Worldwide Day of Prayer & Fasting for an end to the Pandemic

14th May 2020Mrs D Ferris

Pope Francis has asked us to come together today, to pray together, for the end of the Pandemic.
Here are a few links you may want to join in with today, from Masses to meditation or just sit for a moment, maybe light a candle and say your own prayer. God Bless.

11 o’clock Prayer and Holy Rosary from St Peter’s Basilica
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-05/pope-francis-invitation-to-14-may-prayer.html
Mass 12.15 St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham
https://www.stchadscathedral.org.uk/Thursday (14 May) 12.15pm
Mass 6.30 St Peters and St Paul Wolverhampton
https://www.rcwlvwest.com/
Rosary with Kenelm Trust-Alton Castle and Soli House

Lectio Divina

Visio Divina-Visual Prayer-Lords Prayer with Allora Borealis
https://www.up.edu/garaventa/archives/visio-divina/the-lords-prayer.html
12.00 Angelus

Coronavirus prayer


Our Father

Good Deeds

22nd April 2020Mrs D Ferris

The power of Facebook and the joining of old friends happened this morning! Our Lay Chaplain saw a message on Facebook from an old friend she used to work with over 25 years ago, asking for donations of elastic, as she was making ‘facemasks’ for a Care Home.
Mrs Ferris sent an appeal out and today travelled to Northfield, Great Barr and West Bromwich to collect and deliver the much-needed elastic – meeting another old friend, she had not seen for 15 years. Good deed done, friendships re-established and smiles all round.

Alton Castle 2020

24th February 2020Mrs D Ferris

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 ‘Called’.
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 ‘Saints’ .
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.

Chaplaincy Team Display

24th February 2020Mrs D Ferris

Our Chaplaincy Team this year decided to put together lots of feathers to make 2 ‘Angel Wings’. Mrs Ferris asked the form tutors to ask the students if they would like to either design a feather, write their new year’s resolution on, their aspiration or inspiring quote.
‘God has created me to do some definite service…I have my mission. I shall be an angel of peace.’ 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.
‘Your wings already exist…all you have to do is fly’.

Chaplaincy Display

24th February 2020Mrs D Ferris

Alton Castle

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 ‘Called’.

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 ‘Saints’ .

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.

Cafod- Climate Change

2nd October 2019Mrs D Ferris

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  ‘Climate Change- climate change destroys God’s precious gift to us-creation’. 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. 

The poorest countries are the ones most affected by global warming, but are creating the least waste and greenhouse gases!

“ … how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society and interior peace,” Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ #10

Chaplaincy Commissioning Mass

27th September 2019Mrs D Ferris

On Tuesday 24th October, two members of St. Edmund’s Catholic Sixth Form represented our Chaplaincy team by attending Mass at St Chad’s 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 Chad’s. We raised the roof in song, while St. Edmund’s 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 ‘My Baptism’, 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.

 

Synod Catch Up

29th April 2019Mrs D Ferris


Pope Francis to the youth of today: ‘You matter and you are important’
In the last week of term, the Kenelm trust, Soli House team and visitors from America and Canada came to St Edmund’s to speak to students involved in Pope Francis’ Synod on youth. Last year our students had discussed what challenges and issues they face in today’s modern world as a child of faith. On this visit the team shared the Pope’s response to their questions and concerns in a new document ‘Christus Vivit’
The Pope highlighted the challenges that young people face offering this as a “letter from the father to his kids’. Pope Francis reminds us: ‘you matter and you are important, and the church think you are important’.
The students received feedback on the Pope’s message and the session finished with prayers and music.

Lent

13th March 2019Mrs D Ferris


Lent
We are now in the season of Lent. Lent is an opportunity for us to examine our conscious, pray more, acknowledge what we have, be thankful and be generous. In order for us to grow closer to the Lord, build up our relationship and discover anew the joy of a deeper conversion of the heart.
Our PRAYER is a sign of our hunger and thirst for God
Our FASTING is a sign of sorrow for our sin and an openness to conversion and turning back to God
Our ALMSGIVING is a sign of our gratitude, for we have received mercy, and through generous giving show mercy.
Here at St Edmund’s the students have an opportunity to enter into this Holy Season in many ways. Here are few examples;-
1. through prayer-
• all this week the 6 formers have been creating a prayer chain all Year 7 Tutor Groups
• some classes will have an opportunity to follow the ‘stations of the cross’ or spend time in the Chapel to share prayers
• every Thursday the school can attend Lightfever, for prayers in the Chapel
• every t.v. screen showing a daily extract from the Walk with me booklet
2. through Fasting
• on Friday’s there will be no meat served in the canteen
• the students will listen to an assembly on Lent and be encouraged either to give something up for lent or give something back
• the staff will become Guardian Angels and participate in acts of random kindness
3. through Almsgiving
• During the weeks leading up to Easter, each year group has been given their own week, to have the opportunity to raise funds for our 3 nominated charities: a local, national and an International one
We wish you all blessed journey through Lent as we hunger to become closer to our Lord
Prayer
‘Lord, teach me to resist the temptation to doubt your love. Renew within me a sure and solid grasp of your loving plan for my life. May I grasp, in deeper measure, the depth of your love so I can walk with you day-by-day, knowing your peace in my heart. Amen.’

Ash Wednesday

12th March 2019Mrs D Ferris


On Wednesday the whole school came together to prepare for the start of Lent by attending our Ash Wednesday Liturgy lead by Fr Mark our Chaplain. The choir, led by Mr Bard, was in fine voice leading us in hymns such as ‘Be still for the presence of the Lord’, ‘Father I have sinned’ and the Song of the Prodigal. On guitar was Mr Garrity and Saoirsa Kerrin, on Bass guitar was Jacob Cuthbert, on Drums was Jacob Creswell and our visiting pianist Martin.
There were readings of day and bidding prayers read by students from the different year groups. Fr Mark blessed the ashes, and together with the Eucharistic Ministers distributed the ashes while saying:
‘Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return’
The ashes are used as a sign of our repentance and are traditionally made from the Palm Crosses from the previous year’s Palm Sunday
Special Prayer
Lord, bless the sinner who asks for forgiveness and all those who receive these ashes.
May they keep this Lenten season in preparation for Easter
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen