Father Stephen Reilly
- Honorary Lecturer (School of Education)
email:
Stephen.Reilly@glasgow.ac.uk
St Andrew's Building, Room 532a (Level 5), 11 Eldon Street, Glasgow
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8678-5950Biography
Fr Stephen was appointed as Co-ordinator of Spiritual and Pastoral Formation in October 2015, and took up post in January 2016.
Previously, he was parish priest of St Bernadette's, Motherwell, 2009-2015, and previously assistant priest at St Bernadette's 2005-2009.
During this time he was Director of the Diocese of Motherwell Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Newmains 2013-2015, and Religious Education Adviser (Primary) for the Diocese of Motherwell 2009-2013. In conjunction with this latter role, he was a member of the RE Develoment Group of the Scottish Catholic Education Commission (2009-2011), which helped to develop the This is Our Faith syllabus for Catholic schools.
He has been a high school chaplain to Cardinal Newman High School, Bellshill (1999-2003) and Taylor High School, New Stevenston (2004-2009), as well as to his local primary schools of St Bride's, Bothwell, St Mary's Hamilton, and St Bernadette's, Motherwell.
He was a member of the teaching staff at Sctus College Bearsden (2000-2009), teaching courses in Christology, Ecclesiology, Theological Anthropology and Sacraments of Initiation.
He was also youth chaplain to the Diocese of Motherwell (1999-2002), and before his ordination Scout chaplain (Assistente ecclesiastico) to Roma 24 Scout group, Rome 1992-1997.
He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical Scots College, Rome (1990-1997) and Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1990-1997), gaining a Licence in Sacred Theology Summa Cum Laude.
He has for many years been involved with HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust Easter Lourdes pilgrimage, and is currently group chaplain to Group 89 (2010-2016) and Scottish regional chaplain. He also took 2 student music groups to Lourdes to support HCPT - Hosanna House groups in summer 2016.
He is an active member of the charity Classrooms for Malawi, and travelled twice to Malawi in 2012 and 2013 with the charity. He was also a founding member of the St Bernadette's Malawi Partnership.
He is fluent in Italian, Spanish and French.
His hobies include Munro bagging, golf, playing guitar and travel.
Research interests
Spiritual development of young people.
Pilgrimage.
Catholic educational philosophy.
Spirituality of Catholic teachers.
Catholic religious education.
Liturgy and spiritual formation.
Teaching
Fr Stephen is a University Lecturer.
He is currently lecturer and course convener of the Catholic Teaching Formation courses in MEduc1, MEduc2, MEduc3 and MEduc4, as well as Theology in Education 1 and the PGDE Catholic Teacher Certificate in Religious Education. He is also course convener for Catholic Teacher Certificate at the University of Aberdeen
He also teaches on the following courses:
- PGDE Religious Education (RERC) Secondary
- PGDE Catholic Teacher's Certificate in Religious Education for students at the University of Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Dundee, and UWS.
- MEduc3 Education in Practice RERC
- MA in Religious Education 3 and 4 (RERC)
Fr Stephen is a member of the Pedagogy, Praxis and Faith Research and Teaching Group.
He is a member of the St Andrew's Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education.
He currently sits on the School of Education Learning and Teaching Committee, and the Board of Catholic Education.
Additional information
Spiritual and Pastoral Formation
Fr Stephen's title is Co-ordinator of Spiritual and Pastoral Formation, and this encompasses many pastoral activities undertaken with staff and students, under the auspices of the St Andrew's Foundation.
Much of this work is co-ordinated by the Student Pastoral Planning Team (SPPT), which was founded in early 2016, and which comprises students from a variety of year groups and courses (MARE, PGDE and MEduc).
Highlights of the work of the SPPT so far are:
- social events for staff and students on several feast days (e.g. All Saints, St Andrew's Day, St John Bosco Day, Pancake Tuesday, St Blaise)
- student pilgrimages to Rome (53 students), the Holy Land (28 students) and Northern Italy (46 students).
- annual summer school at the Royal Scots College, Salamanca, Spain (32 students).
- annual Fondation Catholique Ecossaise bursary to study French at the Institut Catholique de Paris in Paris (48 students).
- bi-annual student trip to lead a high school retreat in Bergen, Norway
- Lenten School of Prayer for staff and students.
- Holy Doors Challenge, involving students in a dash around the 8 Scottish cathedral Holy Doors in 24 hours using public transport. This event raised £4,000 for Classrooms for Malawi.
- staff/student pilgrimage to Inchcolm Abbey
- 2 music group trips to Hosanna House in Lourdes involving 10 students and 2 staff members.
- student music group playing at Nighfever Glasgow and First Holy Communions.
- 3 students leading prayers and addressing the annual Caritas Awards.
- student walking pilgrimage from the St Andrew's Building to Schoenstaat shrine in Clachan of Campsie, involving 15 students and 2 staff.
