New Year, New Chaplaincy Work!

There has been a continuous uptake in membership from students across all year groups, wanting to join our GIFT Chaplaincy Team. The overwhelming support is amazing as our chaplaincy team spread the word of God among the students of Our Lady’s.

15 different prayers for each department across school. As a Catholic school, prayer is at the centre of our community and is a valuable experience for all who partake. We commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day by joining as a group to create a prayer which was shared on the form PowerPoint for students and form tutors to join together and pray. We raised awareness around human trafficking as the day of prayer for human trafficking falls in February. Again, as a community we came together to write a prayer dedicated to those victims and spread awareness to our community of what is happening to others all around the world. We try to embody our faith in everything we do, making our school an active worshipping community and encouraging others to do so.

“The SVP helps me put the school’s mission statement into action, ‘To Know, Love and Serve God’” (Maria Ngiukuludo, Year 9)

Farewell to Sister Philomena Jordan Many longstanding members of the Our Lady’s community will remember Sister Philomena Jordan who worked here as a teacher of RE and food technology, even after her retirement, Sister continued to serve on our board of governors and run the school tuck shop! Sister passed away peacefully in January aged ninety-five. A Requiem Mass to celebrate her life was held at St Patrick’s RC Church in February and was widely attended by members of the parish community.

The team started the year, busy with Gospel work and writing prayers to feature during form time. They have also been consistent in delivering readings and supporting Mass which is led by Father Nicholas Kumi. During this spring term GIFT Chaplains have also had the privilege of witnessing Eucharistic Adoration in the school Chapel. This enables all the students of Our Lady’s to experience a personable moment with God during their busy academic days. Devotion to the Eucharist has enabled the Chaplains to have private communication, thanksgiving and praise with God.

St Vincent de Paul – A social justice society

In early January the SVP students celebrated the ‘Week of Christian Prayer for Unity’ by creating prayer bookmarks to be distributed to students in the library, as well as creating

“I joined the SVP because it helps spread the message of love from God, and as the younger generation of the Church I feel this is important to encourage” (Kylie ColemanKodua, Year 10)