have the appetite to pursue this. Young people today struggle with the same searching, pondering questions we have had for generations, ‘Who am I? Where am I going? What am I about? Where am I going when I die? Fundamental, philosophical questions. We have an answer for those questions,” said Fr Lagan.

Looking to this academic year, Míċeál-Piaras Ó Ceallaiġ, said the Chaplaincy was looking at holding a monthly social/fellowship event.

“It might even become weekly if there is a demand,” he said. “We are looking at holding an Adoration night once a month too. Our plans also include a possible pilgrimage to the grave of Sr Clare Crockett in the coming months.

“That is a pilgrimage people make non-stop and there is definitely an interest from students. Sr Clare is an inspiration to the young people in Derry city and beyond and on the Magee campus. Her prayer card was very, very well received during the Freshers’ Fayre.

“Students definitely identify strongly with her. That is how the faith in Derry is transferred to the next generation, through this Derry woman and her witness, till death, for the faith,” added Mr Ó Ceallaiġ.

“Currently, the Chaplaincy has Mass at 7.00pm every Sunday in St Eugene’s Cathedral. That is the Mass for the students. We are hoping to get a fraternity, a community gathering afterwards. We are also hoping to have our own Mass in the city on Sunday evening, in St Patrick’s Church, Pennyburn, because it has the Emmaus room beside the church. This might be in place after Christmas.

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“We need to see how many students would welcome this, while they are building up friendships, community, and fellowship on campus, with like-minded people, by coming together, sharing their life story and sharing their faith together.

“We are also examining the possibility of guest speakers, lecturers who can articulate the Catholic perspective, because whatever the big issues of the day, people turn to the Catholic Church to see what it is saying. Regardless of their creed, they turn to the Church as an authority on the topic, AI for example.”

Describing the opening of the first on campus Catholic Chaplaincy at Magee as “hugely significant”, Fr Lagan said: “This is the first time we have had staff. It is the first time we have really mobilised university authorities. We have met Bishop McKeown and the Provost of UU, Magee, Professor Malachy O'Neill and his team.

“This is the first time we have got the machine moving. We now have boots on the ground and we are very hopeful.”