Thursdays at 7pm
Live-streamed Masses with a special intention for the sick, their families, NHS front-line workers and those working in social care.
23 April
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Cathedral on churchservices.tv
30 April
Bishop Richard Moth
Our Lady and St Philip Howard, Arundel
YouTube Channel
7 May
Bishop Marcus Stock
St Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds
YouTube Channel
14 May
Bishop Robert Byrne CO
St Mary’s Cathedral, Newcastle
YouTube Channel
21 May
Bishop Mark Davies
Our Lady Help of Christians and Saint Peter of Alcantara, Shrewsbury
28 May
Bishop Terence Drainey
St Mary’s Cathedral, Middlesbrough
YouTube Channel
My Jesus,
I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love you above all things and I pasionately desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever.
Amen.
Infants
The season of Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. The children have been busy preparing by listening to the special liturgies and taking part in Nativity and Carol Concerts. Well done to all the children for singing so beautifully and reading so clearly. Thank you all for the generous donations to the Reverse Advent collections, several boxes have been filled and taken for families in need within our community.
Juniors
It has been a busy half term! On the Solemnity of All Saints’, we celebrated a whole school Mass, including children from the Infant school. We thank Fr Luke for helping us to understand that we are all saints.
All classes have had a Chaplaincy Session with Mrs Norbury with a focus on the messages of Pope Francis: the juniors focused on his Beatitudes for young people; Y1 and Y2 thought about Laudato Si (live simply); and Reception thought about the meaning behind the words of the Our Father.
On Red Wednesday, we prayed the Angelus at midday, joining others around the world in solidarity with those who do not have the freedom to practice their faith as we do. Y5 went to Mass, thinking about someone who is unable to do so- perhaps in Syria.
We thank you all for your generosity and consideration of other people in our community. Donations for the backpacks for Malawi, organised with the charity Mary’s Meals, are making their way to Africa! The video we saw of children receiving these gifts made us feel very proud of sharing such happiness. https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/the-backpack-project
We started our Advent preparation for Christmas by visiting the chapel at St Philomena’s for a time of Adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament. The children found that this time of silence with Our Lord brought them peace at a time of year which is usually very busy. https://bustedhalo.com/video/watch-advent-two-minutes
Donations continue to come to school for our Reverse Advent Calendar. Instead of taking something out, we put something in… these donations go to the Food Bank at St Philomena’s for anyone in our community who might need them.
Christmas cards were designed by children at the Juniors for entry into the Diocesan Christmas Card competition. The winning entries were sent away and the Chaplaincy Team and the Faith in Action team have been busy turning the rest into cards, which will be sent to prisoners at High Down and Down View Prisons. Fr Paul will distribute these for us.
Faith in Action Award (Y6 children) started last week: this year we are collaborating with St Philomena’s High School for Girls. This group of children work towards the Award, which recognises, rewards and celebrates the active faith and service of young people.
Sunday 15th December – 3rd Sunday of Advent
Morning reflection is issued every week by our Chaplain and is available on the school’s website: https://www.smcsc.org.uk/spirituality.php-
The Chaplaincy and Faith in Action teams have been busy cutting and sticking this week to turn our entries for the Education Commission’s Christmas card competition into Christmas cards for our local prisoners. Fr. Paul will deliver them to the prisons at Banstead over the next few days. It was lovely to see the joy on the children's faces as they worked together to bring hope to others. A sample of the cards is shown.
Table
Talk Topic for this week: Could you ever learn too
much? –Just a reminder, that we have a Prayer
intention book in the Reception area of each school. Please feel free to write
your intentions in as you wish. Thank you to those who have added to it. Please
take the time to read it when visiting the school.
