Grandma Duty – Attending Stations of the Cross

On Grandma duty today and attended English Martyr’s Primary School in Long Eaton to join staff, students, parents and grandparents for the last day of term and a most beautiful and moving Stations of the Cross.

Mrs Mann informed us that each class had been preparing all week for their ‘station’, each presenting some visual to share.  The children processed into the hall so quietly and prayerfully.  As each Station was announced we reflected on scripture and each class presented their work.

The choir performed  ‘Something inside so strong’ – beautifully and powerfully sung!  Wonderful images were presented for the 4th Station, when Jesus met His mother; the children having written about the qualities of their own mothers.   We ended with the 12th Station, the chaplaincy team placing candles on and around the wooden cross which was placed in the middle of the hall.  

Donate to CAFOD this Lent

A most beautiful service!  Thank you especially to the Chaplaincy Team who led the service and afterwards told me about their CAFOD fundraising activities during Lent; sponsored silence, sponsored run, nail bar!  Their eyes lit up when I reminded them that all their donations would be doubled this Lent, thanks to UK government!

What a creative idea to engage with the Stations of the Cross.  How easy it would be to adapt for a parish setting; different groups in the parish preparing and presenting each Station.

The Chaplaincy Team

 

 

All Quiet at Holy Trinity School in Newark

It’s great keeping up with our Catholic Schools through Twitter!  Wonderful photos and activities being shared so we can celebrate and say thank you for all their hard work this Lent.  Especially as all donations, up to the £5million will be doubled, yes doubled, by UK government!!

And then a strange photo appears………..  What’s this?   What’s going on here? 

And then the explanation………….

“You might have noticed things were a little quiet yesterday! This was because Holy Trinity went ‘paper and technology free’ for the day to raise money for @CAFOD during the season of Lent!

We had a great day! Lots of different creative activities going on around the school and making the most of our wonderful outside space as well!”

Well done Holy Trinity, so creative and as well as raising money for CAFOD, raising awareness of the many school children who don’t have access to electricity.

Leicestershire primary schools #giveitup for Lent!

Maggie Mairura, Community Participation Coordinator shares some inventive ideas from primary schools in Leicestershire!

Many thanks to staff, parents and students at 3 Leicestershire schools for really getting involved in inventive ways this Lent in taking part in CAFOD Schools #giveitupchallenge.

The Chaplaincy Team at St. Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Earl Shilton, prepared and chopped vegetables donated by staff members in the school’s Prayer Room and then, with the permission of the school ‘s kitchen staff, Anita and Tracey, school Chaplain Jean Connor and her husband Mark cooked the soup, all 32 litres of it, ready for serving the next day during school lunchtime.

St Peter’s Earl Shilton

Pupils and staff paid £2.00 for a bowl of soup and a bread roll.  On the day the Chaplaincy Team sold £106.00 worth of soup.  More was sold to parents at the end of the school day and finally, they took what was left to an Evening of Reflection on the works of the Holy Spirit, a 6 week course led by  young people of the parish.  The Holy Spirit was truly at work as they sold the remaining containers of soup!  £154.00 in total, so with all donations being doubled by the UK Government this Lent, this makes it an amazing £308.00!

Jean said “We had a great time doing this and one Year One pupil declared it was the best soup she’d ever tasted!!  It is great for the whole school and parish to be able to support CAFOD’s work and giving us the opportunity to help people like Svondo and his friends in Zimbabwe!”

Sponsored Obstacle Course at Christ the King Leicester

In Leicester, Christ the King came up with two great sponsored events as part of the Lenten Fundraising for CAFOD.  3SN undertook a sponsored obstacle course!

Donate to CAFOD this Lent  

 

 

And then 6JB took part in a sponsored dance ‘busting some moves on the dance floor’ all afternoon!!!  I am guessing that more events are planned by other form groups!

6JB Sponsored Danc

 

 

 

 

Finally, St Charles in Measham organisesd a good school favourite – a non- school uniform day, but with a unique twist –  ‘Be a goodie, wear a hoodie’!It is truly inspiring and uplifting to see how our Catholic schools around the Diocese are engaging with this Lent’s #giveitup challenge.  And all donations will be doubled by the UK government.

‘Be a goodie, wear a hoodie’  at St Charles, Measham

 

 

We have a small but growing team of School Volunteers who have the pleasure and privilege of visiting our schools to present assemblies and to say thank you for all the hard work they have done to support CAFOD.  Have you got some time to offer to join us?

Be a CAFOD School Volunteer