Schools across the Parish of Burt, Inch and Fahan are joining in Catholic Schools Week 2026, which runs from 18th to 24th January under the theme "Catholic Schools – Normal Lives, Called to Holiness".
St Mura's National School in Tooban and St Aengus National School in Bridgend are both participating in the week-long celebration, which encourages pupils, teachers and families to explore how holiness can be found in ordinary daily life.
A Local Connection to St Mura
St Mura's NS holds a special connection to the area's spiritual heritage. The school takes its name from St Mura, the first abbot of a 7th century Columbian foundation at Fahan. While no traces of the famous Abbey of Fahan remain today, the grave of St Mura and a holy well in the parish are still respected by local people.
The school itself is an amalgamation of what were originally two smaller schools serving the Inch and Fahan communities. The central school opened in December 1987 on a site adjacent to Lough Swilly.
This Year's Theme
The 2026 theme is inspired by Pope Francis's reflection on Blessed Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager who will soon be canonised as the first millennial saint. The message emphasises that holiness isn't reserved for a select few, but is a calling for everyone—students, teachers and parents—through simple acts of kindness, respect and love.
Each day of Catholic Schools Week focuses on a different aspect of everyday holiness:
- Monday: Called to Holiness through Prayer
- Tuesday: Called to Holiness through Love and Friendship
- Wednesday: Grandparents' Day – Called to Holiness in Family Life
- Thursday: Called to Holiness through Service and Courage
- Friday: Called to Holiness through Joy and Mission
Wednesday's Grandparents' Day is a cherished tradition that honours the vital role grandparents and elders play in passing on faith and values across generations.
Community Prayer
The Parish of Burt, Inch and Fahan shared a prayer for the week's opening:
"May we learn to be a community where everyone has friends and where everyone feels safe, happy and loved. Lord, help us to live as you taught us."
Catholic Schools Week is an initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media, presented in partnership with RTÉ and local authorities across Ireland.
For more information about St Mura's NS Tooban, visit saintmuras.ie. For parish news, follow the Parish of Burt, Inch and Fahan on Facebook.