The Solemnity of All Saints was celebrated by the Whole school, in a Full Mass, on Wednesday 1st November 2017.
This Mass was dedicated to John Sheppee, former Headteacher of St Edmunds, who sadly passed away at the end of October. Many of his old colleagues were present to pay their respects to a great ambassador for education, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
On the feast of All Saints we take time to remember all those who have entered heaven, including saints who are recognized by the Church and those who are not. We are all created to be saints and Fr Mark in his Homily spoke about the need for Courage, Steadfastness and perseverance.
Here is an extract from Fr Markâs homily:
Life does have many challenging experiences at school and home. The temptation at times to give up on the struggle can be immense.
Today we remember Saints 100, thousands impossible to count. A Saint isnât a person whoâs good and perfect all the time. A Saint, who despite all their challenges and their failures, never gives up and perseveres.
Today we remember all those who didnât and made the world a better place! Saint Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941)
Even in the darkest of times, Godâs light keeps breaking forth. In the darkness of the Second World War, a time of incredible suffering and human anguish, a light broke forth through a Franciscan priest named Maximilian Kolbe. He gave his life so that another man might be spared and eventually return to his wife and children.
Ten prisoners in the concentration camp in Auschwitz were chosen at random to die because a fellow prisoner had escaped. One of the 10, Francis Gajowniczek, was a husband and parent. When Father Kolbe heard of the manâs plight, he volunteered to take Gajowniczekâs place. Eventually, all 10 individuals died, including Father Kolbe. This bare outline says something of the heroic charity, graced and courage of Maximilian Kolbe.
Like all the saints – Kolbeâs love is similar to that of Jesus. Both gave their very lives for another; both made manifest the fortitude that says that faith is stronger than death.
Saints are individuals who are willing to sacrifice all; saints are individuals who do not allow fear to govern their destiny.
Today we give thanks for them, ask to have just a bit of their faith, courage and hope.
On Tuesday 10th October 2017, 44 students and five staff, including Fr Mark our school Chaplain, started their pilgrimage to Rome and the Vatican.
Our days were action packed from day 1. We were blessed with Fr Markâs presence, as he could lead us round the beautiful city and had a wealth of knowledge because he had trained for 5 years at the English College in Rome. He and Mr Katumba could speak Italian, which proved very useful.
We visited world famous sites such as the amazing Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Catacombs, the Piazza Navona, the Spanish steps and the stunning Trevi Fountain. We visited many churches such as Santa Maria Maggiore, St John Lateran and the chapel of the Venerable English College. This gave us time for reflection and prayer.
On Wednesday we got up very early, and, along with many people from all over the world, travelled to Vatican City as we were privileged to receive tickets to see Pope Francis at his audience in St Peterâs Square. The crowd was immense but we could get close enough to see the Pope in his âPope Mobileâ. Just being in his presence gave some of us goose bumps. The master of ceremonies welcomed St Edmundâs Catholic Academy and as we waved our flags and cheered. You could not help but feel a sense of pride that we had created history and been in the presence of someone very special.
We then went on to visit the Vatican Museum, which show the vast history and wonders of the Catholic Church, the students were in awe of the paintings by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.
We were blessed with beautiful weather and our days were full and long but we came back feeling blessed that we had the opportunity to experience such an amazing city.
 
Last week 16 students from year 9 and 10, travelled to Soli House Retreat Centre in Staffordshire for 3 days. The theme of the retreat was âLegendsâ. Their first challenge was to âwalk in faithâ a trek, which helped them to meet the Soli Team, including Fr Tye, to get to know one another.
They had a great day making their own prayers and 2 teams made their own St Edmundâs prayer for the schoolâs Mission week at the end of November. They had times of reflection, adoration and Mass celebrated by Fr Tye. Before and after each meal they sang grace.
Other activities included archery and the mystery room. I think this was the highlight for many of the students. It was similar to âCrystal Mazeâ. They had three rooms to find their way out off, working together, working out clues, collecting keys and deciphering codes which unlocked many padlocks.
We also looked at âHostagesâ, each group was given a person who was being held hostage. Then presented the reasons why they should be released first. In the end all the hostages were real Saints. It taught us not to judge each other by how we look and that everyone may have a past that we do not want other people to know or a reason for why we act or do things. We are all born to be Saints and can be forgiven for things we may do wrong.
Here is the pictures of the morning offering the students made and the 2 of the Mission Prayer.
Tuesday the 10th October is World Mental Health Day.
Mental Health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, the 10th of October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing.
1 in 10 young people in the UK have a mental health problem, which is around 3 young people in every classroom.
Our students will be watching a video on a child with mental health problems and then discussing what advice they would give, what other mental health problems could young people experience.
They will also look at celebrities that experience mental health problems such as Justin Beiber, David Beckham, Adele, J.K Rowling to show that it can happen to anyone but also with the right help we can work towards coping with the illness and controlling it so we can get through each day.
Blessed are those who donât have it all together
Blessed are those who have run out of strength, ideas, will power, resolve or energy
Blessed are those who ache because of how severely out of whack the world is
Blessed are those who on a regular basis have a dark day in which despair seems to be a step behind them wherever they go
Blessed are you, for God is with you
God is on your side, God meets you in that place.
By Jonathon Blundell
The 6 form Chaplaincy Group help a great cake sale today in aid of Macmillan Coffee Morning. Students and staff brought in cakes and biscuit galore, many were home made by parents, pupils and staff. We had so many donations that the sale had to be held over both lunch times and break time.
We also had a huge chocolate cake, and for 50p you could guess the weight of the cake. The winner was Mrs Devi from the Technology Department, who guessed 3pound 5 ounces and the weight was 3 pound 10.
The six formers and staff worked very hard and successfully raise ÂŁ143.67Â well done to everyone who contributed in anyway. I am sure the money will contribute to the hard work the Macmillan Charity do in caring for people with cancer. Bless you.
Prayer Life
There are many forms and ways to pray.
One of the ways our Lay Chaplain supports our staff is to pray for them every day. She puts their names on lolly sticks in a jar at the start of the year, then every day while she is in the Chapel praying for the day ahead, apart from praying for all the students and staff of St Edmunds, she takes three names out of the jar and especially pray for those people. She then sends them an email.
Many of them feel comforted by the prayers and send emails back with many messages of thanks.
Maybe we could all have prayer jars with the names of our loved ones in the jar or a box. Every day we could pray for at least 3 of them and then text them or even phone them to tell them you were thinking of them. How contagious would the prayers be?
Today we had our first Lightfever of this academic year. The students of St Edmundâs love Lightfever, they welcome the opportunity to come into the Chapel during lunchtime or tutor time to light a candle and say a quiet prayer quietly for their friends, family or themselves. All our welcome, sometimes members of staff come in to join us too.
We ask that each students that comes, bring a friend, sometimes students go back into the dinner hall and invite their friends into the Chapel.
After they have lit their candle, said a prayer and had some quiet reflection time, they often want to light another candle. We have music playing in the background from many artist including music by CJM and Matt Redman.
Lightfever is on the last Thursday of every month and is based on the âPillar nightsâ that take part in the Diocese. Invited people into your place of worship.
On Friday our 6 form and Chaplaincy Team will be holding a Macmillan Cake Sale. This Charity is close to many peopleâs hearts and we are kindly asking students and staff to bring in any cakes for sale. Also, parents could you please send you child into school with some extra money, 50p if possible.
There will also be an opportunity to guess the weight of the cake, this will be 50p a go, the winner gets a cake for Friday night tea!
There are now 2.5 million people in the UK living with cancer. By 2030, it will be 4 million people, and we want to be there for them all.
One in three of us will get cancer, and it will be one of the toughest things weâll ever have to face. Our goal is to make sure no one faces cancer alone.
We provide medical, emotional, practical and financial support, as well as campaigning for better cancer care. And because cancer affects more than just those facing it, weâre there for friends and family too. We are Macmillan.
Thank you in advance for your support and generosity
Today 15 St Edmundâs students from St Edmundâs Chaplaincy team travelled to St Chadâs Cathedral, in Birmingham, along with other schools in the Diocese to attend the annual Chaplaincy Commissioning Mass.
Archbishop Bernard Longley being the main celebrant along with other priests from the Archdiocese. BCYS and Kenelm Trust led the music. Sinead Cullen Barrett of our Sixth-form Chaplaincy team gave a reading and two of our altar servers, Abigail Caron and Jessica Roberts, assisted the Archbishop and priests throughout the Mass.
Archbishop Bernard opened his homily by saying âDo not be afraidâ taken from the Gospel reading today. He explained to the students and congregation that he and the Lord understands that sometimes it can be hard to be different, to say you believe in God and thanked everyone for their commitment in making our schools a faithful caring example to others.
The Archbishop also spoke of the Bishopsâ Synod in 2018 on âYouth, Faith and Discernmentâ and asked us to listen to the words of Pope Francis , “So today, my friends, Jesus is inviting you, calling you, to leave your mark on life, to leave a mark on history, your own and that of many others as well.”
âSo if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heavenâ taken from the Gospel of Luke.
During the Mass, Lay Chaplains of the Archdiocese were presented with the âArchdiocese of Birmingham Certificate of Lay Chaplaincyâ after 18 months of dedicated study. Mrs Ferris, our Lay Chaplain, received her certificate from the Archbishop. Mrs Ferrisâs ministry to the community of St Edmundâs grows stronger and deeper. We are very proud of her richly deserved success.
All the students loved being part of the celebrations today. Mrs Hughes and Mrs Ferris are proud of our students for their commitment to Chaplaincy, the school and their faith.
ast week we celebrated the Feast of St Peter and St Paul with two Masses. As the students entered, they watched a video clip of St Peterâs Basilica in Rome.
Fr Mark Crisp spoke to the school community about how the Catholic Church is the oldest institution and, with all the changes of power over the years, it is a blessing that it is still alive.
St Peter was the first disciple to be ordained as a priest and, if you were to trace a priestâs timeline of who ordained them, they would all trace back to St Peter and Jesus himself. St Paul was the saint who taught the Gospels to Christ himself.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
Alleluia!
