CAFOD

This Monday Isobel and Patrick from CAFOD came to see us to introduce the ‘Big Fish’ campaign. We will be helping CAFOD to raise money for fish farming in Zambia so that people in real need of resources can make big differences to their own lives. More details can be found on the CAFOD website.

Over the course of Lent children will be taking part in various fundraising activities which their individual teachers will tell you about. A CAFOD fundraising box will be coming home this week for each family. This can be used to collect money towards the fundraising or children may have their own ideas about how they can raise some extra pennies for fish in the next few weeks. Part of our commitment to our faith during Lent is to give alms and we encourage the children to think of small ways that they can do this. Isobel and Patrick will be sharing their Friday night fish and chips throughout Lent so that they can give the extra money to CAFOD. This will also aid them in their commitment to fasting during Lent.

Church Mission

Each Sunday at Church during Lent children will be able to collect either a jigsaw piece or a signature to confirm that they have attended Mass. During the last week of term, in school, children will be able to collect the final part of their jigsaw. For any children who have collected 4 or 5 jigsaw pieces there will be small prize.

Jigsaw pieces will be distributed to Sacred Heart and St. Edmund’s. We know that many children attend other churches and so for those children there will be a sheet available at school that they can take home and a parent or carer can sign to say that they attended church.

All jigsaw pieces or signature sheets must be returned to school between Monday 3rd April to Thursday 6th April to be checked and given their final jigsaw piece / pieces.

Lenten Prayer Bags

This Friday one child from each of our 14 classes will bring home a prayer bag. Inside the bag you will find a purple prayer cloth, a candle, a prayer book and a small cross. This will be an opportunity for you to pray with your child. Your child will be able to set out the prayer area and maybe even add to it with things from home. There will be a note book that you and your child can write a prayer in. Please return the prayer bag to school by the following Tuesday as it will be used during class worship. Obviously not all children in the class will get to have a turn at this time, however this is something that we would like to embed within our weekly worship throughout the year.

Weekly Prayer

Each week during Lent there will be a prayer card posted on your child’s year group blog. Please use this to help you to pray together as a family.

Ash Wednesday

We are very much looking forward to celebrating Ash Wednesday with Father Jeremy at 10.20 in the school hall. This is a special occasion when we prepare ourselves for Lent, say sorry for the things that we have done wrong and renew our promises to God.

Year 6’s Interview with Father Jeremy

On the 14^th of February, 7 Year 6’s interviewed our new parish priest, Father Jeremy. They questioned him about his life in priesthood and his background. We got some very thorough and in depth questions that were extremely interesting to hear. Here is some of the information that we gathered:

Q1) How long have you been a priest for?

A) I have been a priest for 41 years.

Q2) What is your favourite parable and why?

A) It has to be The Good Samaritan.

Q3) Why did you become a priest?

A) I became a priest because, when I was going to join Medical school, I heard a nagging in my mind from God that I should preach and spread the word as a priest.

Q4) What’s your favourite passage in the Bible?

A) Matthew 25:31-46 (The Last Judgement)

Q5) What school did you study priesthood in?

A) The English Priest School in Rome. I studied for 6 years when I was only planning to study for 6 weeks.

After the interview, the Year 6’s had a deeper understanding of our new priest’s life and background. We hope that he settles in well in our parish and community.

Written by Harriet Laybourne and Claudia Foster

Thank you Year 6! It has been great to get to know a little more about Father Jeremy!

We are exceptionally proud of three of our Year 5 pupils this week. They attended a ‘Speak up for CAFOD’ competition, bravely presenting speeches that they had prepared in their own time. Congratulations to Saoirse, Oscar and Isaac! Below is their account of the competition.

We are very proud of you!

In other news, Year 1 had a liturgy with families, friends and Father Vitalis. Please visit their blog for a more detailed account and photos.

Next Tuesday we invite families, friends and Father Jeremy to our Year 5 and 6 Mass. The Mass will be in the school hall at 10.20. We look forward to sharing our Mass all about how we feel God’s presence in our lives today.

Have a peaceful weekend!