Lightfever-Prayers for MANCHESTER

26th May 2017Mrs D Ferris
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On the Last Thursday of every month, the students are invited to the Chapel for ‘Lightfever’. This is always popular: the students come to light a candle, say a personal prayer and spend some quiet time to reflect.

Yesterday the students asked if they could light the candles for the people of Manchester, those who had died, for those were effected and the kindness of the people who helped.

The whole community observed a 1-minute silence at 11 o’clock and prayers will continue to be said.

God of compassion and mercy,

amidst the pain and trauma we turn to you,

for through Christ crucified we know that you have taken to heart the suffering of the people.

In fear and anxiety, strengthen us.

In despair and pain, comfort us.

In incomprehension and anger, reassure us that your love and life are stronger than the hatred and violence which overshadows Manchester and our country

Console those who carry a burden of loss, injury, or trauma and empower all who support them.

Strengthen all who seek to stand together in peace and unity.

We pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

 

Taken from Tim Annan, Youth President of the Methodist Church

 

Students testimony-St Bernadettes Catholic Church and the Pentecostal Church, Kingsway

24th May 2017Mrs D Ferris
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Despite being a member of Saint Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Wombourne, I volunteer at the Pentecostal Church, Kingsway. Initially this started as my volunteering activity for my Duke of Edinburgh bronze award, but after completing my three months of volunteering, I decided to stay on and assist the children in their learning about God and His word. The youth group, called Infusion, meets every Friday in the “Hub” of the church, and the children learn about God through talks and activities.

 

As well as this youth group, Kingsway offer a group for younger children, called Fizz. At the same time a group for high school children is also available, called Blaze. These groups give young children and teenagers activities to do on Friday night, and Blaze keeps the teenagers off the streets and teaches them important lessons. Kingsway holds groups such as Alpha and Youth Alpha, to help you truly find your faith and has services on Sunday mornings and evening. Often the services incorporate the youth group attendees, at times such as Easter, Christmas and Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day. Occasionally, youth services are held, or the young people are taken to youth services at other churches, so that they can feel more involved in the church.

 

The people are lovely and welcoming, you will never feel unwanted in this church. The services are always joyful, and the members ensure that each service or group goes perfectly.

 

Theo Moriarty

 

 

Good Shepherd Mass

24th May 2017Mrs D Ferris
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Yesterday St Michaels Catholic Church in Penn hosted the ‘Good Shepherd Mass’ for the Father Hudson’s Society. This is a yearly event when the Catholic schools of the diocese and this year other Catholic schools joined us from other areas, get together to celebrate the work of Fr Hudson’s .

When the offertory takes places representatives from each school processes to the Rt.Rev Bishop David McGough and presented examples of work, how they had raised funds and brought their donations to help the good work in our community, especially the Hope project in Wolverhampton

St Edmund’s choir led the singing, led by Miss Baskeyfield, which helped bring a sense of  joy to the Mass. We are very proud of all the student who read, served, played the organ and sang together from all the schools as we  joined together to  celebrate the Eucharist.

Jesus told his followers to ‘love one another as I have loved you’ The work of Father Hudson’s is guided by this command, they show love and care to those who need it. We thank them for all they do to help those in need.

Student Testimony- Guru Nanak

26th April 2017Mrs D Ferris
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Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara- Wolverhampton

By Alisha Swali

This is the Gurdwara that I go to weekly and is where anyone can go irrespective of caste/religion etc It is actually the first Gurdwara to be established in Wolverhampton in 1966. The literally meaning of the punjabi word Gurdwara is the ‘door to the Guru.’  In the Gurdwara, the main hall where worship takes place is known as a Darbar Sahib and is where Guru Granth Sahib Ji is kept. It is also where we sit on the floor, as a sign that we are equal. The Guru Granth Sahib Ji are the holy scriptures within the Sikh faith, they contain the teachings of our Gurus’. The 10 living Gurus’ within the Sikh faith were living people, who were enlightened masters and teachers who taught the Sikhs about God and to Sikhs have the light of God within them. The Guru Granth Sahib Ji is given the respect that a human Guru would be given. It is recited throughout the day and returns to it’s own room at night. It is placed on a raised platform (Takht or Manji Sahib meaning throne), under a canopy and covered with a beautiful patterned cloth. When we get to Guru Granth Sahib Ji, we touch the floor with our foreheads as a sign we submit to the truths found within Guru Ji. There will also, be someone waves the Chaur Sahib (fan) over it. At this Gurdwara and all of them, congregation gather to sing the praises of God by using the shabads (hymns and sections ) within Guru Granth Sahib Ji and remember God by repeating his name in meditation. This is because Sikhs believe that God has no physical form and He resides within us. In this Gurdwara and every other one,there is a hall in which free food also known as langar is served. The food is simple and is vegeterian to try and meet all the needs of people coming to the Gurdwara. The concept of langar has been within Gurdwara since the time of the first Guru,  Guru Nanak Dev Ji since 1481. For children and people of all ages, in this Gurdwara there are many sessions that go on throughout the week including; Sikh history, how to play classical instruments to accompany the singing of shabad and the chanting/meditating on God’s name (kirtan classes), homework clubs, wrestling (including training from professionally trained olympic athletes), gatka class (which is an ancient martial art which was used by the Gurus, is learnt) etc. There is also Punjabi classes for children on a Sunday where they learn Punjabi but also, where they can work to get qualifications for learning Punjabi. There is also a gym where there is both women’s and men’s sessions. There is many things to mention about Gurdwaras and their history, but I’ve got to keep things short, so If you would want to know more feel free to look at this website about what a Gurdwara is all about. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/ritesrituals/gurdwara_1.shtml

 

Lenten Liturgy

26th April 2017Mrs D Ferris
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Lenten Liturgy

We finished our school term off by coming together as a whole community to mark the end of our Lenten journey and to mark the start of Holy Week, in our’ Lenten Liturgy’, written by Debbie Ferris the school Lay Chaplain. We were blessed by having Fr Mark Crisp present who explain in his Homily the events in Holy Week leading to Easter Sunday and the Lord’s resurrection. He invited everyone to join him in Masses across the diocese.

Some of the students from varies year groups, led by Farai in 6 form who played the part of Jesus, depicted the story leading up to Palm Sunday, and the crucifixion. The students laid down palms and coats at Jesus’s feet as he rode to Jerusalem.

Miss Baskeyfield led the choir who sang ‘Ride on Ride on Majesty’, ‘Majesty; worship his majesty’ and ‘When I surveyed the wondrous cross’

Later in the Liturgy, Farai walked around the hall while 12 students read different prayers, which the rest of the school responded with ‘He kept on walking’.  Jesus knew that every step he took was one step closer to his death but he kept on walking.

He knew that before he died he would have to confront the centre of religious power, those who used God’s name to manipulate and control and oppress.

He kept on walking.

He knew that he would be betrayed to death by one of his friends and companions on the road.

 He kept on walking.

He knew that he would be falsely tried by a corrupt and unjust legal system.

He kept on walking.

He knew the crowds were fickle and likely to turn on him as they had the prophets before him.

He kept on walking.

He knew he would be mocked and humiliated.

He kept on walking.

He knew his dearest and closest friends would fail him, abandon him, deny him, and struggle to believe in him.

 He kept on walking.

He knew he would be flogged and tortured almost beyond what he could physically bear.

He kept on walking.

He knew his mother’s heart and the hearts of the men and women who loved him would be broken.

He kept on walking.

He knew he would suffer an agonizing death, and face the greatest confusion and darkness he had ever known.

He kept on walking.

He knew that if he was faithful to the end, he would know the greatest joy, of bringing redemption to the world

He kept on walking.

He knew that when all of it was through, he would return to the One from whom he came, the One who is Perfect Love.

He kept on walking.

 

God invites us to pick up our cross and take this path, the Way of the Cross. He invites us to walk together with others who are forced to walk a path of suffering, humiliation and death. He invites us to know our own weakness and brokenness and not be afraid to keep walking.

Conference for Young Men-Face2Face.

25th April 2017Mrs D Ferris

On Wednesday 5th April 300 hundred male students, including students from St Edmunds, attended a Conference for young Men, called ‘Face2Face’ at the Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.
It was an amazing day, Archbishop Bernard Longley welcomed everyone and then we were blessed. With great speakers, such as Canon David Oakley, who gave the young men an ‘Invitation’, Jimmy Mitchell, who talked about ‘Desire’ and Bishop Caggiano, who is the Bishop of Connecticut spoke about ‘Courage’.
The students had the opportunity to think, explore and pray about what the Lord’s plan is for them, are they open and listening to what he is asking. ‘ He is not looking for a perfect man to walk with him, he’s looking for someone to walk with’.
Please pray for the young men who are being called to serve, it’s not always easy to hear the Lord’s voice when lots of other voices are in their heads.
The day was finished with Exposition and Benediction.

Diocesan Prayer For Vocations.
Lord Jesus, send labourers into your harvest.
Inspire, in the hearts of young people,
Vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Bless our families with a spirit of generosity.
May those whom you call to the priesthood and religious life
Have the courage to give themselves to your Church as co-operators in your work.
St John Vianney. Pray for us.

Fasting and Temptation

21st March 2017Mrs D Ferris
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Fasting and Temptation

Last week Mrs Ferris our Lay Chaplain led the assemblies on the schools weekly prayer theme of ‘Fasting and Temptation’.

The main questions where how were our Lenten promises going, how can we resist temptation, why is temptation difficult to resist? When we are tempted, do we have a choice?

A common reason we fall into temptation is the reasoning “Everybody is doing it, so it must be ok?” Is it? Temptation often happens during our weakest moments, when we are at the limits of our strength, patience, love and health. What can we do? Walk away, ask for help, and do not put yourself in that situation. Pray, ask the Lord for help. Do not follow the crowd.

We looked at the story of ‘Adam and Eve’ and talked about Jesus’s 40 days in the desert, without food- that is real fasting.

We finished with the prayer

Dear God,

Please help us to say ‘no’ when we are tempted to do wrong.

Please help us to stand up for other people when we see wrong things happening to them.

Thank you that you are always with us and will give us the strength to say ‘no’.

Amen

 

Reconciliation-Confession

20th March 2017Mrs D Ferris

Reconciliation Liturgy

On Wednesday 150 students from Year 8 attended a Reconciliation Service. The students listened to and watched a video of the Prodigal Son and Fr Mark explained to the students about the Sacrament of Penance.

10 students along with Mrs Ferris, the Lay Chaplain, read of an Examination of Conscious, asking questions such as:Do I put myself first in my life, before those less fortunate than myself?  Do I take time on Sunday to spend time with my family? Have I shown gratitude for the blessings in my life? And many more.

We were blessed to have five priest, Fr Mark, Fr Guy, Fr Brendon, Fr Simon and Fr Paul who listened to the student’s confessions and prayers.

Reconciliation-Confession

Student Testimony-Place of Worship

17th March 2017Mrs D Ferris
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I’m Naomi Eguavoen and I am a Christian. I go to the Redeemed Christian Church of God Testimony Parish. I go there every Sunday and sometimes at weekdays such as Friday.

When I get to church, we start off with a session named Sunday school, we all have a book specialised for this session, it is based on modern day issues and how we can deal with them, for example temptation.

After we go out with our main service, we start with Praise and Worship. This is a time of thanksgiving to God for everything he has done for us.

In my church we split the children and teenagers up, so after we go into our groups. I am in the teenager’s lesson, we speak about topics that teenagers face every day and what God wants from us as Christians.

When I go to church I feel with God, I feel like it’s a place where I can speak to God and other people about God. I really enjoy church and I feel like my relationship with God gets stronger.

Flame 17 National Catholic Youth Event

14th March 2017Mrs D Ferris
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On Saturday 11th March 6 of our students, alongside other young people from Birmingham, England and Wales, just over 10,000 to be exact, travelled to Wembley for ‘Flame 17’.  This was the third National Catholic Youth Conference.

There were many guests and performers, for example: Rise theatre, the One Hope project, Mike Pilvachi, young workers from Cafod, David Wells, Cardinal Charles Bo who had travelled from Myanmar to be with us, and many more.

David Wells asked everyone to Facebook, text, etc. at least one person with the message ‘God Loves you’ so spread the word.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols led a beautiful Adoration in the afternoon and we finished the whole day with Matt Redman, a very popular Gospel singer, who gave us 10,000 reasons to believe. I was personally filled with hope and joy in my heart to sit and watch the whole stadium join in song, praising and ‘Worshiping his Holy Name’.

Debbie Ferris

Lay Chaplain