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This creative partnership now offers to Church schools an experience of 'Anam Cara' through INSET, days of reflection, CPD programmes, sabbaticals and school visits. Anam is Gaelic for soul and cara is the Gaelic word for friend so ‘Anam Cara Educational Support’ attempts to be much more than an advisory service or a consultancy service.
The real essence of 'Anam Cara' is to walk alongside colleagues in a spirit of positive and enthusiastic companionship.
Opportunities for Creative Support include:-
w Deepening the distinctive nature of the school
w Visiting Church schools with practical feedback to staff and governors,
affirmation and celebration
w Supporting and developing the prayer life of the school
w Exploring our Celtic Christian heritage through days of reflection and
pilgrimage
w Creating school quiet gardens
w Nurturing parish, deanery, home and school links
w Assisting the Church school's contribution to the common good and social
cohesion
w Experiencing gentle days of retreat and prayerful reflection for all staff
w Supporting schools to develop appropriate responses to bereavement and
loss among children and young people
The Anam Cara
In the Celtic tradition there is a beautiful understanding of love and friendship. One of the fascinating ideas here is the concept of soul love; the old Gaelic term for this is anam cara. Anam is the Gaelic word for soul and cara is the word for friend. So anam cara within the Celtic world was soul friend. With the anam cara, you could share your innermost self, mind and your heart.
(John O'Donohue, Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World)
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