Each day there will be:
â˘The Daily Readings
⢠A homily from a priest
⢠An act of Spiritual communion
The Kenelm youth trust will be doing all they can during these days to help people with their spiritual lives.
Follow all our pages:
Alton Castle: @altoncastle_kyt
BCYS: @birminghamcys
Soli: @soli_kyt
Chaplaincy: chaplaincy_kyt
Prayers for your school community🙏
God bless,
36students from year 7 and 8 have recently spent 3days on retreat at Alton Castle Catholic Retreat Centre in Staffordshire, where we looked at the theme of âCalledâ.
What are we called to be?
How are we called to live?
The students tried different activities to enable them to push themselves and see the beautiful countryside they were staying in. They tried a range of activities, cycling, trekking, climbing wall, archery and survival skills-looking at the 3 things we need to survive, water, shelter and food.
During their time they took part in prayer, adoration and a beautiful Mass celebrated by Fr Paul Wheldon at the St John Catholic Church which is on site.
We shared our Retreat with St John Wall Catholic School in Handsworth and many new friends were made.
We are all called to do be âSaintsâ .
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.
Our Chaplaincy Team this year decided to put together lots of feathers to make 2 âAngel Wingsâ. Mrs Ferris asked the form tutors to ask the students if they would like to either design a feather, write their new yearâs resolution on, their aspiration or inspiring quote.
âGod has created me to do some definite serviceâŚI have my mission. I shall be an angel of peace.â Saint John Henry Newman
We hope you like the final display inspiring students to aim high and be the best they can be.
From the moment that you are born you have all the potential in the world inside you. God gives you this potential but it is up to you to make the most of what you are given. That means pushing yourself to accomplish great things, and taking some risks that are worthwhile in order to grow as an individual. Don’t let a fear of heights keep you from reaching the top and seeing the most incredible view. Your wings are already there, you just have to recognize that you have them so you can successfully take off. Don’t be one of the people who do not accomplish what they could have just because they mistakenly thought they were missing the tools needed to achieve their goals.
âYour wings already existâŚall you have to do is flyâ.
Yesterday CAFOD, the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development, blessed us with a visit. They led a discussion with year 9 students on the topic of âClimate Change- climate change destroys Godâs precious gift to us-creationâ. Inspired by the teachings of Pope Benedict and Pope Francis, we know that responding to the climate crisis requires working together-as families, parishes and countries.
So what can we do?
- Reduce your meat consumption
- Could you grow a vegetable garden or wildlife garden?
- Instead or getting to school in a car, could you go by bus, bicycle or walk?
- Heating – could you turn the thermostat down?
- Can you consume less electricity? Turn the lights off, turn plugs off at the mains
- Do you recycle at home and school- plastic, paper, plastic, crisp packets etc?
- Could you write to your M.P? Let them know what you are doing to revive our common home
I am sure that there are many more ways you can think of to reduce our negative impact on Earth.Â
The poorest countries are the ones most affected by global warming, but are creating the least waste and greenhouse gases!
â ⌠how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society and interior peace,â Pope Francis, Laudato Siâ #10
On Tuesday 24th October, two members of St. Edmundâs Catholic Sixth Form represented our Chaplaincy team by attending Mass at St Chadâs in Birmingham. Students from schools across the Diocese came together to say their Chaplaincy promise, together with all the Lay Chaplains.
The journey was a difficult one due to the rain and road conditions, but we all came together to celebrate with Bishop Kenny who preceded the Mass, along with Fr Paul Whieldon the new Chaplain for the Kenelm Trust, Fr Michael Doleman the Priest for Vocations and Fr Tim Menzies the Cathedral Dean of St Chadâs. We raised the roof in song, while St. Edmundâs students, Sophie Tudor and Seren Young, carried our school banner (fresh from our pilgrimage to Lourdes) with pride.
Bishop Kenny explained that Pope John Paul was asked by a reporter what the best event he had been to was. He responded twice âMy Baptismâ, because that was the day I became a member of the Church. He continued to speak about what we could do to follow our baptismal promises – even the act of smiling, is following what Jesus would like us to do and be.
Mrs Ferris along with other Lay Chaplains were presented with a certificate from Bishop Kenny on behalf of the Kenelm Trust for completing her qualification on Liturgy and Collective Worship.
May we continue to pray for all the Chaplaincy Teams in our schools and the invaluable work that they do.
