Celebrating Mass with members of the parish.

Vocation presentation for the children in Year 6.

Sister Noreen came into school and talked about her vocation.

Vocations Day

On Wednesday 15th September 2021,  we were visited by Deacon Owen of Oscott College who accompanied two sisters; Sister Mariam and Sister Michela, of the Sisters of the Minor of St. Francis.

Our visitors spent time in each class with the focus being on vocations and specifically a vocation to religious life. We were given a wonderful insight into the life journey of our visitors who have dedicated their lives to God. At the end of the day the three visitors told me how wonderful, confident, articulate and knowledgeable our children are.

Thank you to the children for being such wonderful representatives of the school. Thank you to Miss Shirley for organising this event and thank you to Deacon Owen, Sister Mariam and Sister Michela for their time and their dedication to living out their faith.

Good Shepherd Appeal

The Faith Ambassadors took photographs of  RE displays around the school.

The children, parents, school and parish work together to prepare the children to receive the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion in Year 3 and the sacrament of Confirmation in Year 5 or Year 6 (this is celebrated in alternate years). The school community works with the parish to prepare and take leading roles in these sacramental masses.

During Holy Week the Year 6 children lead ’The Way of the Cross’; taking those that join us on a journey around the school and its grounds to reflect the journey Jesus took with his cross on his was to be crucified.

During key times of preparation in the Liturgical year (Lent and Advent) children from Year 6 lead a Rosary group open to all each lunchtime. During Lent, after school on Friday afternoons, the children, parents and staff are invited to gather to begin the weekend in a time of prayer reflecting on the Stations of the Cross.

The school has an act of collective worship each day. These include prayers in the morning, before and after lunch and at the end of the school day. Assemblies, Hymn Practices, Class Collective Worship, ‘Congratulations’ or Class assemblies are held each week.

The school shows the importance of its Catholic life through displays and images; from the statue of St. Teresa’s in the entrance area to the stained glass images of the seven sacraments on the hall windows and the display in the entrance hall of the school motto –‘Little flowers growing and giving glory to God’ which echoes St. Teresa being known as the ‘Little Flower’. There are five large images of key times in the life of Jesus in the school hall, and a banner, displayed in the hall, made up of individual squares put together to form a single piece. On the Junior playground there is an image of Christ with his arms extending over St. Teresa’s children and adults.

The school works closely with and are supported in the development of the faith by our parish priest Fr. Peter Madden.

At this time, due to Covid-19 restrictions Fr. Peter is unable to celebrate mass in school fortnightly on alternate Thursday mornings at 9.00 a.m. but from the second half of the Autumn Term 2020 he will be able to lead mass for individual classes fortnightly.

All in the school, parish and beyond previously, and hopefully soon will welcome to attend regardless of faith. The children will lead the music, serving, technical systems and readings for the mass; these roles – or vocations- are recognised as important in involving the children in the celebration of Mass.

Stations of the Cross and Lenten activities.

Mass and Lenten Road Show.

Macmillan coffee morning.

On special occasions the children, from Year 1 to Year 6, walk the three quarters of a mile to St. Teresa’s Church for the celebration of Mass.

The school community works to raise funds for those in need.  Various causes have been supported. £404.34 was raised at a coffee morning for McMillan Cancer Support on 29th September 2017.

£51.50 raised for Barnardo’s through a raffle for a teddy bear, £94.75 was raised for CAFOD through a book sale. £194.30 was raised for the British Heart Foundation. £1014 was raised for our Lenten charity; The Good Shepherd Appeal which raises funds for the Fr. Hudson’s Society.

 The Catholic Church provides schools to:

Assist in its mission of making Christ known to all people.

• Assist parents, who are the primary educators of their children, in the education and religious formation of their children.
• Be at the service of the local Church – the diocese, the parish and the Christian home.
• Be a “service to society.”

(Christ at the Centre: Why the Church provides Catholic Schools – Monsignor Marcus Stock. First published 2005, Revised 2012)