The Institute has a full time Chaplain, Fr. Declan Murray who works under the umbrella of Student Services. These services include support, Religious Services and general students welfare. The Chaplain and the Chaplaincy team are there to help any member of the Institute community.

The Chaplaincy service is available to students of all religious denominations and of none.

THE CHAPLAINCY / CHAPLAIN FUNCTION

TOWARDS A NETWORK OF CARING PEOPLE
A great many students are involved actively in caring for those who share their Institute years with them. A great many staff, at all levels, also choose to exercise a caring role in a variety of ways. Both students and staff, in significant numbers see themselves supporting the total well-being of the person. This voluntary, collective caring energy often finds a focus for it's expression, development and support in the Pastoral Care role of the Chaplaincy / Chaplain. It is in effect a distinct and significant network of caring people.

THE INSPIRATION
The inspiration for Chaplaincy / Chaplain care is the invitation to love as Jesus of Nazareth loves. This distinct identify, the ethos it invites, the commitment it evokes, can contribute positively to the experience of those who share it's source, and to the respect of, and for, those who don't. As well as resourcing and offering inspiration for this network of caring people, and Chaplaincy / Chaplain brings a distinct specific competence to:

CARE, COMMUNITY, SPIRITUALITY

The Main Features:
CARE - Focusing on the spirit and heart of the person
Key Characteristics:
1.It offers an availability arising from Ministry.
2.It seeks a direct contact and active involvement with students and staff.
3.It maintains a College wide presence and perspective.
4.It has a capacity to respond, intervene and be present at times of trauma, crisis, illness and grief.
5.It provides a 'first base' contact for friend and stranger alike.
6.It offers a pastoral counselling bridge to, and support for, professional counselling.
7.It recognises and responds to the specific needs experienced at the beginning, middle and end of an academic year, and of an academic career.
8.It recognises and responds to specific needs of special category students – overseas, disabled, exchange, apprentice, and their academic cycle.
9.It follows through to student home, hospital, court and other visits.
10.It has an individual and group tutoring-role in relation to life's experiences, the integration they require, and the meaning they can have.
11.It offers mediation as a feature of its non-institutional presence.
12.It promotes Peer Care and Mutual Care Projects at student and staff level.

COMMUNITY - Inviting the person out of isolation into belonging
Key Characteristics:
1.Within the College it fosters a quality relationship with all levels of Academic support activity, with Student Services; Clubs and Societies, Students Union and other autonomous supports.
2.It serves on, and contributes to, a range of Committees carrying forward a contribution to the wider life of the College.
3.It receives and accepts invitations to a variety of College social, cultural and competitive events; formal, academic and special functions.
4.Beyond the College, it keeps a confidential link to family, neighbourhood, Church / parish, where appropriate and a supportive link to deprived and disadvantaged communities and individuals, where possible.
5.Across the College, it harnesses a distinct support in the event of the failure or breakdown of family, neighbourhood, or institutional systems of support.
6.It promotes Support Group/ Community Building / Social Action and Development Projects.

SPIRITUALITY - Supporting the inner life of the person
Key Characteristics:
1.It responds to that which discerns, nurtures, challenges, crushes and heals the human spirit.
2.It supports a process, which reflects elements of the system back to itself, and students back to themselves.
3.It takes time to share life death failure, pain, love, success, celebration and occasion in and beyond college.
4.It helps with links to inherited or chosen faith or denomination, its leadership and ministry, its prayer and worship, when requested.
5.It offers opportunities for growth in faith within that tradition, when sought, as well as accompanying experiences of non-faith, when invited.
6.It assists with the identification and nourishment of a value system appropriate to belief.
7.It promotes Retreat / Consciousness Raising / Spiritual and Religious Programmes, Projects and Services.