(March 2024) From March 20th to 28th, a PBST group travelled to Salerno in southern Italy to participate in a Erasmus + structured programme exploring faith-based education in the European context. The group comprised 25 school and trust leaders – principals, deputy-principals, assistant principals and trust directors and members – drawn from all PBST schools. The programme provided an opportunity to compare the faith-based education as structured here in Ireland with the state-sponsored system in Italy. Presentations were given by practitioners in the Italian system which allowed us to discuss points of convergence and divergence.

Participants also had an opportunity to visit the extraordinarily beautiful crypt at Salerno’s Cathedral which contains the tombs of St Matthew, the evangelist, and of Pope Gregory VII. We also travelled along the beautiful Amalfi coast and visited the ruins of Pompeii. A highlight was an audience with Archbishop Andrea Bellandi of Salerno. The Archbishop was very pleased to view a video message from Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross and to hear an impromptu rendition as Gaeilge of the Ár nAthair.

It was, in all respects, a very memorable trip and provided a unique opportunity for our school leaders to converse on matters of mutual interest and to cement further the bonds between the various members of the PBST community of schools.